Puno, Andean city in southeastern Peru.
The city stretches between Lake Titicaca and surrounding mountains at 3,830 meters above sea level, with buildings extending up steep hillsides.
The Spanish established the settlement in 1668 as San Juan Bautista de Puno, later renaming it San Carlos de Puno after King Charles II.
The Feast of Virgen de la Candelaria fills the streets with dancers performing traditional Andean and Amazonian performances in February.
Travelers reach Puno through Inca Manco Capac International Airport in Juliaca, followed by a 30-minute taxi ride to the city center.
Nearby Lake Titicaca contains 41 floating islands made entirely of totora reeds, where Uros communities maintain their traditional lifestyle.
Location: Puno Province
Inception: November 4, 1668
Elevation above the sea: 3,830 m
GPS coordinates: -15.84060,-70.02795
Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:24
This collection includes towns established above 3,000 meters altitude, mainly located in the Andes and on Asian highlands. These urban centers house several million inhabitants who live daily under conditions where oxygen is scarce. La Rinconada in Peru reaches 5,300 meters, making it the highest city in the world, while La Paz in Bolivia, at 3,639 meters, has over 1.6 million residents. Sites with historical significance such as Potosí in Bolivia, founded in the 16th century for its silver mines and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Lhasa in Tibet, the former capital of the Tibetan kingdom with dozens of Buddhist temples including the renowned Jokhang Temple, are included. Additionally, towns like Puno in Peru or Shigatse in China demonstrate human adaptation to extreme environments, creating communities of hundreds of thousands. These destinations offer a look into Andean and Himalayan cultures shaped by elevation and provide exceptional travel experiences.
Titicaca
75.3 km
Uros floating islands
6.7 km
Titicaca National Reservation
16.1 km
Aramu Muru
63.8 km
Sillustani
19.3 km
Estadio Guillermo Briceño Rosamedina
39 km
Estadio E. Torres Belón
755 m
Chinkana
89.9 km
Santa Catalina de Siena
40.3 km
Templo de Santiago Apostol de Lampa
64.2 km
Inca Uyo
16 km
Kutimpu
20.2 km
Pillkukayna
97.4 km
San Juan de Letran, Juli
73.6 km
San Juan Bautista, Puno
315 m
Pukarani
72 km
Intikancha
64.4 km
Santa Cruz de Jerusalen, Juli
73.3 km
Cathedral of Juli
73.5 km
Puerto Acosta Municipality
99.8 km
Puno Lighthouse
1.5 km
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Juli
73.9 km
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
40.5 km
Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito
16.2 km
Bahía Kona
95.4 km
Yanawara (Puno)
87.4 km
Jochihuata
88.3 km
Pirhuane
97.2 kmReviews
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