Uros Floating Islands
Dozens of man-made islands woven from totora reed, home to the Uru people and the most famous short trip from Puno. Go for the reed boats, the springy ground underfoot and a glimpse of a way of life built entirely on the lake.
Peru
Puno & Lake Titicaca
Puno is the Peruvian gateway to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, set at about 3,830 meters on the high Andean plateau.
From its harbor, boats cross to the Uros Islands, where families live on floating reed platforms, to Taquile, a Quechua island of terraces and prized textiles, and to Amantani, where you can sleep in a family home and climb to a hilltop temple for sunset. On the mainland, the pre-Inca burial towers of Sillustani rise above Lake Umayo, the Aymara Route links colonial churches and a legendary stone portal, and the Pink City of Lampa and the canyon of Tinajani open the quieter altiplano. In February the Candelaria festival fills the streets with dance and brass bands. This guide books Puno properly: the right island tour, the best homestays, the city and food experiences, onward trips to Cusco and Colca Canyon, and the hotels, from a lake-side upscale stay to small casona-style hotels near the plaza, because at this altitude where you sleep shapes everything.
Don't miss
Uros Floating Islands
Dozens of man-made islands woven from totora reed, home to the Uru people and the most famous short trip from Puno. Go for the reed boats, the springy ground underfoot and a glimpse of a way of life built entirely on the lake.
Sillustani Burial Towers
Tall stone funerary towers on a windy peninsula above Lake Umayo, built by the pre-Inca Colla people. The setting is stunning and the half-day trip from Puno fits neatly into an afternoon.
Taquile Island Day Trip
A car-free Quechua island of terraces, stone arches and some of the finest handwoven textiles in the Andes. Taquile is run by its own community, and the long boat ride and steady climb are part of the reward.
Amantani Island Homestay
Sleep in a family home on a quiet Quechua island, climb to a hilltop temple for sunset and join an evening of music in borrowed island clothes. The two-day Uros, Amantani and Taquile trip is the classic way to see the lake.
Things to do in Puno & Lake Titicaca
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Taquile Island Day Trip
A car-free Quechua island of terraces, stone arches and some of the finest handwoven textiles in the Andes. Taquile is run by its own community, and the long boat ride and steady climb are part of the reward.
Amantani Island Homestay
Sleep in a family home on a quiet Quechua island, climb to a hilltop temple for sunset and join an evening of music in borrowed island clothes. The two-day Uros, Amantani and Taquile trip is the classic way to see the lake.
Sillustani Burial Towers
Tall stone funerary towers on a windy peninsula above Lake Umayo, built by the pre-Inca Colla people. The setting is stunning and the half-day trip from Puno fits neatly into an afternoon.
Kayaking to the Uros Islands
Paddle through the reed channels toward the Uros Islands at a human pace. Kayaking reaches the water the way the Uru people live on it and avoids the crowds of the standard motorboat run.
Overnight Stay on the Uros Islands
Spend the evening and night on a reed island after the day boats have gone. The lake turns quiet and starry, and you share a meal and a simple bed with a family of the Uru community.
Luquina Homestay
A quieter alternative to Amantani, with a night among farming families on the shore of the lake. Luquina suits travelers who want a village stay without the busiest tour circuit.
Llachon and the Capachica Peninsula
A long peninsula of Quechua villages, terraces and quiet beaches that pioneered rural community tourism on Titicaca. It makes a rewarding full-day or overnight trip for those who want the lake without the crowds.
Aymara Route: Chucuito, Juli and Pomata
A full day along the southern shore of Lake Titicaca through Aymara villages, colonial churches and ancient raised fields. It is the best way to see the lake's cultural side by road.
Aramu Muru, the Gate of the Gods
A carved stone portal in the hills above Lake Titicaca, wrapped in legend. Whatever you make of the stories, the site is striking and the surrounding landscape is wild and open.
