Foto 1: Titicaca Lake

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Why is Puno considered the Capital of Peruvian Folklore?

Puno is the land of more than 300 dances that are highlighted by their costumes, choreography, music, and tradition which are each steeped in their own story. All of this led to the city’s recognition on November 7, 1985 as the Capital of Peruvian Folklore.

These dances are mostly performed at the different festivities celebrated in the city of Puno:

• The Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria (February 2)
• Carnival – Feast of Joy (Between February and March)
• Easter Week (Between March and April)
• Feast of the Alasitas (May 1)
• Feast of Santiago Apostol (July 25)
• Feast of All Saints and All Souls (November 1 and 2)
• Puno’s Anniversary (November 4)

Let’s take a deeper look into the iconic dances of the Department of Puno.

La Diablada

This is the main folk dance troupe and one of the most iconic that Puno has to offer. A popular legend linked to the worship of the Virgin of Candelaria says that, in 1675, some miners who were trapped in a mine shaft dreamt of the Virgin and prayed to her, and this led to a battle that represented the fight between good and evil.

Foto 2: Diablada

However, recent studies take its origin further back to 1577, when the Jesuits settled in Juli, which today is the capital of the Province of Chucuito.

The dancers make their offerings to Pachamama to the tune of their panpipes, dressed in dazzling costumes and completely masked.

Sikuris

This dance originated on the Altiplano, the highland plateau, particularly because of their worship of mythical Andean beings such as the condor, the suri (the ostrich of the high Andes), the Pachamama (Mother Earth), the apus or mountaintops, the sun, and the moon.

Foto 3: Sikuris

The dance carries a martial rhythm and expresses the deepest sentiments of the inhabitants of Puno. It features the panpipe (or siku), the wind instrument made of pipes of different diameters and lengths, and the drums that set the pace.

Pandilla Puneña

The Marinera and Pandilla Puneña is a hybrid that originated in Puno and is danced the length of the country. It is an unhurried but happy rhythm that expresses the elegance of the women of Puno and the gallantry of the men.

It begins as a marinera, with features similar to the different marinera dances in other regions and is then followed by a Huayno Pandillero or Pandilla. This Pandilla traces its origins to an urban setting in the city of Puno, created in a low social stratum known as “cholada” and then adjusted for a higher social status.

Foto 4: Pandilla Puneña and Huyano Pandillero

The women wear colorful and finely woven shawls and their traditional skirts or polleras. They also wear white blouses and bowler-type hats, with their hair tightly combed into two braids.

The men wear a jacket, white shirt and trousers and a Borsalino-type hat. Many of the clothes are a mix of black and white. They also wear a colorful shawl on their shoulders, which Puno men used to wear in days gone by.

Tundique, Tuntuna and Caporales

The Tundique dance is a reminder of how the black slaves lived during the Colonial period until they were freed. Its origin is a controversy between Peru and Bolivia. The dance is performed mainly by black dancers who play the different roles of slaves, a lawyer, a ranch formal and a female slave.

Foto 5: Tundique

The Tuntuna dance is an offshoot of the Tundique. It tells the story of how the black slaves were forced to work in the mines in the Altiplano. Their rhythms and dances were blended with the local dances, giving shape to a new way of expressing their dance.

Foto 6: Tuntuna

The dance of the Caporales is an offshoot of the Tuntuna, taking on more colorful and dazzling costumes. The movements are more expressive and acrobatic.

Foto 7: Caporales

Besides these already mentioned, there are also many more dances: the Wifala, Morenada, Tucumanos, Qhapu, Tita Titas, Papa Tarpuy, Kajchas, Casarasiri, etc.

Puno dances not only celebrate history and folklore but also invite us to join in a vibrant weaving of rhythm, color and meaning. With each step, gesture and costume, these dances capture the essence of the soul itself of the Andes, transporting us to a world of beauty connected to the place’s roots.

You can get to the city of Puno aboard our PeruRail Titicaca train, on which you can enjoy a luxurious experience you will always remember. Cross the Peruvian Andes to reach the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca on a completely exclusive train on a route that has been prized for its beauty

This majestic experience includes a three-course gourmet lunch, a show and taste session of the famous Pisco Sour, live typical music and dances and, of course, one of the best views you can ever have of the Peruvian Andes. Get your tickets here!

