My Top Ten Bucket List Destinations Part 4 out of 10

Puno 

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Puno is a city located in Southeastern Peru. This region is dominated by Lake Titicaca,  a sacred place of the Incas, home to natural and artificial islands. 

Most travelers come to Puno as a means of getting to Lake Titicaca and seeing nearby Inca ruins. Puno today is the capital of the Altiplano region, a dusty, commercial border town across Lake Titicaca from Bolivia.

Puno is officially the Folkloric Center of Peru. Throughout the year, monthly festivals with music and dance fill the streets attracting many photographers. The most popular of these festivals are  in the month of February and November.  

During February locals celebrate the Virgen de la Candelaria with the famous Devil Dancers. The costumes are vivid and spectacular, and no expense is spared for the “Ten days” celebration in honor of the patron of Puno.  November's festival, locally known as  Puno Days locals  celebrate with a lavish procession and masked dancers celebrating the beginning of the Inca Empire, when Manco Capac and Mamá Ocho rose from Lake Titicaca.

Due to its location, Puno’s climate is dry and cold.  The nights are usually very cold. If you are sensitive to the altitude, allow yourself time to get acclimatize before climbing. Most hotels make available Coca tea,  as it seems to help the acclimatization process. 

The town is hospitable, with plenty of restaurants and lodging options, from the very basic to the luxurious.  If you register at a smaller hotel, ask about the overnight heating. You may need your own sleeping bag for extra warmth.  If you plan on attending the February and November celebrations, you are encouraged to make reservations.

Silustani

Places to Visit: 

Silustani, is a Pre-Incan burial site called the city of the dead.  Located approximately 19 miles (30 km) from Puno, it is the site of the circular towers known as Chulpas for the shrouds used to wrap the mummies entombed in the towers, which are  named Ayawasi. 

Chucuito 

Chuquito is an agricultural lakeside community of terraces where tortora rafts making, is their main industry.  
In colonial times, it was an administrative center for the area.

Getting to Puno:

By air, several domestic Airlines departing from Lima, Cuzco and Arequipa arrive daily at Aeropuerto Manco Capac in Juliana, 31 miles (50 km) north of Puno. If you are with a tour, the agency will arrange transfers to Puno. Other choices are taxi, or the cheaper shuttle bus.

By train, you have a choice of the 10 hour ride between Arequipa and Puno. If you enjoy taking pictures or reading a great book this definitely will be an awesome ride.

Did you know?  Lake Titicaca located along Peru’s border with Bolivia is the largest lake in South America It is also the highest navigable lake in the world with a surface elevation of 3,812 meters.

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