Introducing Puno

The small port of Puno is by far the most convenient departure point to make forays to Lake Titicaca’s various islands or to surrounding archaeological sites. The capital of its department, the town was founded on November 4, 1668, near the site of the now-defunct colonial silver mine of Laykakota. Few colonial buildings remain, but the streets are merrily claustrophobic and the markets filled with local women garbed in many-layered dresses and bowler hats.