Peru ranks amongst the world’s great centers of ancient civilization. Their remains fascinate travelers and archaeologists alike. Peru is located in the west central part of South America and is a country of geographical and cultural contrast. Peru is the 19th largest country in the world and is bordered north by Ecuador, to the south by Chile and Bolivia, to the east by Columbia and Brazil and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a diverse country due to the climatic, natural and cultural variation of its regions, which include coast, sierra and jungle.

Peru is populated by over 23 million people, largely descendents of Spanish settlers and native Inca and pre-Inca cultures. Today there are three national languages: Spanish, and the native Quechua and Aymara, reflecting the native Indian and Spanish roots that cultivate modern Peruvian society.

GENERAL PERU INFORMATION. PERU FACTS.

Population: 23 million, approximately 7 million live in the greater Lima Peru area.

Education and Literacy: Three-level, eleven-year education system based on reforms made after the 1968 revolution. First preprimary level for children up to six years of age. Free, six-year primary education at second level (compulsory) for children between six and fifteen years of age. Five-year secondary education begins at age twelve. In 1990, only 58.6 percent of school-age children attended school. At this time, Peru had twenty-seven national and nineteen private universities, all government-regulated and recipients of public funding. The estimated literacy rate in Peru is 85%.

Health: Peru’s health indicators are poor, with annual public health expenditure per capita of US$18 in 1990. In 1992 birth rate 27 births per 1,000 population; infant mortality rate 69 per 1,000 live births; life expectancy 63 years male, 67 years female. Over 25% of urban residences and over 90% of rural residences lacked potable water and sewerage, resulting in high death rates from infectious diseases. In 1991 about 1,200 died weekly from malnutrition and extreme poverty, while 38% of the survivors suffered chronic malnutrition. Total of 22,000 physicians in 1991. In 1992, abortion was considered one of the primary health threats for Peruvian women. 43% of all maternal hospitalizations in Peru resulted from botched abortions. Abortion is illegal in Peru.

Religion: Peru is predominantly (92.5%) Roman Catholic, Protestantism, including Mormonism growing rapidly among urban poor and some tribes, although accounting for only about 4.5% of Peruvians in 1990. Other denominations include the Anglican Communion; the Methodist Church; and the Bahai Faith.

Official Language: Spanish. Quechua and Aymara are spoken by the highland Indians

Ethnic Groups: Native American, 45%; mestizo 37%; white, 15%; black, Asian and other, 3%

Trivia & Quick Points:

• Puno has been designated to become a Special Economic Zone or “Zona Ecomomica” by Peru’s president, Alan Garcia.
• The area surrounding the city of Puno was where the Aymara civilization started.
• Puno has been named the “Capital folklórica del Perú” (folklore capital of Peru) from its wealth of artistic and cultural expressions, particularly dance.
• Knitting and textile arts have been practiced for thousands of years by both the men and women equally on the island of Taquile, (Isla Taquile) in the middle of Lake Titicaca.

Facts & Information:

History:

Like most of northern Peru, the territory of Puno’s importance to the vast Inca empire was reflected in a legendary connection. Inca tradition has it that Manco Capac, the first Inca, rose from the waters of Lake Titicaca, under the orders of the Sun God, to start the Inca Empire, which would be centered in the neighboring region and city of Cuzco.

In 1668, viceroy Conde de Lemos established San Juan Bautista de Puno as the capital of the province of Paucarcolla. Later, it was called San Carlos de Puno, in honor of the ruling king, Charles II of Spain.

From that moment, the town began to change physically, as the Spanish priests, in their eagerness to evangelize the natives, built the churches which still stand today.

Culture & Folklore

Puno has been named the “Capital folklórica del Perú” (folkloric capital of Peru) from the wealth of its artistic and cultural expressions, particularly dance.

They are most notable during the celebrations of the Feast of the “Virgen de la Candelaria” and the Regional Competition of Autochthonous Dances.

Travel & Tourism:

The city of Puno, Peru is a popular tourism and traveler’s destination for a few reasons, the most obvious being the fact that it’s located on the shore of world famous and fascinating Lake Titicaca.

The other reason Puno sees a lot of travelers is because it offers relatively easy border crossing choices to Bolivia- which is just on the other side of the lake.

Many Peruvian travelers use Puno as a basecamp to a Bolivian vacation.

The City of Puno

Sightseeing highlights around the city include obligatory visits to the Church of San Pedro, the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, and to the shoreline of Lake Titicaca at the Puno harbor. There, you can stroll along the boardwalk, spend your money at the giftshops, take endless pictures, check out the boats, and even visit a Titicaca boats museum.

There’s also quite a lively nightlife for a city of this size, due to the large numbers of tourists from all over the world mixing it up with the plethora of artists and musicians of Puno.

Hiking around Puno-
Walking up in the hills just outside the city of Puno affords nice views of the city and lake, but it is quite dangerous! Locals recommend against doing it because tourists are often the victims of armed robberies in the hills.