Getting to know the PeruRail Titicaca train

You will be welcomed by the crew of our PeruRail Titicaca train, bound for the city of Puno in the Highlands or the imperial city of the Incas, Cusco, with an estimated travel time of 10 and a half hours.

Our dining cars have 08 properly marked emergency exits: 02 doors at the front of the car, 02 doors at the back and 04 emergency windows at the sides. In case of any emergency, our first aid kit and fire extinguisher are in the service areas.

Reminder: due to government regulations, smoking is prohibited inside the train. This rule also includes the observatory car.

What is on board the luxury train to Puno?
As we already mentioned, you will be welcomed with a hot drink at the boarding station. In addition, on the way, there will be a fashion show featuring baby alpaca garments, where our friendly hostesses will display the fine and delicate garments such as sweaters, hats, coats, shawls, gloves and much more. Of course, there will also be a fantastic live music show with typical local dances.

The luxury train to Puno would not be one without its respective observatory bar car, located at the end of the convoy. In it you will find cold drinks, hot drinks, cocktails, as well as international drinks and, of course, our flagship drink: pisco sour which we will also teach you to prepare during your train trip.

However, and as the name implies, the privileged Andean mystical landscape that can be seen from here is simply impressive. Imagine being surrounded by windows, on both sides and on the ceiling, and large glass walls from where you will be able to see the beautiful life in the valley. Small villages, cattle feeding from early hours of the day, corn fields, etc. You can witness all types of weathers in a single day! Not only will the landscape alternate between mountains and plains, but you will also be able to experience the different climates on the same trip, including snow. Unbelievable, right?

For this occasion, we have 1 scheduled stop: Abra La Raya, the highest point of the route.

Destinations before stopping at Abra La Raya
The first half of the trip is dominated by the Andes: a large outline of imposing mountains over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. The train will travel through the Andean plains, which seem never ending, and will offer us the unique opportunity to spot animals such as llamas and alpacas in their natural habitat.

Sicuani
Sicuani, located at 3,552 meters above sea level and 118 km from the city of Cusco, is one of the first towns that the PeruRail Titicaca train will cross. In this part of the journey, we will be listening to typical music of Sicuani to connect even more with this endearing city.

Did you know that it is the second most populated city in the entire department of Cusco? In addition, its main economic activity is growing Andean cereals; more specifically: wheat.

Arrival at Abra La Raya
The PeruRail Titicaca train would be arriving at Abra La Raya, its first stop, after having ascended to 4,319 meters above sea level. This is a cold and remote place where the snow-capped peaks are often covered in fog or drizzle and, for a few moments, the silence at this altitude gives you a little chilling sensation that you won’t experience anywhere else in the world.

Passengers will have about 10 minutes to rest, take photos of the landscape, and relax a little in the small handicrafts market that is located here where you can also buy clothes made by the local communities. In addition, this place has a chapel whose construction dates from the twentieth century and in it we can find an image of the Lord of the Cane.

The story behind the image is worth mentioning because its expression reflects the suffering and sadness of Jesus after he was flogged. This image describes Jesus Christ tied up in front, holding a reed like a scepter and crowned with thorns covered with a mantle.

Every year on May 3rd the Feast of the Lord of the Cane is celebrated, where it is tradition to tie flowers to the image, decorate the altar with paper figures and light beautifully decorated candles. Then fireworks are lit making it a very festive atmosphere. There are people dancing and drinking chicha de jora until the next day, really quite a spectacle.

In addition, the imposing snow-capped Chimboya is located on the left side in the direction of the train, so it would be a good idea to take the opportunity to view it. Something to keep in mind is that the snow-capped mountains of the area have an invaluable spiritual value for the Andean people, since they are the origin of two important rivers: the Vilcanota towards Cusco and the Ramis towards Arequipa.

Ayaviri
When we arrive to the province of Melgar, we will cross its capital: the town of Ayaviri. It is located at an altitude of 3,925 meters above sea level and 96 km from the city of Juliaca. Ayaviri is known for its quality livestock production: llamas, vicuñas, cattle, and sheep. Such is its fame that it has earned the title of the cattle capital of Peru. Followed by the good views, the train journey continues with the exclusive services on board.

