Puno is a small city between the shores of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding mountains. It provides easy access to the many islands of the lake with daily boat trips. It is also interesting in its own right as a colonial city and there are some fine churches as well as the cathedral, which is famous for its carvings. As the city has grown it has expanded up the hillsides and there are some very steep streets which reward the visitor with wonderful views of the lake. There is a small harbour on the shoreline where visitors can stroll along the boardwalk, check out the gift shops and admire views of the lake.
Puno is known as the Folkloric Capital of Peru due to its rich cultural heritage which has influences from 2 ancient civilisations, the Quechua of the north and the Aymara of the south plus Spanish colonial history. Puno holds many folklore festivals throughout the year, some celebrating Andean beliefs, others purely religious in nature. There is a museum with a collection of pre-Hispanic and Colonial art, including Moche pottery, Inca silverwork and Paracas textiles.
