Not only have you likely learned about these islands in history class, but this sparkling lake scattered with islands to visit is also named "the most beautiful place in Peru" by Peruvians themselves!
Puno, Lake Titicaca, and specifically the Uros Islands are must-sees when planning your Peru travel itinerary. It's super easy to tag onto trips to other destinations like Cusco and Arequipa, plus it showcases the Andes mountains in a whole new way.
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We asked our ILP volunteers who have visited Puno all the questions about their trip and compiled a peek into what traveling here will look like, along with some tips and tricks that can help make your travel experience to Puno a little better.
Located in southeastern Peru, Puno is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country, not only for tourists but also for Peruvian locals. Our ILP volunteers heard about Puno from their Local Peruvian Coordinator, calling it "the most beautiful place in Peru".
It's also likely that you have heard of Puno (more specifically, Uros) in school! One of the main reasons our ILP volunteers decided to visit Puno is that they learned about Lake Titicaca and Uros in class. Puno is rich in traditional indigenous culture. Not only will you be immersed in new experiences, but the views are unreal. We're talking snow-capped Andes mountains, crystal clear lake water, and 100s of islands to choose from to explore.
Puno itself is located along the shore of Lake Titicaca, which is the main reason you would want to make the trek over here in the first place. It's seriously such a dreamy spot. That's why our Peru volunteers have started adding it to their travel itineraries!
Our ILP volunteers decided to give Puno a chance while planning their vacation to Cusco, as it's on the way and easy to add to the trip. You can take a bus here or a flight to Puno. And then, from Puno, there are plenty of direct buses to Cusco, or even luxury train options — our volunteers enjoyed the trains and mentioned that the food was delicious and that live performances took place during the train ride.
Lake Titicaca is most famous for being the highest-elevation lake with livable living conditions in the world! Not only that, but it is also stunningly gorgeous, with unreal views, surrounded by the towering Andes mountains and glittering lake water that was so crystal clear our volunteers compared it to the Mediterranean. It's almost like something you would expect to see in Greece or Croatia.
In some areas, you are even able to swim in the lake! Just be aware that no matter what time of year... It's going to be COLD. Remember! Lake Titicaca is famous for its insanely high elevation! If you do decide to take a dip, please be careful and conscious.
Lake Titicaca is scattered with hundreds of islands ranging in size. There are soooooo many that you can visit, but the main ones that people tend to check out are Uros, Taquile, and Amantani. You'll want to do your own research beforehand on what islands are right for you, but many of the tours that you can book at the Lake Titicaca ferry port, called "Port Puno," tend to visit these three. The easiest thing to do is typically to go with a tour, because not only does it make your life easier, but you can also count on the fact that they're going to take you to places they know will be a hit.
To visit the islands, our ILP alumni typically decide to book tours once they arrive at Puno Port. These boat tours will take you to any of the 5 major islands and Uros. On these tours, you may also have the opportunity to experience some of the indigenous culture, such as weaving and dancing. You can also learn about some of their more traditional things, like how they perform weddings.
While Lake Titicaca has hundreds of small islands scattered throughout, the Uros Islands are special because they are man-made and are currently inhabited by the families that built them. Uros is made of reed, but it looks more like hay. Our ILP volunteers described it as "walking on a hay bale." It's stable and has houses on it (also made out of reeds), kids playing games outside like soccer, and places to eat. This is something a lot of our volunteers had learned about in school. Kind of cool, right?
It takes about 10 minutes on the ferry to get to this island. While visiting these islands, you will spend most of your time walking along the reeds, chatting with the residents, enjoying the views, and maybe stumble upon a little soccer game that you can join in on with the kids.
If you are planning on staying the night in Puno, there are actually some homestays that you can book out and sleep over on the man-made island! You can peruse over some of the options available to you here.
Some classic foods that you will want to try while visiting Puno include their quinoa soup. I know that might sound random, but quinoa was actually domesticated along Lake Titicaca. Now you know why it's a must-eat! You will also find several places selling fresh fish such as trout, and plenty of places to purchase coca tea for the elevation sickness that you may experience.
A stay in Puno doesn't have to be long. Our volunteers were here for one day and left for Cusco that night, but after spending some time there, they would recommend staying for two days and one night (including traveling in and out of town).
Many shops, restaurants, and tours are closed on weekdays, so consider this when planning your trip. Our volunteers came here on a weekday and still had a lovely experience, but they did want to make a note of that so future travelers could plan accordingly.
There are plenty of little souvenir shops that you can check out while you are here. They sell a wide variety of woven items, such as hats and blankets, and also niche things that can remind you of Puno such as mini reed boat figurines.
Interested in fully immersing yourself in the Peruvian culture while also serving the community around you?
International Language Programs (ILP) has opportunities for college-age volunteers to live abroad with other volunteers — you'll give back by spending time with local kids and really get to immerse yourself in the culture. There are programs all over the world, but we're really excited about our volunteer program in Peru! Learn more by clicking the button below.