Puno sits at over 3,800 metres above sea level on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the vast, cobalt-blue lake shared by Peru and Bolivia and revered by the Inca as the birthplace of the sun. Known as Peru's "Folkloric Capital" for its exuberant festivals, music and dance, Puno is also the gateway to some of South America's most singular cultures — from the reed-built floating islands of the Uros to the weaving communities of Taquile.
Few arrivals in South America feel as cinematic as reaching Puno by rail. The Belmond Andean Explorer, the continent's first luxury sleeper train, crosses the high Altiplano from Cusco, climbing to nearly 4,800 metres before descending to the lakeshore at Puno, where passengers step off for excursions onto the lake itself. It is a journey as remarkable as the destination.
Beyond the water, Puno rewards travellers with pre-Inca funerary towers, a lively colonial plaza, and a food culture built on trout, quinoa and alpaca that reflects the resourcefulness of life at altitude. Whether for a day or two, Puno is best experienced slowly, allowing time to acclimatise and to take in the scale of the lake and sky.
- ✦Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake
- ✦Uros floating reed islands
- ✦UNESCO-listed weaving on Taquile Island
- ✦Pre-Inca chullpas at Sillustani
- ✦Colonial Plaza de Armas and cathedral
- ✦Peru's Folkloric Capital
- ✦Arrival aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer
Places to See in Puno
Lake Titicaca
The world's highest navigable lake, straddling the Peru–Bolivia border, is the reason travellers come to Puno. Its deep blue waters, intense Altiplano light and surrounding peaks make it one of South America's most striking natural sights, best appreciated from a boat.
Uros Floating Islands
Around 45 to 60 minutes by boat from Puno's harbour, these extraordinary man-made islands are woven entirely from totora reeds by the Uros people, whose ancestors built them centuries ago for safety and independence. Visitors can walk on the spongy reed platforms, learn how the islands are constructed and maintained, and ride in a traditional reed boat.
Taquile Island
A further two to three hours across the lake, Taquile is a rocky, terraced island whose Quechua-speaking community is famous for hand-woven textiles recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Car-free and crossed by ancient stone paths, it offers sweeping lake views and a glimpse of a distinctive social and textile tradition passed down through generations.
Sillustani
About 30 km outside Puno on the shores of Lake Umayo stands Sillustani, a pre-Inca burial ground of the Qolla people. Its chullpas — cylindrical stone funerary towers, some over 12 metres tall — held the mummified remains of nobility and are among the finest examples of pre-Columbian funerary architecture in the Andes.
Plaza de Armas and Puno Cathedral
Puno's main square is anchored by its 18th-century Baroque cathedral, built from volcanic sillar stone, along with colonial-era buildings that reflect the city's history as a colonial silver-trading and later railway town.
Yavari Museum Ship
Moored on the lakeshore, the Yavari is a 19th-century British-built iron gunship, transported over the Andes in pieces by mule in the 1870s and later restored as a floating museum — a remarkable relic of Lake Titicaca's steam-navigation era.
Kuntur Wasi Viewpoint
Reached by a staircase lined with colourful houses above the city, this hillside mirador offers panoramic views over Puno's rooftops to the lake beyond — a favourite spot for sunset.
Museo Carlos Dreyer
This compact museum near the Plaza de Armas houses pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles and metalwork from the region's Tiwanaku, Qolla and Inca cultures, offering useful context before venturing out onto the lake.
Food & Gastronomy
Puno's cuisine is shaped by altitude: hearty, warming dishes built around lake fish, ancient grains and Andean camelid meat, developed over centuries to sustain life on the cold, high Altiplano.
- Trucha Frita (Fried Trout) — the signature dish of Lake Titicaca, pan-fried whole and served with potatoes, rice and salad; the lake's cold, clear water produces trout prized for its delicate flavour.
- Pesque de Quinua — a creamy quinoa porridge cooked with milk and fresh cheese, often eaten at breakfast; Puno is Peru's largest quinoa-producing region.
- Chairo — a substantial soup of lamb, dried chuño (freeze-dried potato), broad beans, vegetables and herbs, traditionally eaten to fortify against the Altiplano cold.
- Alpaca Steak (Lomo de Alpaca) — lean, tender alpaca meat, grilled or stewed, a staple protein of the high Andes valued for being both nutritious and sustainably raised.
- Cancacho — slow-roasted lamb or alpaca marinated in ají panca and spices, a festive dish often served at celebrations.
- Quispiño — small steamed quinoa-flour cakes, typically eaten alongside soups or as a savoury snack.
On board the Belmond Andean Explorer, chefs translate these Altiplano staples into a refined dining-car menu, pairing regional ingredients such as trout, quinoa and Andean potatoes with contemporary technique — a fitting overture to Puno's own markets and comedores.
