PUNO AND TITI CACA LAKE
There are no half measures in this part of the Andean plateau with its intense colours and brilliant clear sky: and at 3,800 m.a.s.l. you are certainly closer to heaven.
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and was considered sacred by ancient Andean cultures, the mythical founders of the Inca Empire were believed to have emerged from its waters: Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo. Today this special place is still a magnet for those seeking mystical experiences.
Lake Titicaca′s 8 300 km2 of blue water are home to several species of birds, a dozen species of fish, various mammals and 7 amphibians, including an endemic species of giant frog.
Its island communities retain their ancestral traditions. The Uros and their islands made of totora reed, the Quechua communities on Taquile and Amantani , as well as Anapia and Suasi, among others, are each a miniature world waiting to be explored.
Puno is also considered the folklore capital of Peru as it has more than 300 typical dances.
Imprescindibles
Sillustani: 34 km north of the city of Puno (approximately 35 minutes by car)
On the shore of lake Umayo. This archaeological site was occupied by the Colla culture and later by the Incas, it is exceptionally beautiful. It contains chullpas, circular stone funeral towers some as high as 12 metres, a curious detail of which is that the diameter of the base is smaller than that of the top.
Taquile y Amantan: These two islands are special, not only because they have preserved their social and farming systems, but also because they are the only Quechua-speaking communities in a predominantly Aymara speaking area.
Suasi: Suasi is a private island where an interesting project is under way to preserve the endemic flora and fauna of Puno. The owner of the island is Marta Giraldo, born and bred in Puno and with a passion for its customs and culture who has also created an environmentally friendly lodge on this beautiful island.
Uros: The communities of Uros have retained their ancient tradition of living on their "floating islands" made from totora reed. They call themselves the "Kotsuña" or "lake people", they originate from before the time of the Incas and fish for suche as they have always done, as well as hunting for wild birds. The men are skilled handlers of reed boats while the women are expert weavers.
Anapia: Located on the so-called "small lake" or Wiñaymarka, this group of islands is ideal for observing fauna in its natural habitat, principally vicuna, as well as for excursions in sailing boats and trekking around the islands to see ruins from the Tiahuanaco culture. Undoubtedly the most interesting feature is that the community allows you to live with it, learn its ancestral customs and help with the daily tasks such as harvesting potatoes, maize and beans, fishing and looking after the cattle and sheep.
Chuchito: The village of Chucuito contains the ruins of Inca Muyu, an archaeological site dating from the Inca period (1440 - 1532 A.D.) also known as the "Temple of Fertility", which many archaeologists believe occupied an important place in Inca culture. Chucuito is also much visited by those seeking centres of energy, as is the so-called "Amaru Muru" which is nearby.
