subject: Puno And Titicaca [print this page] Titicaca is a true crown jewel of Peruvian natural environment and travel attractiveness of the country. It is one of the main points of destination for foreigners while paying a visit to Peru. Therefore, it is reasonable that Puno became famous tourist resort being located on the south-western shores of the lake. Especially, it is related to close proximity to other natural attractions within Andes mountain chain.
Puno is one of the original cities in Peru, insomuch as it was founded in 1668 by Viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernndez de Castro. There were several name transformations before it obtained the modern title. In particular, it was San Juan Bautista de Puno initially, but later it was called after King Charles II of Spain - San Carlos de Puno.
Of course, Titicaca Lake is the prime reason to visit Puno. The same-named national park draws an attention with a variety of animal and plant species: flamingos, Andean geese, gulls and local cane, which became the main material for housings. This area has also long-standing history as the place, where the first civilization was formed. The archeological researches discovered a buried city on the bottom of the lake, which dates back to the 9-10th centuries A. D. There are also marvelous floating islands, covered with Titicaca cane, which appear to be residencies for nearly 10 families per isle. The population is mainly represented by Uros Indians, which is why Puno is also honored to be the cultural capital of Peru.
While taking a trip to Puno, one should also consider where to stay. It is possible to find some residency in the city, as well as on Titicaca islands. Speaking of hotels in Puno, it is appropriate to point out 4 and 5-star accommodation. Libertador is 5-star hotel, located on the Esteves Island. It has all the facilities one can imagine in luxury resort, besides 111 deluxe rooms and 12 suites. Sonesta Posada del Inca Lake Titicaca has lower ranking, but it is located in the Puno area. In particular, it is 5 km away from historic center of the city. On the contrary, there is Casa Andina Private in the city center. It is an ideal choice for those travelers, who would like to combine comfort and budget accommodation. Casona Plaza with 21 rooms 3-star hotel located in the heart of Puno, one block from the central Plaza de Armas, close to the financial and cultural centers, souvenir markets.
