Puno

It is an ancestral city located on the shores of the imposing "Titicaca Lake" with a lot of history and tradition. In the vicinity of the Lake there is a community living ancestrally on a floating island completely adapted to its ecosystem. Puno is located in the middle of the high plateau ”Altiplano“. Puno was founded as San Juan Bautista de Puno on November 4, 1668 and later renamed as San Carlos de Puno to honor King Carlos II of Spain. Puno has a population of 139,096 inhabitants. Puno is one of the highest cities in Peru and the fifth in the world.

Climate

In general, the climate of Puno is cold and dry. Been located at the shores of the lake its climate is tempered by the influence of the lake. Rainfall is annual and generally lasts between the months of December to April, although it usually varies in annual cycles, causing floods and droughts, it also originates rare and sporadic snow falls, generally rainfall is less than 700 mm. The temperature has marked differences between the months of June and November and with oscillations between a maximum average temperature of 70° F. and a minimum of 14° F.

Candelaria Festivity

Declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Every year the largest patronal festival in all of Peru is celebrated, in homage to the Virgin de la Candelaria, patron saint of the region. It is a manifestation of religious syncretism that links the Catholic faith and Andean religiosity. The celebration of the Virgin is associated with the celebration of Pachamama or "mother earth". In this festival, more than 40,000 dancers and 9,000 musicians from all over the department cheer and adorn the streets of Puno. The magnitude and significance of the festival has contributed to the National Institute of Culture by R.D. N ° 655/03 of September 2, 2003, declare the Festival of the Virgin de la Candelaria de Puno, as Cultural Heritage of the Nation.