Puno and Lake Titicaca Today

By John Howison

While Puno has a rich and interesting history, the city today is relatively non-descript city of approximately 90,000 people. The city's major drawing card is its proximity to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Puno's tourism industry is well-developed and can accommodate the needs of all types of travelers. The problems is that aside from the Lake the city has little to offer.

At 3800 meters,  Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable body of water in the world and is home to the famous Uros Floating Islands. Indian communities sometimes as small as just a couple of dozen people building floating islands out of totora reeds.

Contemporary Puno and Lake Titicaca have maintained their significance to Peru’s indigenous populations.  Those living around the Lake are mainly of Aymara descent and for many, Spanish is their second language.  Many Peruvians think Lake Titicaca is a magical place that is the birthplace of their people. According to Inca mythology the first Inca chief, Manco Cápac, rose out of Lake Titicaca. Hence, Puno's festivals and celebrations are among the most vibrant in Peru. A chance to see the dances, listen to the music or attend the fiestas of Puno’s indigenous population should not be missed.

One interesting Lake Titicaca tidbit is that according to legend, when the Spanish invaded Peru, the Incas took Inca Huascar’s massive gold chain that weighed 2200 kilos and dumped in into Lake Titicaca. The legend was taken seriously enough that legendary underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau mounted an expedition searching for it. Unfortunately, however, he found nothing more than a 60 cm, tri-colored frog that never surfaces. Not 2200 kilos of gold, but not far off.