Puno, a sea in the sky Location Southern Andes at 3,827 meters above sea level. Climate It’s dry and extremely cold, with bright sunshine during the day and temperature dropping under zero at night. The rainy season is between September and April. Landscape Highlands, there is Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world […]
Puno, a sea in the sky
Location
Southern Andes at 3,827 meters above sea level.
Climate
It’s dry and extremely cold, with bright sunshine during the day and temperature dropping under zero at night. The rainy season is between September and April.
Landscape
Highlands, there is Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,810 meters above sea level) with natural islands like “Taquile” and artificial ones like “Uros” made with totora (a kind of straw) by the people who live there.
History
The territories of Puno were inhabited by cultures before Incas, especially by the Tiahuanaco Empire, which had expanded through the whole Peruvian-Bolivian highlands. The most important archaeological sites is the Sillustani Incas tombs called “chulpas”.
Activities
You can do excursions and camps around Lake Titicaca. You can also take boat trips on the lake itself.
Lake Titicaca, a night with its inhabitants
In the Titicaca Lake are two big islands, Taquile and Amantani. Taquile is unique for many reasons. First, its inhabitants wear distinctive clothes: for men, black pants, white shirt and colorful, woven sash called “chumpi”; for women, traditional skirts and long black tunics called “llicllas”. On the islands there are no vehicles, roads, police or electricity, and, curiously enough, no dogs. Perhaps, the most interesting characteristic of the people of Taquile is their solid sense of community, and their belief that to be lazy is a sin.
On our two day trip to the Titicaca Lake, we stayed one night at the quiet and peaceful island named Amantani. We got there in the early afternoon and the family, who let us stay with them at their home, met us at the port and took us to their house, where we had lunch. In the late afternoon we could watch a lovely sunset from the top of a hill at the temple of Mamapacha (the mother earth). In the evening, after dinner, we went to the community house, where the people of the island played music and danced with us, like we were members of the town.
Note: There is a train that goes to Puno from Cusco and also from Arequipa, although the night train from Arequipa to Puno is not considered safe because of bandits along the way.
Peru Facts
Location
Peru is located on the central west coast of South America. This privileged location gives our country and amazing diversity of landscapes and environments.
The country is divided into 3 large regions: the coast (bathed by the Pacific Ocean), the Andes (with fertile valleys between snow covered peaks), and the rainforest (where the human is only a visitant).
Population & Language
Peru has a population of some 24 million inhabitants, primarily “mestizos” (mixed race). The official language is Spanish, and in the Andes regions the people speak “Quechua” (the native language) too. In the Peruvian Amazon (jungle) are another 55 languages.
Currency
Our currency is the “Nuevo Sol” (new sun) and the change rate is US$ 1.00 = S/ 3.50 nuevos soles. As a reference, you can buy a beer (350 ml. bottle) for US$1.40. Click here for a currency converter.
Entry Requirements
You don’t need to get a Visa in your country, you can enter Peru and in the airport the Immigration Office gives you immediately the TOURIST VISA for 3 months.
Only the people from African, Asian (not Japan) and some Central and South American countries need to get a Visa in a Peruvian Embassy in their countries.
Vaccination
You don’t need vaccinations to enter to Peru. However, to go to the jungle you have to get the Yellow Fever and Malaria vaccinations (you can get it in the airport). In the rest of the country only be careful with the water you drink (don’t drink non boiled water) and don’t eat mayonnaise.
Airlines Companies
From USA: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, and United Airlines.
From EUROPE: KLM, IBERIA, LUFTHANSA, British Airways, Alitalia, and AEROFLOT.
From Central and South America: LAN CHILE, AVIANCA, SERVIVENSA, LACSA, TACA, COPA, ACES, AEROPOSTAL, AEROMEXICO, AEROCONTINENTE, AerolÃÂneas Argentinas, LAB, VARIG, SAETA, and Cubana de Aviación.
From Asia and Oceania: QANTAS, JAL, and Singapore Airlines.
Links
For more information you can visit this web site: Indiana-Expedition.com