Arequipa had been good to us, but it was time to move on. With alarms set for an ungodly hour, we dragged ourselves out of bed and stumbled onto a 5 AM bus bound for Puno. As we wound our way through the mountains, the world outside gradually came to life. The landscape shifted from the dramatic volcano guarded valleys of Arequipa to the vast, windswept altiplano, where the sky feels enormous and the air noticeably thinner.
The journey took around six hours, with the bus weaving its way through high altitude plains dotted with llamas and tiny Andean villages. As the sun rose, the light cast long shadows across the mountains, and despite our exhaustion, we couldn’t help but be in awe of the scenery.
Puno sits at a dizzying 3,800 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. The thin air hits you as soon as you step off the bus, but our first concern wasn’t altitude it was warmth. Many hotels and hostels in Puno don’t have heating, and hot water isn’t always a given, which can be a brutal reality when nighttime temperatures drop.
Thankfully, our three star “whoop” hotel had both. It might not have been luxury, but after a long journey, a guaranteed hot shower felt like five star treatment, and to be fair finding a hotel that has stars is rare here!
After settling in, we wasted no time in heading out to explore the highlight of Puno, Lake Titicaca. This legendary body of water the highest navigable lake in the world feels almost mythical, its deep blue expanse stretching out under the Andean sky.
We took a boat tour out to the Uros Floating Islands, a surreal collection of man-made islands constructed entirely from totora reeds. Stepping onto one felt like walking on a giant sponge, the reeds shifting beneath our feet. The locals explained how they constantly add fresh layers to keep the islands afloat, a tradition that has been passed down for generations.
Not only did we get to stand on these remarkable islands, but we also took a ride on a traditional reed boat, drifting across the lake in a vessel that looked like something out of an ancient legend. It was a surreal experience something you can’t quite believe is real until you do it.
After a long day on the lake, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner. We found a swanky restaurant in Puno that served portions larger than any human should reasonably attempt to eat. Plates piled high with Andean specialities,
When the bill came, we could hardly believe it just £24 for all of us. For that price, we had eaten like kings, and we rolled out of the restaurant feeling thoroughly defeated by the sheer quantity of food and slightly embarrassed at how much we left!
Stuffed and exhausted, we made our way back to the hotel, ready for a well earned night’s sleep.
Tomorrow, another adventure awaits, but for now, sleep….
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