Chucuito and the Inca Uyo Fertility Temple
A small lakeside town with colonial churches and a walled field of carved stone phalluses that locals link to ancient fertility rites. It is a quick, curious stop on the lake road south of Puno.
Lampa and Pukara Day Route
A day on the Quechua side of the altiplano: the Pink City of Lampa with its grand church, the pre-Inca site of Pukara and the burial towers of Sillustani. It is a good choice for travelers who want history away from the lake.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Lake Titicaca
Lakeside Puno
A larger, international-style hotel on the lake side of Puno, aimed at travelers who want reliable comfort, a full restaurant and easy access to the harbor excursions. A natural choice for the first night after a flight.
Check rates →Hacienda Puno
Puno
A mid-range hotel with a colonial-style feel in the Puno area, popular with travelers who want a comfortable, characterful base for lake trips. Good value for a few nights in town.
Check rates →Hotel Casona Colon Inn
Puno
A converted colonial-style house in the Puno area, with a friendly scale and a convenient base for the city and the lake. A comfortable option for travelers who prefer a smaller hotel.
Check rates →Casona Plaza Hotel Puno
Puno
A comfortable mid-range hotel in the Puno area, set up for tourists with tour desks, breakfast and heated rooms. A practical base for lake trips and day tours.
Check rates →Xima Exclusive Puno
Puno
A modern hotel in Puno, formerly known as the Eco Inn Puno, with an upscale mid-range feel and a lake-side orientation. A good pick for travelers who prefer contemporary rooms to colonial style.
Check rates →Intiqa Hotel
Puno
A boutique-style hotel in Puno that focuses on comfort, design and attentive service. A strong choice for travelers who want a quieter, more polished stay than the standard tour hotels.
Check rates →Hotel Tika Puno
Puno
A small, modern hotel in Puno that appeals to independent travelers looking for a clean, comfortable room at a fair price. A handy base for day trips and early boat departures.
Check rates →Tierra Viva Puno Plaza
Near the Plaza de Armas
A well-regarded hotel from a Peruvian boutique-hotel group, positioned as a polished option in Puno with comfortable rooms and a plaza-area address. A good all-round mid-range pick.
Check rates →Hotel Suite Juliaca
Juliaca
A practical hotel in Juliaca, the airport town about an hour from Puno. Useful for early or late flights, onward trips on the altiplano or when Puno is fully booked.
Check rates →Royal Inn Hotel Juliaca
Juliaca
Another dependable option in Juliaca for travelers who need a comfortable night near the airport and the roads to Puno and Cusco. Straightforward, practical and good for early starts.
Check rates →Puno & Lake Titicaca guides
First-Timer's Guide to Puno and Lake Titicaca: What to Book, Altitude and Getting Around
The practical primer for Peru's side of Lake Titicaca: which tours to book ahead, how many days to allow, how to handle altitude and how to get there from Cusco, Arequipa and Lima.
Where to Stay in Puno and Lake Titicaca: Neighborhoods, Homestays and Our Ten Hotels
Whether to sleep in central Puno, on the lake side, in Juliaca or with a family on an island, and how each of our ten hotels suits a different trip.
Puno and Lake Titicaca in Three Days: An Itinerary
A three-day plan for Puno that balances the Uros and Taquile, Sillustani, city sights and a gentle first day for altitude.
Eating and Drinking in Puno: Trout, Quinoa, Alpaca and Altitude Tips
What to eat in Puno and on Lake Titicaca: trout, quinoa soups, chuno, alpaca, markets, street snacks, warming drinks and advice for eating well at altitude.
Best Time to Visit Lake Titicaca: Seasons, Festivals and Weather in Puno
When to go to Puno and Lake Titicaca: the dry and wet seasons, cold nights, the Candelaria festival and how the weather affects boat trips and tours.
Uros, Taquile, Amantani or Llachon: Which Lake Titicaca Island Tour Is Right for You?
How to choose between the half-day Uros trip, the full-day Taquile tour, the two-day Amantani homestay and quieter options such as Llachon, Luquina and kayaking.