If you like hiking, here’s an idea: take a colectivo to Chuciuto (19km, 1 Sol, US$ 0.30) and start hiking from there. Next to the highest mountain (with a thin antenna on the top, 4550m) there is a summit where locals bring sacrifices. Fireplaces, flowers and bottles give witness of that.

Beyond the city of Puno, the surrounding area offers lots more touring and sightseeing options.

What to Do & See in the Surrounding Area

Here’s 3 key attractions of the Puno region we recommend. There are many more, depending on your time constraints.

Floating Reed Islands of the Uros-
Lake Titicaca has some 41 floating reed islands on it that are an interesting experience for any traveler. These man-made islands have a fascinating history and story behind them.

Although in modern times it can be argued that they are a bit “touristy” and somewhat artificial, it is also a fact that for thousands of years up to now, the Uros people have lived on and maintained these unique Peruvian islands, depending on the lake for their survival.

Many tour companies offer trips to these reed islands, (as close as 20 minutes from Puno) and some combine reed island stopovers with organized tours of wonderful Taquile island. (a 3 hour boat ride and then spend a few hours on the island.) Definitely go for this combo tour if you have time… it’s great! (and there’s a lot more to see and do on Taquile island than the little reed floaters.)

These tours can be organized from both Copacabana and Puno.

Lake Titicaca-
Another great reason for getting out to the reed islands or Isla Taquile is because this gives you a chance to experience the magic and desolate beauty of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest elevation commercially navigable lake.

Seeing the scenery around you, breathing the clean air, and marveling at the magnificent greenish blue colors of the lake will give you a new perspective of this region and the body of water that has played such a key role in it’s history.

Isla Taquile-
is a fascinating time capsule of wonderfully preserved Peruvian and Bolivian cultures, having stayed the same now for thousands and thousands of years.

If you have time, consider seeing the other islands of the lake as well: Isla Amantani, a 4 hour trip from Puno with boats leaving daily at 8:30 am and also Isla del Sol, easily reachable from Bolivia’s Copacabana.

Sillustani Burial Towers-
Hundreds of years ago, the ancient people from the Altiplano, that lived at the shore of the mystical Lake Titicaca, built a series of funeral towers to bury their kings and other important people of their regions.

The Sillustani towers are perhaps the finest and most perfect cylindrical constructions of ancient Peru, as such perfection can be found nowhere else in South America.

A tour to Sillustani will give you a better view into the life of pre-Inca civilizations, and exploring the area, you can marvel at the great beauty of the Umayo Lagoon, which is located at the foot of Sillustani.

Where to Stay

Comprehensive information on where to stay in Puno is forthcoming on this site as soon as possible… For now, we can say that Wikipedia recommends this hotel popular with foreigners:

Hostal Los Uros- located on Theodóro Valcárcel N8 135, Tel: 051-352141. Its a clean and decent hotel close to the town center. A single room with a shared bathroom costs 20 soles. Be sure to ask for a discount in the low-season.

Getting There & Away

• By Plane:
  Puno is served by the Inca Manco Capac International Airport in nearby Juliaca.

  Puno.com recommends comparing various airlines and ticketing agents with our Travel partner Booking Wiz. (see widget on top right of page)

• By Bus:
  Daily buses depart to and from Cuzco and Arequipa. The ride from Puno to Cuzco takes about 8 hours. There’s a night bus leaving Puno at 19:30 and arriving in Cusco at 4:30 am.

  Daily buses depart to and from La Paz, Bolivia on two slightly different routes:
  1) The direct route, (faster.)
  2) Via ferry boat across Lake Titicaca and Copacabana. (more interesting)

  It’s a good idea to change some Peruvian money at the border in order to be able to pay the ferry in Bolivianos. Be prepared to change buses in Copacabana. (you might lose your good seats.)

• By Train:
  Trains to and from Cuzco travel to Puno only 3 times per week. Other trains travel to Arequipa.

Getting Around

Most people get around town by foot… Taxi’s and mini vans are not hard to find for longer distances. They are called “collectivos”.

Food and Eating Tips

Most tourist spots are in and around Calle Lima. A little bit of bargaining will get you a discount, but don’t push it too far if you want your food prepared without any bodily fluids.

In and around the mercado central are several budget places to eat for less then 3 soles. Also try a fruit juice at one of the many juguerias on the second floor.

• Cafe restaurant Monterrey- at Pasaje Grau 158, has reasonably cheap and good breakfasts.
• Restaurant pizzeria Ollantay- at Pasaje Grau 160, has pizzas, trout and alpaca. Ask for el menú.

Taking Photos

If you enjoy documenting your experiences with photography, a phenomena you are sure to encounter in Puno is that MOST locals seem to hate getting their pictures taken. Unless you’ve got a long lens, catching a natural shot of a local is a challenge.

