Tour Packages in Puno, Peru

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and serves as the natural border between Peru and Bolivia. This impressive mirror of water is situated in the Andean Altiplano. At an altitude of 3,812 meters above sea level, it is considered the highest freshwater navigable lake on Earth. It spans 8,562 km², with 56% belonging to Peru and 44% to Bolivia, and has an average depth of 107 meters. It is believed to be over 3 million years old, with more than 25 rivers flowing into it. Today, Lake Titicaca is a national reserve protected by the Peruvian government and is a top tourist destination in Puno (Peru) and Copacabana (Bolivia). This natural treasure is made up of the lake itself, a group of artificial floating islets, islands, and farming areas that perfectly express the harmony between the islanders and their environment. In ancient times, the islands were inhabited by numerous Andean cultures, including the Pucará, Tiahuanaco, and Inca. For this reason, it is known as the cradle of Peru's ancient civilizations. During the Inca period, the lake was sacred; according to mythology, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, the founders of the Inca culture, emerged from its waters.

The Uros Islands, also known as the floating village in the heart of Lake Titicaca, are artificial islands made by the Uros people, an ancestral group that still inhabits this lake in small communities. The island platforms and houses are built with totora, an aquatic plant that grows in abundance around the lake. A floating island can last up to 20 years if properly maintained, though a new layer of totora must be added every 20 to 25 days to keep it afloat. To move between islands, the Uros use beautifully designed totora reed boats, some of which have two levels. On average, five to seven families live on each island, subsisting on fishing, hunting, and experiential tourism. Visitors can find original, colorful embroidery and totora handicrafts offered by the locals. According to chroniclers, the Uros were one of the first cultural formations of the Altiplano, dating back to pre-Inca times. While theories suggest they originated in Bolivia and migrated after droughts in the 10th and 13th centuries, they originally lived on dry land but chose to build floating islands to avoid conquest by the Tiahuanaco, Colla, and Inca. Finding ample resources for survival within the lake, they never returned to the mainland.

The Sillustani Archaeological Complex contains monuments linked to the funerary rituals of the Tiahuanaco, Colla, and Inca cultures. It is located 34 kilometers from Puno on the Umayo Lagoon Peninsula, at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters above sea level. It is believed that the Chullpas, or circular stone towers, were built to house the remains of the main authorities of the Colla kingdom. Sillustani features around ninety chullpas shaped like inverted cones, masterfully joined and perfectly fitted together. These mausoleos stand up to 12 meters high and are characterized by a base smaller than the top. According to chroniclers, the mummified bodies of high authorities were placed inside these tombs along with their most valuable belongings—gold, silver, food, and ceramics—to ensure a better life in the hereafter. A site museum located near the complex preserves various pieces from the Colla, Tiahuanaco, and Inca cultures.

Amantani Island is the perfect place to experience ancestral customs, observe the lifestyle of the Altiplano people, and enjoy marvelous landscapes. This legendary island is located within Lake Titicaca at 3,817 meters above sea level, about 36 km northeast of the port of Puno. The travel time by motorized boat is approximately 3 hours. The island is known for its two viewpoints: the Coanas and Llacastiti hills, home to the ceremonial centers of Pachatayta and Pachamama, offering a view of the lake's full extent. The island is covered in native and medicinal plants like muña, cantuta, salvia, and patamuña. Amantani is home to ten communities engaged in agriculture (potatoes, corn, oca, and quinoa), stone carving, and textiles. Currently, it stands out as one of Puno's premier locations for experiential tourism.

The beautiful Taquile Island is the largest island in Lake Titicaca. Famous for its pre-Inca remains and spectacular landscapes, it is home to Quechua-speaking islanders who practice fishing, agriculture, and textile production. They are characterized by a strong adherence to traditions and a deep sense of group identity, with most inhabitants marrying within the island community. Taquile has a fascinating textile tradition rooted in social customs. Men wear finely woven wool hats they make themselves; the color denotes social status—red for married men and red and white for single men. Taquile women wear traditional red blouses and multicolored skirts.

The Chucuito Peninsula, also known as the 'City of the Royal Boxes' because it was a tax collection center during the colonial era, is located 18 km south of Puno. It is noted for its beautiful white sand beaches, unique landscapes, and natural viewpoints overlooking Lake Titicaca. In the rural community of Karina, visitors can participate in traditional activities and visit the Renaissance-style churches of Asunción and Santo Domingo, considered the finest colonial expressions in Chucuito. You can also visit the pre-Hispanic Inca Uyo, a rectangular construction from the Inca era known as a sacred place for ceremonies related to fertility.

The Aramu Muru portal, known as Hayu Marca (City of the Spirits) or Willka Uta (Gate of the Gods), is located 70 km south of Puno. It is a door carved into a single piece of rock, approximately 7 meters high. Aramu Muru is undoubtedly one of the most mystical and enigmatic energetic sites in Puno. Local legends say that during the Spanish invasion, the Inca priest Aramu fled Cusco with a golden solar disk and used it as a key to open and disappear through this portal. Today, thousands of travelers, historians, and locals visit this sacred door to pray, perform rituals, or seek positive energy. It is said that only gods enter through this gate, making a visit ideal for revitalizing the soul and mind, especially during the solstice on June 21, when festivities honor Pachamama, Tayta Inti, and the water.