Puno
Puno is Lake Titicaca’s only major city, and most travelers will pass through here while heading towards other destinations around the lake. The city is only mildly attractive, but is surrounded by seriously spectacular scenery.
Puno has a wide range of hotels, restaurants, and traveler services. As such, it’s a good place to restock and refuel before traveling onward to other spots around Lake Titicaca.
Puno was originally used as a stopping point for people traveling between Arequipa and the Potosí mine, which is located in present-day Bolivia. However, a silver mine was discovered nearby in 1688 and the town was renamed as San Carlos de Puno. It was during this time that many of Puno’s churches and buildings were built.
One example is the Catedral Basílica San Carlos Borromeo, which is located in the Plaza de Armas. Built in the 17th century, the church sports an impressively carved façade but a relatively simple interior. Next door is the Casa del Corregidor, which also dates back to the 17th century and was built by Father Silvestre de Valdés, who ran the construction of the cathedral.
While here, take a stroll down Lima, Puno’s pedestrian street. This street sports the city’s best restaurants and is a good place to eat, shop, and explore. Try chairo, a local soup dish, or any number of the fresh fish options while eating at these restaurants. There are also a few shops that have weavings and clothing made from alpaca wool.
Puno has a few museums to visit, but one of the most interesting cultural attractions is just outside of town. The Yavari is an antique ship that was sent from England in 1862. Sent in pieces, it took six years for the entire ship to arrive in Puno.
Puno hosts an assortment of religious festivals throughout the year. Nearly 300 festivals take place around Lake Titicaca each year, and if you’re in this area during one of them, it’s probably worth checking out. The celebrations are colorful and fun, with lots of dancing and music. A particularly impressive dance is La Diablada, which is performed each year on February 2 during Puno’s Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria. The dance portrays a battle between angels and devils.
Aside from exploring the town and its festivals, there are a number of other activities that travelers can enjoy while staying in Puno. Explore Lake Titicaca on kayak or by motorboat—you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the lake and surrounding hillsides while you’re out on the glassy water. Other activities include biking, birding, and horseback riding.
Puno itineraries from local insiders
Explore hand-picked Puno itineraries designed by local insiders who know every hidden corner. Each trip is completely flexible, customized to your pace, travel style, and budget.
Family Expedition Across Peru
Elisa and her Greek family explored Peru’s diverse landscapes on a memorable 20 day adventure. They journeyed from the Paracas desert and Huacachina dunes to the high Andes of Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu. Friendly local guides shared traditions and stories, letting the family feel Peru’s warm hospitality and leaving them with a deeper appreciation for its vibrant heritage.
Andean Peaks to Lake Titicaca
The Anywhere team was planning and helping us thru out the process. Right from picking us up from the airport to dropping us back to the hotel. They created a WhatsApp group to communicate with us every day and answered our questions within a few minutes. Thanks to Lisbeth and Jose in Cusco. Eduardo in Machu Pichu, Anna Maria in Puno and Sara and Samuel in Lima. They are worked like a team to ensure our trip was well planned and executed. Big thanks to Cesar for the great planning and suggestions along the way.
Excursion Together
Laura explored Peru’s diverse landscapes on a curated 10‑day adventure that blended culture, history, and nature. She began in Lima’s coastal desert, visited the Palomino Islands for sea‑lion spotting, then trekked the high‑altitude ruins of Cusco and the Sacred Valley before sailing on Lake Titicaca’s shimmering plateau. Guides shared local customs and stories, letting her taste dishes and feel the timeless rhythm of Peruvian life, leaving her with an appreciation for the country’s vibrant heritage.
Experience The Heart of Peru
Very professional service, very good organization overall. Everything went smoothly. We ABSOLUTELY will recommend Anywhere.com to our friends. And for our future trips, we will first look at what anywhere.com is offering before looking elsewhere.
Inca, Lake, & Culture Family Adventure
We were blown away by the beauty of the country—from the highland Lake Titicaca to the cultural experiences at Arequipa. We were so impressed with the Machu Picchu experience...we have to come back and explore more of Peru!
An Epic Peruvian Family Journey
Peru is bursting with history, interesting sites and friendly people and tourists from all parts of the world. We wished our hotels were a bit better and should have requested upgrades for a reasonably higher price. We have already recommended Peru to family and friends. Our photos and videos on Facebook have evoked several inquiries. I would certainly like to visit Peru again along with other countries of South America.
Peruvian Highlights for One
Take yourself to a whirlwind adventure through one of South America’s most vibrant countries with this ‘best of’ expedition through Peru.
The Heart of The Incas
Trips like this don't cross your path every day. To get to the heart of Incan culture, you should taste their food, walk in their footsteps, and touch the sky.
Our Quest for Peruvian Adventures
The three of us have been dreaming about this trip for a long time. Everything was well arranged. We just had to be dressed, wait for our ride, and enjoy.
