Essential Sightseeing in Puno:

Puno city

The Cathedral, on the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), is a beautiful construction, carved from stone, showing the skill and imagination of the "puneño" builders, who knew how to create their own style. The Dreyer Municipal Museum has priceless pre-Inca pottery, textiles and instruments made in gold and silver on display, with objects from the Tiahuanaco culture, having pride of place. Archeological Remains

Sillustani, 34 kms. from Puno, is one of the largest archeological areas in America. The chullpas, impressive burial monuments standing over 12 meters high, were built by the Collas people.

TITICACA LAKE - PUNO
UROS AND TAQUILE ISLAND

Lake Titicaca - Puno

Titicaca National Reserve, was created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of marsh reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake Titicaca. The reserve is divided into two sections, Ramis, in the provinces of Huancané and Ramis; and Puno, in the province of the same name.

The reserve is home to dozens of native bird species (over 60 species in total between resident and migratory birds), fish (4 different families) and amphibians (18 native species). There are three islands in the lake, Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María.

The Island of the Uros, north of the bay of Puno, is made almost entirely of "totora" (marsh reeds), and consequently is one of the world's most unique tourist attractions. Inhabited by two thousand Uros, who claim to be "kot-suña" (the people of the lake), and so have black blood, cannot drown and never feel the cold. For this reason - they claim - they are great fishermen.

The Island of Taquile, 35 kilometers to the east of Puno, with an area of six square kilometers, is the largest of the islands found in the lake and has an interesting variety of microclimates. The town of Taquile (3,950 m.a.sl.) has some Tiahuanaco and Inca ruins. Furthermore, the Inca moral principles Ama Sua (Do not steal), Ama Quella (Do not lie), and Ama Lulla (Do not be lazy) are still observed by the inhabitants. Should one of the thousand plus inhabitants break these rules, the islands community authorities may even banish the lawbreaker as punishment.