What to Do in Puno If You’ve Already Been to Uros and Taquile

Uros and Taquile are the postcard. But Puno has much more beneath the surface: pre-Inca ruins, markets that nobody visits, kayaking on the lake, festivals that will change your perspective on the Andean world. This guide is for those who already know the classics and want the real Puno.

Chullpas of Sillustani — The Cemetery That Defies Physics

35 km from Puno, the funerary towers of the Colla culture rise over Lake Umayo. The most fascinating part: their diameter is wider at the top than at the base — something modern engineers still can’t fully explain. At sunset, their silhouettes against the Andean sky are epic.

Kayak Through Uros — The Lake from Within

You’ve seen the islands from the boat. Now explore them by kayak: no engine, in silence, through reed channels at water level. A completely different experience that puts you face-to-face with the lake’s ecosystem. Ideal for an early start to take advantage of the calm at sunrise.

Cutimbo — The Chullpas That Nobody Visits

If Sillustani impressed you, Cutimbo is its wilder, lonelier version: Colla funerary towers on top of a volcanic plateau, with condors soaring overhead and almost no tourists. 25 km from Puno, it’s one of the best-kept secrets of the highlands.

Titicaca National Reserve — Highland Wildlife

The Titicaca National Reserve protects 36,180 hectares of reed beds and shallow waters. Here, the Titicaca grebe, Andean flamingo, and giant coot nest. A slow boat ride through the reeds at sunrise is one of the quietest and most beautiful experiences the lake has to offer.

Puno Central Market — The Puno That Doesn’t Make It to Instagram

The Laykakota market is where the people of Puno shop: fruits you’ve never seen in your life, potato varieties that only exist in the highlands, street food for breakfast for less than a dollar. Arrive early, eat chicharrón with bread, and watch how the city really works.

Casa del Corregidor — Coffee, Art, and Living Folklore

One of Puno’s best-preserved colonial houses, now a cultural café. On Fridays and Saturdays, it hosts authentic folk music and dance shows — not the tourist spectacle, but local artists playing for Puno’s residents. Grab a hot api and stay to listen.

Puno Cathedral and the Condor Viewpoint

The baroque cathedral on the Plaza de Armas is one of the finest examples of mestizo colonial architecture. Afterwards, climb up to the Condor viewpoint: stairs, yes, but from the top you’ll see the lake, the city, and the highland hills in a single frame. Worth the effort at any hour.

Amantaní Island — Night with a Local Family

If you only visited Taquile on a day trip, Amantaní is another dimension. You stay in an Aymara family’s home, dine on what they grow on the island, hike up Pachamama Hill before dawn, and at night dance in borrowed traditional costumes in the square. An experience very few people forget.

Chucuito and the Temple of Fertility

18 km from Puno, the colonial village of Chucuito hides the Temple of Inca Uyu: a site filled with stone phallic sculptures dating back to Inca times, whose exact purpose archaeologists still debate. Curious, historical, and almost tourist-free. Combine it with Cutimbo for a full-day route.

Bike Route Along the Lake Shore

South from Puno, the Titicaca shoreline has stretches of bike paths and dirt roads with direct lake views. Rent a bike in town and pedal to Ichu or Chucuito. The altitude is felt, but the open highland landscape with the lake in the background is priceless.

📌 Practical Tips

• The altitude doesn’t forgive — At 3,812 m, any physical activity requires prior acclimatization. Rest well your first night.

• Bring soles in cash — Markets, bikes, and local tours don’t accept cards. Withdraw before leaving the center.

• The weather changes quickly — Sun at 10 AM, hail at noon. Always carry a waterproof layer in your backpack.

• Check local festivities — There might be celebrations happening during your visit!

12/06/2026