puno: the lake titicaca. places to visit

PLACES TO VISIT

Catedral of the City of Puno

Situated in downtown. Visits: Mon-Fri and Sun 7:00h.-12:00h. and 15:00h.-18:00h; Sat 7:00h.-12:00h. and 15:00h.-19:00h. Constructed in the year 1757 following the model of the church of the Compañia de Jesus, the facade was sculpted by the sculptor teacher Simón de Asto, whose name is carved under the porch. It is provided with Peruvian motives (flowers of cantuta, animals, and symbols of the sun and the moon). In the interior survive paintings of the Cusqueña school and is venerated an image of the master of the Bala. The church is a sample of the Spanish baroque.

Conde de Lemos Balcony

Intersection of the streets Deustua and Conde de Lemos. Visits: Mon-Fri 8:30h.-16:00h.
Constructed about 1668, it is said that at this house stayed the viceroy Conde de Lemos when he came to the zone to suffocate a rebellion. At present, here works the cultural complex of the National Institute of Culture of the region Puno and it has a gallery of art.

Dreyer Municipal museum

Located on the street Conde de Lemos 289.
In this museum can be observed pieces of ceramics, gold work, textiles and preinca and inca lithic sculptures. Also, it preserves a numismatic collection and documents that date back to the Spanish foundation of the city of Puno.

Deustua Arco

Located on Jr. Independencia block 2.
This modest arch (1847) is constructed in carved stone, it was erected by the puneño people in memory of the patriots who fought for the independence of Peru, (battles of Junín and Ayacucho).

La Casa del Corregidor

Located on Jr. Deustua 576, Puno. Tel. (051) 35-1921 / 35-3979. Visits: Wed-Fri 10:00h.-22:00h; Sat 10:00h.-14:30h. and 17:00h.-22:00h.
Colonial Casona of the XVIIth century and place where exhibitions of puneño art. The place is provided with a snack bar, library, Internet and video club; cultural activities are peformed and information about rural tourism is offered.

Kuntur Wasi Watchtower

Located at 2 Km. of Puno downtown.
Kuntur Wasi means " house of the condor ". It was constructed at the end of 2004 and crowned with the figure of a condor. It offers a magnificent sight of Puno and the lake Titicaca. It is possible to gain access, walking, by the hiron Ilave, and, by car, by the jiron Cancharani.

Bahia de Los Incas Eco-touristic Levee

At 8 blocks of the Plaza de Armas, on the banks of the lake Titicaca.
It is a pedestrian walk with a beautiful sight of the lake, where the sukankas or intihuatanas are located, whose principal function was that of serving as solar clocks. The pre-inca cultures, also, were using them to indicate the places where the ceremonial acts would take place and of sacrifice, they also served to delimit the grounds between the communities.

Sillustani Archaeological Complex

Situated 34 Km. North of Puno (35 minutes by car).
This complex is on the banks of the lagoon of Umayo. It is known by its chullpas, which are circular turrets of stone raised to lodge the funeral rests of the principal authorities of the ancient settlers of the Collao, some of them reach up to 12 meters of height and are characterized because their base is smaller than the top part. At little distance of the archaeological complex is the Museo de Sitio, where survive diverse pieces of the cultures colla, Tiahuanaco and Inca.

Yaraví Ship Museum

Situated on the av. Sesquicentenario N° 610 Muelle Hotel Sonmesta Posada del Inca
This ship contains original pieces, cabinets, teams of navigation, as well as a Bolinder original motor, of Swedish manufacture, today considered the most ancient and biggest engine of its still operative type in the world. The Buque Museo Naval Yaraví, is recognized as historical piece in 1998, and incorporated into the National System of Museums of the State. It is the most ancient ship of iron of the world that works with only one helix. At present the association Yaraví is in charge of the administration of the Buque Museo and of its maintenance.

National Reserve of Titicaca

Protected Natural Area, created in 1978 with the purpose of preserving the own natural resources of the ecosystem of the Titicaca lake and puna and has an area of 36,180 has.
In the reserve have been registered tens of species of birds, fish and amphibians. Exist more than 60 species of birds, and the most outstanding among them are the parihuanas or flamencos, huallatas, gulls, keles, chullumpis and lequeleques (there are also species in danger of extinction). The flora of the lake is represented by twelve varieties of aquatic plants, among them the most outstanding are the totora and llacho.
Of its 36 islands, Taquile and Amantan are usually visited, those that belong to Peruvian territory and near Puno. It is good to get the passages (tickets) for excursions in the wharf. The boats usually leave at 7:30h. The excursion to the island of Uros lasts about 4 hours. The boats to Taquile and Amantan leave at 8, and usually make a brief stop in the islands of the Uros.

Lake Titicaca

Situated at 10 blocks of the Plaza de Armas.
Peru and Bolivia share the sovereignty of the this navigable lake, the highest of the world (3,810 m.a.s.l). It has an area of 8,559 Km2, a maximum depth of 283 meters and the annual average temperature of its waters varies from October to May between 9°C and 11°C and from June to September between -7°C and -10°C.
In the Peruvian side of the Titicaca lake diverse islands exist, the most outstanding among them are Amantaní, Taquile, Soto and Anapia (natural islands) and those of the Uros (artificial islands), each one with different attractions. Of its 36 islands, people usually visit Taquile and Amantan, those that belong to Peruvian territory and near Puno. It is best to get the passages (tickets) for excursions in the wharf. The boats usually leave to 7:30h. To the island the Uros the excursion lasts 4 hours. The boats to Taquile and Amantan leave at the 8 hours, and usually make a brief stop in the islands of the Uros.
In the borders of the lake the totora grows, where diverse birds and fish take refuge, like the carachis, ispis, bogas, umantos, suches (in extinction danger), pejerreyes and trouts; all these species are native and are quoted by their high nutricional value.

Floating Islands of the Uros

Located 5 km west of the port of Puno (20 minutes by boat).
The islands of the Uros (3,810 m.a.s.l) are in the bay of Puno. Each one is inhabited by 3 to 10 families of uroaymaras, who construct and put a roof on their houses with totora mats, although some have replaced its traditional ceilings by calamine. Among the most outstanding islands are Tupiri, Tribune, Santa Maria, Toranipata, Chumi, Paraiso, Kapi, Titino, Tinajero and Negrone. The uros maintain the tradition of the artisan fishing, specially of carachi and the pejerrey, as well as the hunting of wild birds.

Amantani Island

Located 36 km northeast of the port of Puno (3 hours and 30 minutes by boat). Amantaní has an extension of about 9 km2. The flora of the place is characterized by the presence of plants like muña, kantuta, salvia, tola and patamuña. The island is inhabited by eight communities that dedicate to the growing of potatoe, maize, oca, quinua, large beans and peas. Among the attractions are two viewpoints in the highest part, from where the lake in all its extension can be appreciated, as well as some pre-Hispanic remains, ceremonial centers and a cemetery of mummies.