Puno, Peru

Cathedral of Puno, Peru
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:P8100195_kerk_Puno_Peru.JPG
Author: Titico


Puno is a city in the southeastern part of Peru. Located by the shore of Lake Titicaca, it serves as the provincial and regional capital of the eponymous province and region. Puno is 3,860 m (12,421 ft) above sea level, and with a population of 100,000 people (2011 estimate), it is one of the biggest cities of that size at that height.

Due to its high elevation, Puno experiences a harsh climate. In winter, the temperature here may drop to -6°C. Average high temperature is around 17°C. Rainfall is heaviest in January, at 160 mm, followed by March, at 134 mm.

Puno was established in 1668 by Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro and was originally named San Juan Bautista de Puno. Its was later renamed San Carlos de Puno, in honor of King Charles II of Spain. The city has grown over time into a major agricultural hub and center for the raising of livestock, particularly llamas and alpacas.

Landscape in Puno
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Islas_de_Puno_-_Peru.jpg
Author: Incacity


Visitors come to Puno to experience its rural feel and view the landscape of villages beside Lake Titicaca, where the country people build floating islands of reed.

Visiting Puno

You can reach Puno by train from Cusco. There are three trains per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Satudays - as long as there are enough passengers for a trip. You can also reach Puno by bus from Cusco and Arequipa. The bus journey takes between 5 to 8 hours to reach Puno.

Floating islands of Puno
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photo_-_Floating_Islands_(Puno,_Peru).JPG
Author: Jpduchesneau

Places of Interest in Puno

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