Bar class, music, dances, and happy hour
We take this opportunity to mention the short class that is given on board the train. The head of service on board has everything ready to teach the preparation of pisco sour, Peru’s flagship drink.

At a given point during the trip you can enjoy the fun and colorful Happy Hour on board the train to Puno. The dancers will amaze you with their exotic morenadas, diabladas and other typical dances of the region. Do you also want to join them? Of course you can! That’s precisely what this happy hour is about. Don’t worry, they will show you how to dance from the start and it will only take ten seconds before you catch this folkloric rhythm.

Arrival at Puno station
Finally, the last stop of the trip will be Puno station. After this incredible tour, the crew aboard the PeruRail Titicaca train says goodbye to their passengers and wishes them an unforgettable stay in the highland city of Puno.

As we mentioned at the beginning, the route is as important as the destination. And, after living all this experience, you will feel even more motivated than you already were to explore the wonderful City of the Sacred Lake of Puno.

A journey that you will never forget and that you will not want to end. Delicious food, super comfortable seating, onboard staff always at your disposal, amazing scenery, traditional live partying and much more. The PeruRail Titicaca train thus guarantees your luxury service. Ready to get on board? Get your train tickets by visiting our website.

Be part of the festival
The joyful celebrations take place between July 24 and 31 in the districts of Lampa, Pomata, Jaillihuaya, Huancané and Taquile Island. These are differentiated by the festivities offered to San Santiago: Masses, processions, textile fairs, dances, music and even bullfights.

Lampa, a traditional celebration
The Patronal Feast of San Santiago in Lampa, district of Puno, begins on July 24, where the devotees dress the image of the saint, which has a real human size. On the central day, July 25, the devotees participate in the mass in the Santiago Apostle Temple. Then, the procession of the image begins and is accompanied by other 40 temple saints.

When finalizing, the contest of compound melodies begins.These songs were specially made for this festival with traditional instruments such as quenas, zampoñas and leather drums. At the same time, community participants demonstrate their skills and dexterity in the handling of horses, being qualified for it and for their original clothing. The competition takes place on the main entrance of the Lampa temple.

Moreover, during the 29th, 30th and 31st of July, the bullfighting evenings are held in the “Plaza de Toros Arenas” of the Lampa river. These are accompanied by bands of various celebrations.

Taquile Island, a festivity full of folklore
Dressed in brightly colored costumes, the Taquile people perform various local dances, such as the Sicuris, the Candelaria, the Cinta K’ana and the Taquile Carnival, with the accompaniment of zampoñas (Andean flute), traditional pinquillo flutes and many drums. The festivities are finally finished with an offering to Mother Earth “La Pachamama”, a revealing detail that shows how the islanders have mixed the Christian and Andean beliefs, creating their own unique culture.

The celebration is accompanied by a craft fair in which they exhibit ceramics and alpaca looms made by the community. Also, the residents of Taquile show the elaboration process of their beautiful garments, do not miss this captivating experience!

Enjoy the month of July and let yourself be amazed by the wonderful culture of Puno. It’s a magical experience!

The legend tells that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo used the local consumables that nature kindly offered them, such as quinoa, tubers, chuño (freeze-dried potatoes), herbs and grains. Traditions were maintained and are the pillar for the Puno gastronomy that we know today. Although it has been influenced and refined with various techniques, it still maintains that culinary art typical of the highlands.

Quinoa Pesque (Quinoa and Cheese Porridge)
Pesque is a Puno dish whose main ingredient is quinoa, as its name says. In the villages of the Puno region, this porridge is prepared for breakfast and served with fresh milk and cheese. It is very delicate, easy to digest and comforting for those who consume it constantly. According to the housewives, to prepare it you need ingredients such as quinoa, cheese, water, salt, butter, and fresh milk.

El Chairo
This Puno soup is quite rich and loaded with nutrients and is one of the most requested by the locals after each work day due to its high nutrient content. This broth has lamb, chalona (dried lamb meat), black chuño, potatoes, carrot, celery, lima beans, garlic, onion, salt, and oregano.

Quinoa Chupe
This is a very nutritious dish and, as the name implies, it is prepared with quinoa. The meat is cooked together with quinoa in a pot with water and salt. Vegetables are added as it is cooked.

