Puno
Puno is an important city, for being the starting point to visit Lake Titicaca. However, the city itself keeps its own attractions, such as beautiful buildings and colonial churches, as well as a very beautiful surrounding landscape.
What to do in Puno?
Lake Titicaca is definitely the main attraction in Puno as well as its islands, such as Los Uros, which are artificial floating islands, or Amantani and Taquile, where you can live with the ancient customs of the inhabitants. However, in Puno there is much more to see, in the city there are viewpoints from where you can see Lake Titicaca from above, you can also walk through its historic center to appreciate its colonial buildings and churches or walk its main streets where you find handicraft shops, restaurants, bars and coffee.
Lake Titicaca is definitely the main attraction in Puno as well as its islands, such as Los Uros, which are artificial floating islands, or Amantani and Taquile, where you can live with the ancient customs of the inhabitants. However, in Puno there is much more to see, in the city there are viewpoints from where you can see Lake Titicaca from above, you can also walk through its historic center to appreciate its colonial buildings and churches or walk its main streets where you find handicraft shops, restaurants, bars and coffee.
Best tours in Puno:
- Lake Titicaca (Full day tour)
- Lake Titicaca with overnight on Amantaní Island
- Uros Islands
- Chullpas of Sillustani (half day tour)
- Tiwanaku complex (Full day tour)
- Lake Titicaca (Full day tour)
- Lake Titicaca with overnight on Amantaní Island
- Uros Islands
- Chullpas of Sillustani (half day tour)
- Tiwanaku complex (Full day tour)
Where to stay in Puno?
Puno has city center hotels, from where you can tour the historic center, however, it also has beautiful hotels that are located on the shores of Lake Titicaca where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets you have ever seen. These hotels near the lake are ideal for couples on their honeymoon.
Puno has city center hotels, from where you can tour the historic center, however, it also has beautiful hotels that are located on the shores of Lake Titicaca where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets you have ever seen. These hotels near the lake are ideal for couples on their honeymoon.
Best hotels in Puno:
- Hacienda Plaza de Armas Puno
- Sonesta Posada del Inca Lago Titicaca
- GHL Lago Titicaca Hotel (Ex – Libertador Puno)
- Jose Antonio Puno Hotel
- Qalasaya Hotel
- Hacienda Plaza de Armas Puno
- Sonesta Posada del Inca Lago Titicaca
- GHL Lago Titicaca Hotel (Ex – Libertador Puno)
- Jose Antonio Puno Hotel
- Qalasaya Hotel
What to eat in Puno?
Food in Puno is as delicious as in the rest of Peru, however, it is quite simple but always emphasizing the regional flavors. The use of the wood oven is also highlighted, as well as the preparation of food in clay pots, which gives the dishes a special taste. The use of ingredients from the "Mother Earth" (Pachamama) such as potatoes also stand out, as well as grains such as quinoa and meats such as lamb, alpaca and trout.
Food in Puno is as delicious as in the rest of Peru, however, it is quite simple but always emphasizing the regional flavors. The use of the wood oven is also highlighted, as well as the preparation of food in clay pots, which gives the dishes a special taste. The use of ingredients from the "Mother Earth" (Pachamama) such as potatoes also stand out, as well as grains such as quinoa and meats such as lamb, alpaca and trout.
Traditional food in Puno:
- Chairo soup. Traditional soup with lamb meat and guts, jerky, potato, black chuño (dehydrated potato), wheat grain, carrot, leek, celery, yellow pumpkin, seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin, salt and chopped parsley as decoration.
- Quinoa Chupe. Thick quinoa soup, with peas, yellow pumpkin, yellow potatoes and sliced corn, cooked in chicken or vegetable broth. With chopped onion dressing, ground garlic, panca pepper sauce and a jet of evaporated milk and chopped coriander as decoration.
- Fried trout. Crispy and delicious fried trout served with rice, brown potatoes and salad.
- Sajta or Sancochado Puneño. Thick chicken soup cooked with yellow potato, white chuño (dehydrated potato), peas, carrots, seasoned with onion, mirasol chili paste, ground peanuts, salt and pepper.
- Alpaca Chicharron. Alpaca shoulder, dipped in beaten egg and finely ground quinoa to be fried later, served with cheese, white chuño (dehydrated potato) and roasted corn. You can also add some chili sauce.
- Quinua Pesque. Thick quinoa stew seasoned with butter, milk, pepper and salt. Decorated with cheese in pieces to serve.
- Chairo soup. Traditional soup with lamb meat and guts, jerky, potato, black chuño (dehydrated potato), wheat grain, carrot, leek, celery, yellow pumpkin, seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin, salt and chopped parsley as decoration.
- Quinoa Chupe. Thick quinoa soup, with peas, yellow pumpkin, yellow potatoes and sliced corn, cooked in chicken or vegetable broth. With chopped onion dressing, ground garlic, panca pepper sauce and a jet of evaporated milk and chopped coriander as decoration.
- Fried trout. Crispy and delicious fried trout served with rice, brown potatoes and salad.
- Sajta or Sancochado Puneño. Thick chicken soup cooked with yellow potato, white chuño (dehydrated potato), peas, carrots, seasoned with onion, mirasol chili paste, ground peanuts, salt and pepper.
- Alpaca Chicharron. Alpaca shoulder, dipped in beaten egg and finely ground quinoa to be fried later, served with cheese, white chuño (dehydrated potato) and roasted corn. You can also add some chili sauce.
- Quinua Pesque. Thick quinoa stew seasoned with butter, milk, pepper and salt. Decorated with cheese in pieces to serve.
Where to eat in Puno?
Restaurants in Puno are very traditional, they serve the typical food of the region, they use a lot of pork and alpaca meat, as well as the Peruvian potato in many of its varieties and aromatic herbs that give the dishes a special flavor and smell. Puno's food reflects very much the essence of its pre-Columbian history.
Restaurants in Puno are very traditional, they serve the typical food of the region, they use a lot of pork and alpaca meat, as well as the Peruvian potato in many of its varieties and aromatic herbs that give the dishes a special flavor and smell. Puno's food reflects very much the essence of its pre-Columbian history.
Best restaurants in Puno:
- Los Uros (Peruvian, Regional and International food)
- Balcones de Puno (Peruvian, Latin and South American food)
- La Casona Restaurant (Peruvian and International Food, Steakhouse and Pizzeria)
- Ekeko's Restaurant (Peruvian, South American and Fusion food)
- Tulipanes Restaurant (Peruvian Food)
- Los Uros (Peruvian, Regional and International food)
- Balcones de Puno (Peruvian, Latin and South American food)
- La Casona Restaurant (Peruvian and International Food, Steakhouse and Pizzeria)
- Ekeko's Restaurant (Peruvian, South American and Fusion food)
- Tulipanes Restaurant (Peruvian Food)
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