Our Machu Picchu Getaway
Absolutely, your services are impeccable, reliable, well organized and executed.
Amazing Peru Anniversary Adventure
Anywhere Peru made our dream 38th-anniversary trip come true!
We Experienced Peru's Diversity
This trip was very well planned with professional and kind representatives helping us throughout. I would highly recommend Anywhere.com's Peru Team. Thank you for a wonderful trip!
Amazing Peaks and Majestic Ruins
PERU! is getting there. There are several areas where, for instance plastic bottles can be reused, by hotels providing large dispensers to refill existing bottles.
The VIP Experience in Peru
I really could not be happier. The Anywhere Team made me feel like a VIP my entire time in Peru. The hotels were very nice & safe. The food was fantastic. Transportation was smooth, nice trains, safe airlines. I recommend Peru to all travelers!
Experiences in Puno
Explore hand-picked Puno tours and experiences led by local insiders, from wildlife encounters to cultural deep-dives.
Lake Titicaca Full Day Tour
City Tour La Paz and Moon Valley
Day Cruise Puno to La Paz by Catamaran and buses
Chile Extension- San Pedro de Atacama 3 Days/2 nights
Chile Extension - Santiago de Chile Package 5 Days/4nights
Titicaca Deluxe Train - Puno to Cusco
Day Cruise La Paz to Puno by Catamaran and buses
Tiahuanaco Full Day Tour
Uros Floating Islands HD
Full Day Tiwanaku La Paz to Puno
Chullpas of Sillustani Tour
Cultural Tour & Transportation from Puno to Cusco
Where to stay in Puno
From boutique lodges to luxury resorts, every Puno accommodation is hand-picked by our local insiders for location, comfort, and character.
Hotel Jose Antonio in Puno
Hotel Jose San Antonio is right on the shore of Lake Titicaca. During your stay here you’ll have an unparalleled view of the lake and the surrounding villages.
Tierra Viva Puno Plaza
Tierra Viva Puno is just a few minutes’ drive from the edge of Lake Titicaca. When you stay here you’ll be walking distance from Puno’s top attractions, including the 18th century Puno Cathedral.
Posada del Inca Lake Titicaca
Posadas del Inca Lake Titicaca is set just outside Puno. The hotel has large, comfortable rooms and a lovely lakeside setting.
GHL Hotel Lake Titicaca
GHL Hotel Lake Titicaca is located on a small private island just outside Puno. The hotel offers guests comfortable rooms with unparalleled views of the lake.
Refugio del Colibri
Nestled on the outskirts of Puno, the capital of the Peruvian highlands, Refugio del Colibri offers a modest retreat for travelers who value simplicity and reliability. The hotel sits a short walk from the city’s main thoroughfare and within easy reach of the lakefront that borders Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water. Its position allows guests to step out of the building and immediately feel the altitude‑induced crispness of the Andean air while remaining close to the services and markets of downtown Puno.
Palacio de Sal Hotel in Uyuni
On the shores of the majestic Salar de Uyuni -under an astonishing sky full of magnificent colours and stars- stands, bursting with historical significance, the Palacio de Sal (The Salt Palace). A haven of magical moments where every end of the day is the evidence of an irrefutable fact: no dream, however extraordinary it may seem, is ever diluted before it comes true.
Luna Salada Salt Hotel in Uyuni
Luna Salada Hotel built purely out of salt blocks, offers a high-level Andean Cuisine, Free Wi-Fi internet access in the Lobby, free parking and a very complete buffet breakfast. A Unique hotel offering rooms with stunning panoramic views of the Uyuni salt flats, which are finely decorated with salt blocks and handicrafts of the area, also equipped with heating, seating areas and private bathrooms. Luna Salada is situated on the edge of the salt flats and the small town of Uyuni is 25 km away, where the Joya Andina Airport is also situated . The restaurant offers regional and international dishes. You can request lunch and dinner for a fee. You can enjoy reading a book in the fireplace area or as well book an excursion to visit the salt mine. There is also a games room with pool tables and ping pong. In addition, it offers a bicycle rental service
Hotel Magnolia in Santiago de Chile
Following a meticulous two-year total renovation of a 1929 mansion in Santiago's historic downtown, Hotel Magnolia opened formally in July 2016, with a soft opening since early August. The 42-room hotel is the first of its kind in the city's "El Centro" neighborhood: a seamless fusion of the city's past and its future, offering historic beauty together with luxe accommodations, a gourmet restaurant, and a pitch-perfect location at the foot of the Cerro Santa Lucia hilltop park.
Insider-led Peru Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
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Better stays, better pacing, better reservations.
Insider-only experiences and exclusive local partners.
24/7 in-country support by phone, text, and WhatsApp.
Insider-led Peru Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