At first you may chalk this up to thinking the people are just camera shy, but it’s actually much more than that. Once you learn about the local culture, religions, and superstitions, you will discover that most locals believe that your camera sort of “sucks out their soul” when you capture their image. They are quite adamant about avoiding looking into your lens. We recommend you be understanding of this idea and respectful to the people- and don’t push them…

So what’s the best way to get a great shot of a local “being natural” ? Smiling helps, and paying money is always a good strategy…

Puerto Maldonado can be reached throughout the year on daily flights. Flights are scheduled every morning to and from Lima through Cusco by Aerocondor, and  LAN Peru Airlines (28 minutes flight CZ-PEM). The Grupo Aereo Nº 8 have occasional flights and to get a seat you must arrive at the Cusco or Puerto Maldonado airport very early on the day of the flight and be persistent.
The cost of air ticket Lima Puerto Maldonado depending to the season is USD61.00 to 120.00 from Lima  and 35- 49 from Cuzco - Puerto Maldonado(one way).
Puerto Maldonado is accessible from Cusco by truck or bus . Despite the short distance (500 km), the trip take 24 hours, (depending on the weather) because the road is very rough. It is the chepeats way to reach Puerto Maldonado, cost is around 20 dollars, if you chose this option you will cross the oriental andean range with hight mountains over 18 thousand feets.

Conection by bus to Brazil and Bolivia are possible from Puerto Maldonado

Money.

You can change US cash dollars in Banks or money change agencies. For travelers checks you can only go to the Banco de Credito. The bank schedule is Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 am and from 16:00 to 18:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. The money change offices are open daily from 8:00 am until 10:00 p.m.. Just  few places  accept credit cards  in Puerto Maldonado (VISA). Is better to pay for your requested services in advance of your visit. It is normal to ad 5% to the cost if you pay with credit card.

Communications.

For local, national or international calls there are several public phones along the streets. You can also use the community telephone center (a public service) located at the corner of the army square. The post office is located on the main avenue, Leon Velarde, 5 blocks away. Internet cabins are also available close to the main square.

Shopping.

It is better if you buy personal items such as film and batteries for your video or still-life camera, special medicines etc… before your visit Puerto Maldonado. They will be expensive or scarce in town.

Regulations. 

With respect to National Parks and Reserved Zones, visitors are only permitted to visit the latter and only with a guide who must obtain a permit for you. Please realize that it is possible that future visitor numbers to these protected zones could be limited and that, as a result, you will need to arrange your trip far in advance.

Climate.

Temperatures range between 30 to 37o C during the dry season (May to October) and 28 to 33 o C in the rainy season (November to March). Cold spells called “Friajes” come from the South Pole and are frequent from June to August. Friajes will lower the temperature to 9º C for 2 or 3 days.

Sickness prevention.

Similar to requirements to visit any tropical region, you must receive a Yellow-fever vaccination 10 days before visiting these amazon region. Keep your card available upon your arrival to the Puerto Maldonado airport because you will be required to show it to the Health Ministry representatives.

Personal clothing and equipment. Depending how long you plan to stay, you will need light, drip-dry cotton clothing (one set per day), 2 long-sleeved shirts and pants, hiking boots, a raincoat, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit and a sweatshirt or lightweight jacket. Bringing insect repellent, high factor sunscreen, personal medication, water bottle, binoculars, flashlight and spare bulbs and batteries, pocket knife, and a camera with plenty of film (our programs are specially dedicated to photographers) will increase the enjoyment of your visit.
Upon your arrival, photocopy your passport and yellow fever vaccination card.

Tours  Puerto Maldonado  is the starting point for trips to Tambopata, Piedras and the lower part of the Madre de Dios Rivers regions. Many options to select as : Bird watching , canoeing, bike, rent motorbike  (2 dollars per hour) Macaws Clay lick Tailor Made Programs.

We recommend to take a small bag to bring only the necessary luggage  for the days you stay in Tambopata. The rest of the luggage can be left safety in Wasai maldonado Lodger. 

Nasca Lines

On an arid plain 22km north of modern day Nasca are the world famous ‘Nasca Lines’. Straight lines, abstract designs and outlines of animals are etched on the dark desert surface revealing a lighter colored soil beneath. 

Images of birds predominate, some measuring up to 60m across, but there are also outlines of a whale, a dog, a monkey, a spider and a flower. The lines were not ‘discovered’ until spotted from above by aircraft in 1939. They are thought to have been drawn by the Nasca civilization (which reached its peak about 700 AD).

There have been numerous theories about why the lines were drawn. Maria Reiche, a German mathematician who spent most of her life studying the phenomenon, believed they formed part of a giant astronomical calendar. The more eccentric Eric Von Daniken attributes them to visitors from another planet.

As many of the lines are orientated towards water sources, many people now suggest that they are likely to be processional routes designed to be walked upon as part of the ritual worship of water (a very important commodity in the desert).

The best way to see the lines is to take to the sky. Flights over the lines leave regularly throughout the day on small planes which take between 3 and 5 passengers. The flight should last from 30-40 minutes and cost around $40 plus $2 departure tax per person. The flights can be a bit bumpy with less turbulence in the mornings. 

Tours can be organized through several local tour operators or through a reputable hotel (Hotel Nasca Lines and Hotel Alegria are examples).

Aerocondor in Lima also offers flights over the lines  from Lima as part of a 1-day tour.  

Cantalloc Aqueduct & Chauchilla Cemetery

Museo Maria Reiche

Museo Antonini