Our Travels To Puno On Lake Titicaca

hills and village of puno - peru

El Misti volcano near Arequipa, Peru, South America

It was an earlier start to the day as we made our way to the Arequipa airport to catch a flight across the Andes Mountains to Puno on Lake Titicaca in Peru.  On our drive to the airport we had a chance to see the beautiful, conical, snow-capped volcano known as El Misti.

Lan Airlines jet on the Runway in Arequipa, Peru, South America

Our flight to Puno via Juliaca was aboard a Lan Airlines aircraft.

Jean boarding a Lan Airlines jet on the runway in Arequipa, Peruaircraft in Arequipa, Peru, South America

Bob took a quick picture of me as I made my way up the boarding ramp.

Lan Airlines jet flying over the Andes Mountains in Peru, South America

Our flight to Juliaca aboard the Lan Airlines aircraft was extremely short, just shy of a half hour.  The jet airplane ascended very quickly to a point above the cloud cover which allowed us to see and take a couple of  pictures of the snow-capped peaks below before we landed at Manco Capac International Airport at Juliaca.  From there, we caught a taxi to Puno.

roadway in puno - peru

Our arrival in Puno on Lake Titicaca was with much fanfare.  A thunderstorm was underway, with vast amounts of chain lightning and thunder.  I have never been so close to lightning before.  We could actually look out the car window and see the lightning flashes right in front of and all around us.

hills and village of puno - peru

At 12,500 feet above sea level, Puno is the highest town in the world.

Indigenous native women in puno - peru

As we made our way to Hotel Colon Inn, the rain was torrential by times, with water accumulating everywhere.   The inclement weather did not stop the local members of the Aymara community from going about their business.  It should be noted that most local Aymara people are shy of  cameras.  Because of  local superstitions, the local people believe that a camera that captures their image actually “removes part of their soul” when the picture is taken.   Many local people do not mind if you take their picture, but they tilt their heads to avoid looking into the camera lens.   According to people from Puno, the best way to take a picture is to smile and always offer payment for a photograph.

Indigenous native ladies - puno peru

Puno is considered Peru’s most important artistic and cultural community.  That expression of artistic skill is very evident in the knitting and clothing worn by local people like these women that we saw returning from market.  Woolen leggings, topped with either a skirt or dress, sometimes cotton, other times woolen, combined with a shawl draped across the shoulders, make up their habitual attire.

Indigenous native people in puno - peru

In a lot of cases, in place of a shawl, a vibrant blanket is folded and swung across the back with a baby snuggled within its’ folds.  Here again, potatoes are once again king,  and quite clearly a big part of the local diet.

Indigenous native people in puno market - peru

At Puno’s outdoor market, most of the Aymara women sported some form of hat.  The colour’s of the clothing were very vibrant.

Indigenous native woman in puno - peru

This Aymara lady was selling red onions and other vegetables.  The customer leaving her vending location has a full bag of veggies!

Related:

Our Visit To The Floating Islands On Lake Titicaca

Riding the Andean Explorer Train Through The Andes

Wild Vicuna at the National Reserve of Pampas Galeras, Peru

The Mummies of Chauchilla Cemetery near Nazca, Peru

Frame To Frame – Bob and Jean

feedback welcome