ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF PUNO

The Cathedral

Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 7:30-12:00 and 15:00-18:00.
Built of stone in the eighteenth century by the Peruvian master stonemason Simon de Asto, whose name is inscribed in the portal, the Baroque cathedral is an example of local mestizo architecture.

PUNO
Islands of Uros, Titicaca Lake, Puno
Festival of the Virgin of the Calendaria,

Chucuito
Located 18 km south of Puno and about 30 minutes drive, this is one of the oldest towns in the area. Its beautiful main square, the Church of the Asunción (1601) and the Church of Santo Domingo (sixteenth century) gave it great importance during colonial times. The temple of Inca Uyo, featuring stone sculptures in the shape of a phallus, is located in the outskirts of Chucuito and is believed to be a place for fertility rites.

Ilave
Located 56 km south of the city of Puno and about 1 h drive, Ilave has interesting Colonial churches such as San Miguel de Ilave and Santa Bárbara.

Juli
Located 84 km south of Puno and about 1 h 25 minutes drive, Juli was key district for Jesuits who established themselves in this locality and organized a model experimental center to train missionaries for Paraguay and Bolivia. Among its most important churches are San Juan de Letrán, San Pedro Mártir and Santa Cruz de Jerusalén, and the Casa de la Inquisición, or Casa Zavala, in the Main Square.

Pomata
Located 108 km south of Puno and about 1 h 30 minutes drive, this village has a beautiful view of the Lake and the Copacabana peninsula, as well as an example of pure mestizo architecture, the Church of Santiago Apóstol.

Putina Hot Springs
Visits: Tuesaday to Sunday 8:00-21:00.
Located 124 km north of the city of Puno and about 3 h 30 minutes drive, these hot springs, with medicinal properties to cure arthritis and rheumatism, are located in the district of Putina.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
Cala-Cala Vicuña Reserve.

FOLKLORE
The folklore of Puno is characterized by the variety of its musical expressions which comprise dance, music and Peruvian traditions. The most important Puno dances include wifala de asillo, carnival of Ichu, Llamerada, Pujllay de Santiago, tuntuna, khashua de Capachica, machu-tusuj, kcajelo, diablada and pandilla puneña.