Peru Guide
The Titicaca Basin
Puno
With a dry, chilly climate – temperatures frequently fall below freezing in the winter nights of July and August – PUNO is just a crossroads to most travellers, en route between Cusco and Bolivia or Chile. In some ways this is fair, for it's a breathless place with a burning daytime sun in stark contrast to icy evenings. Yet the town is immensely rich in both living tradition as well as its fascinating pre-Columbian history. It's famed as the folkore capital of Peru and renowned throughout the Andes for its music and dance.
The Pukara culture emerged here some 3000 years ago leaving behind stone pyramids and carved standing stones, contemporaneous with those of Chavín 1600km further north but still high up in the Andes. The better-known Tiahuanuco culture dominated the Titicaca basin between 800 and 1200 AD, leaving in its wake the temple complex of the same name, just over the border in Bolivia, plus widespread cultural and religious influence. The settlement was conquered by the Incas in the fifteenth century and when the Spanish arrived little more than one hundred years later they were soon to discover its wealth – both in terms of tribute-based agriculture and mineral exploitation based on a unique form of slave labour. Even today, Puno's port is a vital staging point for exploring the northern end of Lake Titicaca, with its floating islands and beautiful island communities just a few hours away by boat.
Puno Tour Operators
1 All Ways Travel Jr Tacna 234 
051/355552 
sales@titicacaperu.com 
www.titicacaperu.com The most progressive, friendly and helpful of all the tour companies in Puno and the Titicaca region, running most of the usual tours but also offering trips to the wildlife haven of Anapia, close to the Bolivian border, where they work with locals on a sustainable tourism project. They have semi-rapida ($18) and rapida ($42) boats for their full day trips to the Uros and Taquile. This company is involved in social tourism in the Capachica Peninsula and the three islands of Anapia where they help with educational projects in the community (the island of Yuspique can be visited in small sailing boats for its vicuña nursery).
2 Cusi Expeditions Teodoro Valcarcel 164 051/369072 A reliable company offering all the usual tours at reasonable prices: Sillustani, Uros, Taquile, Amantani. Also offer trips to Anapia.
3 Edgar Adventures Jr Lima 328 051/353444 www.edgaradventures.com Edgar leads island tours at average prices, but more interestingly they also offer kayaking, horseback trips and visits to Chucuito and the Templo de Fertilidad from about $12 a person, as long as there are four or more in the group.
4 Leon Tours Jr Libertad 176 051/352771 leontiticaca@terra.com.pe A highly recommended travel agent representing Transturin in Puno, and specializing in catamaran trips to Bolivia (full day by bus to Copacabana, catamaran to Isla del Sol, then bus to La Paz). They also run tours to Sillustani, Uros, Amantani, Taquile and Tinajani; plus turismo rustico with local shaman either on Amantani or near Juli; and offer adventure tourism, mainly in the Cordillera Carabaya (around 5000m), and also down to the rainforest along the Inambari with boats and 4WD vehicles.
5 Titikayak Jr Bolognesi 334 051/367747 www.titikayak.com Kayak tour specialists, with all trips are supported by boats and qualified guides; life-jackets and safety equipment supplied. Most excursions depart from Puno with the options of half- to five-day options.
6 Zarate Expediciones Aventuras Jr Tacna 246 051/369551354180 zarateexpeditionpuno@hotmail.com An offshoot of the well-known Zarate family from Arequipa, they offer tours to the Uros, Taquile, Amantani, Sillustani and other lakeside attractions.
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