What to do in Puno at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 4 are about the reed shallows and the shore communities. Entries 5 to 8 cover Taquile and Amantani. Entries 9 to 12 are the land sights around Puno and the festival season.
Most of these experiences take place on or near the lake, and several need a boat. Puno itself sits at about 3,800 m, and the islands are higher, so plan the first day lightly. The altitude guide has general advice.
On the water and along the shore (1 to 4)
Reed islands, reed boats, birds and a village stay.
1. Visit the Uros islands
The Uros islands are artificial islands built from totora reed and traditionally lived on by Uro-Aymara families. Families explain how the reed is worked and used, and boats and crafts are made from it too. The tourism board gives the crossing as about 20 minutes on one page and 40 minutes on another, so expect something in that range. An official inventory lists S/ 8 for Uros. One operator offers a half-day group trip for $12 with hotel pickup, a regular boat, island fees and a guide, with departures at 9 a.m., noon and 4 p.m.
Uros islands guide →2. Ride a totora boat
Reed boats are part of the community experiences. A ride in one is a different service from the regular motor boat that brings you to the island, so ask the price of any optional ride before you step in. Most islands also sell handmade textiles and reed crafts, and there is no need to buy anything.
3. Watch birds in the reserve
The totora beds of the Titicaca National Reserve are living, feeding and breeding space for wildlife. The reserve protects 36,180 hectares in two sectors, Puno and Ramis. Named species include the endemic Titicaca grebe, the giant frog and native Orestias fish. An official inventory lists a specialized bird-watching route at Yanico. Entry is listed as free, year-round, with a visiting window of 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lake Titicaca guide →4. Stay in Luquina Chico
Luquina Chico is a community on the Chucuito peninsula. The tourism board describes rural guest rooms in adapted family houses and activities such as weaving, cooking and farming. It is a quieter alternative to the island stops. Agree the pier and the boat transfer when you book.
Our picks: things to do
A Uros half day, a sunset kayak and a tour through Puno itself.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunset kayak on Lake Titicaca
Hotel transfer to the kayak harbour and back, kayak equipment, Uros entry and a group guide in English or Spanish.
Check availability →
Puno city tour: viewpoints, market and old town
A private service with transport during the tour and a guide in Spanish or English. Entries not listed are not included.
Check availability →
Uros floating islands in half a day
Boat transfer, Uros entry and an English or Spanish guide are included; the hotel pickup applies only if you choose that option. Food, drinks and the reed boat ride (15 PEN per person on site) are extra.
Check availability →Lake Titicaca tours and day trips from Puno
Uros, Taquile, Amantani and Sillustani, with live prices and availability.
Taquile and Amantani (5 to 8)
Two inhabited islands, reached by boat from Puno.
5. See Taquile's textile art
UNESCO lists the textile art of Taquile as intangible heritage, inscribed in 2008 after a proclamation in 2005. The listing covers the living craft, not the whole island as a World Heritage site. Men and women of all ages weave as part of daily life. Ask before you photograph anyone.
Taquile guide →6. Walk Taquile's paths
Taquile lies about 36 km from Puno, roughly 3 hours by regular boat, at about 3,950 m. From the western pier, Chilcano, there are 540 steps and then a path to the plaza. From the northern pier, Chuño, a different path takes about 45 minutes to the plaza. Which pier your boat uses decides how steep the first hour is.
7. Stay with a family on Amantani
Families on Amantani host visitors with a bed and meals. Peru's tourism board recommends 2 days and 1 night and names April to October as the best months. One combined trip across Uros, Amantani and Taquile costs $48 per person for 2 days and 1 night, with island fees, simple family lodging and meals included. Do not count on hot water, heating or Wi-Fi.
Amantani guide →8. Hike to Pachatata and Pachamama
Walks to the two ceremonial hilltops, Pachatata and Pachamama, are a listed activity on Amantani. Treat them as places of worship. Ask your host about the route and about any contribution, and keep to the paths.
On land and in town (9 to 12)
Burial towers, a colonial town and the festival.
9. Walk among the chullpas at Sillustani
Sillustani is a Colla burial complex beside Lake Umayo, on the road toward Juliaca, at about 3,909 m and 35 minutes from Puno by road. The towers are given as up to 12 m on the English tourism page and up to 15 m on the Spanish one. Opening hours are listed as 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., as a guide only.
Sillustani guide →10. Visit the museum and Lake Umayo
The tourism board describes a local museum with objects from the Colla, Tiahuanaco and Inca cultures, and a boat trip on Lake Umayo. Check on site whether the museum is open on your day. Sillustani is not on Lake Titicaca itself, and it is not a reed island.
11. Spend an afternoon in Chucuito
Chucuito lies 18 km south of Puno on the road to Desaguadero. An official listing describes it as the former capital of the Lupaca kingdom and lists entry to the town as free. The same listing gives about 25 minutes by minibus from Puno, but it dates from 2023, so ask locally for the current stop and fare. Church and site hours vary.
12. Experience the Candelaria
The Fiesta de la Candelaria is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage since 2014, with dances and music in a Catholic and Andean tradition. It happens in February and is not available all year. A preliminary 2027 calendar from a festival information site lists dance competitions on 30 and 31 January and the main days between 2 and 9 February. Confirm against the current program.
Candelaria guide →Good to know before you go
Fees, altitude and the current situation.
Fees are separate
The S/ 8 listings for Uros, Taquile and Amantani are separate entries in an official inventory. They are not one shared ticket and do not say whether a boat is included. For Taquile, one travel portal lists S/ 10 for 2026, so ask what is charged when you arrive.
Altitude
The US CDC notes that unacclimatized travelers can become ill from about 2,450 m of sleeping altitude. This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a heart, lung or other condition, talk to a doctor before you go.
Altitude guide →Roads, rail and protests (October 2026)
The regional ombudsman counted 20 conflict cases in the Puno region for September 2026. That does not mean tourist routes are blocked. The UK foreign office notes that demonstrations can interrupt roads, rail and border crossings at short notice. Check local news on the day you travel, and ask your hotel or operator before you leave town.
Walking alone
The UK foreign office reports robberies of lone walkers around Lake Titicaca and advises asking locally about safe areas. At the southern end of the lake, walk in a group at night.
Plan the rest of your trip
Guides for the main stops.
Things to do in Puno: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Puno?
The sights in this list fit into two to four days. A Uros and Taquile day trip takes about 9 hours, and a trip with a night on Amantani takes 2 days and 1 night. Add a half day for Sillustani.
What is the best thing to do in Puno?
That depends on your time. The lake islands are the main reason to come. If you only have one day, a combined Uros and Taquile trip covers the most. This page is a selection, not a ranking.
Can I visit Uros, Taquile and Amantani in one trip?
Yes. One operator sells a combined trip of 2 days and 1 night for $48 per person, starting at the port at 8 a.m. and returning at about 3:30 p.m. the next day. It includes island fees, a regular boat, a guide, simple family lodging and meals.
Is Sillustani part of the lake tours?
No. Sillustani is on Lake Umayo, about 35 minutes by road from Puno, and is usually a separate half-day trip.
Do the islands charge an entry fee?
An official inventory lists S/ 8 for each of Uros, Taquile and Amantani. Some packaged trips include island fees in the price. Check what your booking covers.