3 SIGHTS TO SEE FROM PUNO, PERU

With the lovely Taypikala Lago Hotel as my base in Puno, I took two day trips from there to see three of this quiet little town's famous landmarks. In no particular order:

1. LAKE TITICACA

It was a good decision to stay at the Taypikala Lago as the hotel offers picturesque views of this body of water, considered as the highest navigable lake in the world that cuts thru Peru & Bolivia. Its waters are from different rivers mixed with the glacial waters of the Andes mountains, maintaining a 6C water temperature during the time I was there in October 2014. I totally loved living on the banks of the lake - it was so peaceful, I could hear myself think for a change.

The lake has some of the cleanest waters I've ever seen!

Beautiful sunset on the lake from my strategically-located hotel.

Panoramic window framing the breathtaking lake view on a quiet morning, right after breakfast when everyone had left and I cancelled a sightseeing tour to just unwind in the hotel grounds.

2. UROS ISLAND

Uros Island is fascinating: completely made from at least 12ft of Totora reeds - the process of making this floating island takes a full year to complete, but it can last a whopping 30 years when properly maintained! Only 5 families live here and they subsist by fishing and accepting visitors. The kids here are really playful to visitors, as they don't get to play much with their parents who are always busy fishing, weaving, knitting. Their young leader ensures that there's always enough for everyone to eat. For 10 Nuevos Soles (US$3), they can take you around in their sturdy reed boats.

Loved all the colors of the Uru tribe: they are descendants of a pre-Incan civilization who believed that they are the owners of the lake. Life on the island is simple, yet hard. The families weave souvenirs that travelers can take home and this makes up a majority of their income. Mostly, they rely on the lake for food - even the reeds themselves are a source of food and iodine.

Quite amazing how these intricate, hand-woven Totora reed boats can pack a punch! Craftsmen still follow ancient techniques in building their island and boats. Since the reeds, especially those at the bottom of the island rot quite quickly, the tribe has to change them every 3 months.

Stillness on the water, miles away from the city and practically untouched by modern times. Life on the island is still close to how their Uru ancestors lived here thousands of years ago, albeit with some upgrades like motors on boats and even solar panels on other reed islands.

3. TAQUILE ISLAND

Quite different from Uros, Taquile has a quietness to it that's both calming and relaxing despite the island's bigger land area. The word "Taquile" means "Singing Island" and we interacted with the descendants of the 800-year old Aymara tribe who are closed-knit and have their own system of government (they believe in the Incan moral code of "ama sua, ama llulla, ama qhilla" - Quechua for "do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy").

They only ever go to the mainland for trading, preferring the simple life on the island... albeit they now have solar panels and limited satellite dishes at their disposal. Their weaving craft using llama, alpaca, sheep and even women's hair are recognized by UNESCO as a heritage unique to their kind.

The locals can be shy at first, but a simple hi generates a smile. :)

The hills are carved with terraces dating back to 1100 AD and the hiking paths go up & down cliffside trails littered with ancient ruins and a remote beach with crystal-clear waters that can only be accessed by hiking for an hour or so.

The hike brought me to the highest point in Puno - 14,000 feet to be exact, with expansive views of the surrounding islands and waters.

Puno, beyond the town itself, is a delight to discover. One moment, you're floating on reed boats, the next, you're hiking towards one of the most pristine beaches you will ever find. I loved this place so much that I extended for a day just to take in the scenery - a nice, quiet, and relatively chill start to my South American adventure.

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

WHERE TO STAY: Taypikala Lago Hotel is actually located on the outskirts of Puno City, 15 minutes away by car. It's a peaceful enclave on the banks of the Titicaca, full of staff who were really helpful to me. They have a restaurant that fronts and frames the lake, panoramic viewing rooms on every floor, and oxygen tanks for those coping with the high altitude. Definitely one of my favorite hotels on this trip.

HOW DO TO THE DAY TRIPS: I went with Edgar Adventures - safe boats, nice and accommodating staff, informative tour. Bang for buck!

#Peru #listicles