The seasoning consists of onion, butter and garlic and it can be prepared while the rest is being cooked. Finally, parsley is added to each dish.

Fried trout
This fish is obtained from Lake Titicaca and contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It has a very similar to salmon, which causes confusion and tourists often choose to call this fish Peruvian salmon.

Trout is a very nutritious food since it contains potassium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and iron. It is fried and served with boiled potatoes, corn and chuño or served with French fries and rice, and often accompanied by a Creole salad as is customary in Peruvian dishes.

Deep fried alpaca
Alpaca meat is considered one of the most nutritious foods in Peru, containing 22% protein, 56 mg cholesterol and 3% fat per 100 grams of meat.

Its preparation consists of cooking the meat until all the water is consumed, then it is fried with the same fat that remains. It is served with chuño, potatoes and toasted corn.

Puno Sancochado
This stew typical of Puno, also known as Sajjta, is a dish made with hen or chicken, potatoes, carrot, onion, and peas, all mixed with yellow panca hot pepper along with cheese, peanuts and huacatay cookies. An ideal meal to recover energy.

Cancacho
Cancacho is a delicious dish made from lamb. A day before roasting, this meat should be macerated with vinegar, lemon, chili, garlic, and cumin (perhaps more ingredients, but it varies by region). Its ideal side dish is baked potatoes, white chuño, cheese and chili.

Huarjata
Huarjata is the name given to the famous head broth, which can be pork or lamb head, cut into small pieces for better cooking. The piece of meat is usually served separately from the broth, in the style of the Lima sancochado or stew. A serving of rice is also highly recommended.

Queso Cauche
Queso cauche is a typical dish of Puno, but it may not be as well-known as the rest. However, we mention that it is prepared based on cheese, onion, yellow potato, oil, beans, peppers and huacatay.

Its preparation begins by heating oil in a pan, then sauté the onions, add the chili, grated cheese, beans and potatoes, and simmer for a few minutes to give the cheese the consistency that characterizes this recipe.

Pachamanca or Huatía
Pachamanca, also known as Huatía, is one of Peru’s best-known dishes. It is especially prepared during the time of potato harvest in the mountains, which is seasonal and usually from May to August. Usually, pachamancas are prepared outdoors and usually during family outings.

It is prepared in a clay oven by first digging a hole on the ground and then laying stones heated to high temperature with a wood fire. Then you add potato, ollucos, corn, yucca, oca, and if you like, cheese or fish wrapped in thick paper.

Finally, the oven is buried to cook the food.

We have presented 10 typical dishes of Puno, but there are many more and you must have a chance to discover them. Do you want to visit the city? Then there is no better way to get there than on a train that has all the possible amenities, find your tickets for the PeruRail Titicaca by clicking this link.

These stories have different tweaks depending on who tells them, since there will always be something that is added or omitted in order to catch the listener’s attention and keep him/her excited. 

Next, we will talk about the 4 most popular legends of Puno.

The Legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo

This tale by the famous Peruvian Inca writer Garcilaso de la Vega was published in Lisbon in 1609.

This story narrates the origin of the Incas and tells how the sun decided to create two creatures with human characteristics. Both emerged from the foams of Lake Titicaca and would be in charge of civilizing the inhabitants of the area, in addition to teaching them about the Sun god.

The sun gave them a golden scepter, which would indicate the place to settle. This is where they would form a kingdom. However, to fulfill their mission, they had to separate. Manco Capac to the north and Mama Ocllo to the south. 

After their long journey, in which they summoned and subdued the people in their path, their scepter sank into the Huanacauri hill; here they would establish their kingdom.

In fact, this legend is something you might also hear in Cusco. If you like, you can check out our article on Cusco legends to learn more about this and other stories.

The legend of the origin of Lake Titicaca

It is a legend of which the author is unknown and speaks of a flourishing  population that disappeared after an outsider, who carried a large earthenware jar on her back, left it in the house where she was given shelter. However, she was never given anything to eat or a decent place to sleep.

Faced with exhaustion, she decided to continue on her way, but asked them to keep the jar until her return. She warned the members of the place not to remove the lid from the jar.

