.

TravelTips24 : South America : Bolivia : Altiplano : Lake Titicaca : Puno

Puno

Puno is a pretty tourist city on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano of Peru. The city's biggest attraction is its proximity to Lake Titicaca.

Culture and History

Puno is also the name of the region.

Climate

Puno's elevation is about 3,822m (12,565 feet), which means it is fairly cold, especially at night. If you arrive from a lower elevation, you might want to spend a day or two taking it easy in order to acclimatize.

Travel to Puno & Visa Requirements

By Train

Trains to and from Cuzco travel only 3 times per week. Other trains travel down to Arequipa. The rail trip from Puno to Cuzco, which is run jointly by Peru Rail and Orient Express is spectacular, one of the world's great train journeys.

The trip takes in Andean mountains and valleys of the Huatanay River, before reaching the Andean Plains, La Raya (the highest point of the route) and finally Cuzco. Without a doubt, the best way of travelling to Cuzco and Macchu Picchu.

Buses to Puno

  • Daily buses depart to and from Cuzco and Arequipa. The ride form Puno to Cuzco takes around 8 hours. There's a night bus leaving Puno at 19h30 and arriving in Cusco at 4h30 am.
  • Daily buses depart to and from La Paz, Bolivia on two slightly different routes.
  1. Direct route, faster.
  2. Via ferry boat across Lake Titicaca and Copacabana.
You should change some money at the border in order to be able to pay the ferry in Bolivianos. Be prepared to change buses in Copacabana. This will mean you will lose your good seats.

When the overnight bus to Cusco stops at the state line for the police to inspect cargo underneath the bus, get out and watch your backpack. My mp3 player was stolen in this way.

Tours & Getting around Puno

  • Taxis or motor-rickshaws will not charge you more than 2 S/. for a ride within the city.
  • Urban colectivos charge 0,50 S/.

Puno attractions and sightseeing

Most Puno sights are actually not in the city itself. Check the "Get Out"-section below.

  • Visit the Church of San Pedro.
  • The Sistine Chapel of the Americas.
  • Raqchi.
  • La Raya Ranch.

Puno city tours

Puno souvenirs & shopping

You can buy souvenirs here for less than in Cuzco or Lima. There is a fairly large market down by the water.

Puno Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Budget

  • In and around the mercado central are several budget places to lunch for less then 3 Soles.
  • Down Jr Tacna from the mercado many restaurants have dinner menus for 3 Soles or so.

Mid-Range

Most touristspots are in and around Calle Lima, with main courses around 20 Soles. A little bit of bargaining will get you a discount, but don't push it too far if you want your food prepared without any bodily fluids.

  • Cafe restaurant Monterrey, Pasaje Grau 158, has reasonably cheap and good breakfasts.
  • Restaurant pizzeria Ollantay, Pasaje Grau 160, has pizzas, trout and alpaca. Ask for el menú.

Vegetarian

  • Restaurant Vida Natural, Jr. Lambayeque 141. Perfect if you like natural, fresh and tasty vegetarian food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cheap complete menus. Custom dishes on request. Friendly owners. (Closed on Saturdays)

Puno nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

  • Fruitjuices at one of the many juguerias on the second floor of the market.
  • Many gringo spots at or near the pedestrian mall.

Puno cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Budget:

  • Hostal Los Uros, Theodóro Valcárcel N8 135, 051-352141. Clean and decent hotel close to the center. Popular with foreigners. A single with shared bathroom cost 20 soles. Ask for a discount in low-season.
  • Hostal Lost Pinos Inn Tarapacá 182. Helpful staff, breakfast, private bathrooms, affordable. [1]

Mid Range:

High End:

  • Titilaka A modern luxury refuge located on the shores of the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, featuring 18 lake-view Suites and providing guests with a richly authentic experience in the region. Phone: +51 1 7005100

Get out

There are loads of agencies offering trips from here, and most hotels and inns will be more than happy to reserve for you. Note that the latter often charge an extra 5 S/. for this service.

  • Walking up in the hills gives nice views over the city and the lakes,

but it is dangerous! Tourists are often the victims of armed robberies in the hills.

  • Chucuito (19km, 1 Sol by colectivo) can be done as a daytrip from Puno, -or en route to Bolivia.
  • Cutimbo is a nice daytrip, -for pre-Inca ruins and views.
  • Sillustani has the best examples of pre-Inca tombs in the area, -and also has some nice lakeside views.
  • Isla Taquile, famed for its traditional Titicacan way of living, can be done either as a daytrip, or staying a night or two.
  • Uro Islands, -the floating reed islands, -are mostly visited on daytrips.

This page was last edited at 21:07, on 15 September 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Marius Mollersen, Jackelly, Maïte Romand & Hugues De Keyzer, Colin Jensen and Tim Sandell, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme, Andeanexperience, DQJK2000 and Groklem, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license