Puno, Titicaca Lake

The city of Puno is located at 3800 m above see level. This city rests on the shore of the Lake Titicaca, known as the highest navigatable lake in the world, with a length of 195 km and a wide of 75 km. On one side of the lake the depth of the water increases gradually and on the other side the depth drops abruptly 50 m. The deepest part of the lake reaches 281 m.

The «Totora» is very important for the daily life of the inhabitants of this region. It is mainly used to build the «Caballitos de Totora» (ancient canoes that transport local people on the lake). It is also an important material for handicrafts and even for the ground of the floating islands of the Uros community.

The Titicaca Lake has a dominating role in the Peruvian History. Before the time of the «Incas», the «Tiahuanaco» culture dominated this region. The have have left some archeological rests, like the towers of Sillustani. There is a ancient legend that describes how Inca Manco Capac and his wife Mama Ocllo emerge from the depth og the Lake Titicaca and founded the Inca Empire. 

There are 36 islands on the waters of the Lake Titicaca. The most important, or at least the most visited, are «Taquile» and «Amantani» on the Peruvian part of the lake and the Island of the Sun and the Moon on the Bolivian side. An other very interesting point is the floating island of the Uros, which community still preserve its ancient lifestyle, traditions, language and clothes.

Travel programs:

	PTW-PUN001 City Tour of Puno 3 hours Guided tour through the city of Puno: main square, cathedrale, the residence of the Count of Lemos, «Arco Deustua», «Casa del Corregidor», Huaisapata hill.
	PTW-PUN002 Sillustani 3 hours The towers of Sillustani are located at the shore of the Lake Umayo. They are rounded towers, in which the distinguished people of the society before the time of the Incas were buried.
	PTW-PUN003 Islands of the Uros and Taquile 8 hours Boat trip to the floating islands of the Uros and visit of the island of Taquile, that offers spectacular landscapes and where its inhabitants still preserve its traditions.

Find more tours that include Puno and Lake Titicaca in Roundtrips.