Amazon Peru – Titicaca Lake .

Amazon Peru –  Titicaca  Lake.

Amazonia of  Peru – Titicaca Lake .

An immense region both in terms of its history and the breadth of its masad landscape, the  Amazon Peru Titicaca Lake  Basin makes most people feel like they are part of the world.

The skies are vast and the horizons seem to slope downward. The high altitude means that newcomers from the coast have to take a day or two off, although those coming from Cusco will have already done so.

The dispersed population of the region descends from ancient Andean ethnic groups or tribes: the Aymara and Quechua Aymará Tiahuanaco culture predates the Inca civilization of the Quechuas by three hundred years.

The first Spanish settlement in Puno arose around a silver mine dug by the infamous Salcedo brothers in 1657, a camp that forged such a harsh and violent reputation that the Viceroy of Lima moved in with a soldier and eventually executed the Salcedos before things get out of control. .

At the time, in 1668, the viceroy created Puno as the capital of the region, then it became the main port on Lake Titicaca and an important silver route from Potosí.

The arrival of the railway, at the end of the 19th century, brought another impetus, but today it is a relatively poor town and quite dirty, even by Peruvian standards, and a place that has suffered greatly from the recent drought and the inability to manage its water resources.

Just outside the city stretches the vast Lake Titicaca, ringed by white peaks and dotted with unusual floating islands, basically huge rafts built of reeds and home to a dwindling and badly mistreated indigenous population.

More spectacular  of the Amazon Peru – Titicaca Lake .

by far, are two of the settled, populated islands, Amantaní and Taquile, whose still-traditional lifestyle gives visitors a genuine taste of pre-conquest Andean Peru.

Densely populated since long before the arrival of the Incas, the region by Lake Titicaca is also home to the curious ancient tower tombs known locally as chullpas, which are rings of tall cylindrical stone burial chambers, often standing in formations of battlements.

With a dry and cold climate (temperatures often drop below zero on winter nights in July and August), PUNO is just a crossroads for most travelers, en route between Cusco and Bolivia or Arequipa and perhaps Chile.

In a way, this is only fair, as it is a breathless place (at 3,870m above sea level), with scorching sun during the day in stark contrast to frosty afternoons, and a reputation for pickpockets, particularly in the evenings. bus and train terminals.

However, the city is immensely rich in traditions .

and has a fascinating ancient history. Puno’s port is a vital starting point for exploring the northern end of Lake Titicaca, with its floating islands and beautiful island communities just a few hours away by boat.

Perhaps most importantly though, Puno is famous as the folklore capital of Peru, particularly relevant if you can visit it in the first two weeks of February for the Fiesta de la Candelaria, a great folk dance extravaganza, featuring amazing dancers with devil masks; the festival culminates on the second Sunday of February.

If you are in Puno right now, it is a good idea to book hotels in advance (hotel prices can double). The Tinajani Dance Festival, which takes place around June 27, takes place in the desolate highlands against the backdrop of a strong wind. -Eroded rock in the Tinajani Canyon.

Off the beaten track, it’s worth checking out for its raw Andean music and dance, plus great sound systems; Ask at the tourist offices in Puno or Cusco for more details.

Just as spectacular is the Semana Jubilar (Jubilee Festival) in the first week of November, which takes place partly on Isla Esteves and celebrates the Spanish founding of the city and the origins of the Incas, who according to legend come from from Lake Titicaca itself.

Even if you miss the festivals, you can find a band of musicians playing brilliant and highly evocative music somewhere in the labyrinthine city center most nights of the year.