The Peruvian Altiplano is the region of Peru that includes the department of Puno. This is the area of the Andes above about 3500 m. The altiplano stretches into neighbouring Bolivia, and also Argentina and Chile.

Cities

• 1 Chucuito — he to the Inca Uyo archaeological site
• 2 Cutimbo — a tiny settlement with rarely visited ruins and modest cave paintings
• 3 Juliaca — a center for making garments made with sheep and alpaca wool, it has several excellent churches
• 4 La Rinconada — the highest permanent city of the world at a height of 5,100 m
• 5 Lampa — has an impressive colonial church and catacombs with an exact replica of "La Pieta" of Michelangelo, and South American camelids
• 6 Puno — a departure point for the famous floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, close to the Bolivian border
• 7 Desaguadero — a border town between Bolivia and Peru

Other destinations

• 1 Lake Titicaca — the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world is the ancestral land of the Quechuas, Aymaras, Uros, Pacajes, and Puquinas
• 2 Isla Amantani — a peaceful island with beautiful
• 3 Isla Taquile — the "island of the knitting men" is a popular destination for tours from Puno
• 4 Sillustani — a pre-Inca cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo; its tombs are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas.
• 5 Uros Islands — floating islands made of reed that are believed to have Bern built by the Uros people to flee oppression by other peoples

Understand

The Puno region and Lake Titicaca are considered to be the cradle of the Inca civilization. This area is occupied mainly by Aymara people, but there are also Quechua populations mainly living on the islands at Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca provides a unique microclimate which allows agriculture in the surrounding areas, impossible in other zones of the same altitudes.

Get in

By plane

Daily flights from Lima, Cusco and Arequipa.

By road

From Cusco, Arequipa, Colca Canyon or Bolivia.

See

• Living cultures: Uros floating Isles, Taquile & Amantani Islands.
• Archaeological sites: Sillustani Tombs. Visit Aramu Muru, considered by local shamans as an inter-dimensional gate.
• Colonial churches and picturesque villages: Lampa, Juli and Pomata
• Nature: Impressive landscapes, the highest navigable lake on Earth, South American camelids.

Itineraries

A perfect place for completing a journey to the Southern Andes as an extension to Cusco. Arrive at Juliaca airport or Puno train station, get acclimatized on the first day and get ready for exploring Lake Titicaca on the next day. Use the next days for visiting colonial churches and archaeological sites.

Do

Canoeing, mountain biking, hikes, bird watching.

Eat

• Fresh trout from Lake Titicaca

Go next

Altiplano