As the days went by, the curiosity of the inhabitants became very strong due to the warning which was dismissed by the people; the jar was uncovered, and water gushed out and flooded the town until it was completely submerged. From the jar also sprouted all the flora and fauna that exists in the lake to this day. 

Those living in the surrounding area claim to see the reflections coming out from the bottom of the lake at night. 

This is quite intriguing, right? If this caught your attention, then you can’t pass up the opportunity to see the lake in person. Buy your tickets to travel on PeruRail Titicaca train today.

The legend of Q’ota Anchacho, the demon of the Lake

The story, told by Jorge Noe Soto Ruelas, is also about Lake Titicaca. It is said that from the depths of the lake emerged a gigantic demon, bringing misfortunes and devouring everything that stood in its way. The locals feared him and fled in horror.

To mitigate their anger, the people built totems, performed rituals and sacrifices. Then they realized the benefits of the large clouds that formed in the wake of their anger, which provided irrigation for the vicinity. 

The legend of the three lazy youths

Narrated by Miriam Dianet Quilca Condori, the story is about an elderly woman who lived with her three sons. The old woman was the one who worked the land, and she and her children ate the produce.

The old woman, already tired of working, when food became scarce and the time of planting was near, sent her children to do the work. She prepared food for them every day so they would go to work.

However, when it was time to harvest, her sons would go out to steal the best local crops and take them to the old woman who still had no idea about what was happening.

One day, the old woman went to the field from which she believed the potatoes had been brought by her sons, but she was intercepted by the real owner of the field. The man told her what her lazy young sons were really doing.

The mother immediately complained to her sons, and they ran out of the house, turning one into hail, another into wind and the older into frost. As a result of this story, these three natural phenomena are called as the three lazy or the three lazy youths.

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Undoubtedly, Puno has myths and beliefs that cover everything that its inhabitants consider very important. There are still many stories to hear in this magical city, do you dare to visit it? Don’t miss the exciting experience of doing it on a luxury train such as the PeruRail Titicaca. Find your tickets here!

In this city, Lake Titicaca is the perfect place to enjoy the majesty and crystal-clear water of the lake. This place, that captivates the whole world, is the highest navigable lake in the world.

Lake Titicaca has islands that keep alive pre-Columbian traditions. There are three important islands that are frequently asked about by travelers who are not afraid of heights.

These three islands in Lake Titicaca are as follows:

The floating islands of Uros

This island is located at 3800 m.a.s.l. approximately, and it is constructed from totora, a plant that grows under the cold water. In the floating islands of Uros, there are houses, schools and churches build also with totora plant. 

The Aymara people, who are considered as one of the most ancient Andean civilizations in Peru and who rose up long before the Incas, are the citizens in these almost 40 Islands.

Their economy is based on fishing, sale of handicrafts, and barter. It takes about 30 minutes from the shores of Lake Titicaca to get to the Uros floating islands.

Taquile Island

Travelers get to this place by boat from the Island of Uros in approximately 3 hours. Taquile Island has a 567-step stairs that you must go up if you want to visit the upper part of the town and watch a magical landscape. 

There is no lodging in Taquile Island; instead, there is community-based or experienced-based tourism, which means that tourists should stay in the houses of locals and learn from them what they need to do to eat and survive. 

Barter is still carried out in this place inhabited by Quechua speakers. However, their main means of income are agriculture, handicrafts, and textile work, which is worldwide-recognized.

Amantaní Island

It is a place full of vegetation and beautiful fields; Amantaní Island hosts trees and flowers such as gum trees and Qantuta flowers. It is also known as the “Love Island” because of the romanticism evoked by its captivating landscapes, it is the largest island in Lake Titicaca.

Like Taquile Island, there is no lodging in this island, so you may stay in the houses of locals, which allows you to get to know better these ancestral communities that preserve the traditions of their ancestors. 

The journey by boat from the floating islands of Uros to Amantaní Island takes about three hours.

What to do in Lake Titicaca?

In Lake Titicaca you can practice sports like diving, sailing and paddling. Another activity to carry out is kayaking, departing from Esteves Island to floating island of Uros. Trekking and cycling are also fun activities you will enjoy on the shores of this impressive lake.

Start your journey aboard our PeruRail Titicaca train and enjoy the amazing landscapes and impressive islands in Lake Titicaca! Buy your train tickets now!