Puno Attractions

Within Puno city itself, there are one or two buildings that should not be missed. Situated centrally on the Plaza de Armas is the Cathedral: a magnificent stone structure built by Peruvian architect Simon de Asto in 1757 which features an attractive baroque-style façade. While the interior is simple and unassuming, the center altar is of carved marble and plated in silver, and the side walls have been elaborately painted by artists of the Cuzqueñan and Italian Art Schools. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed many priceless engravings and religious icons in 1930.

Directly beside the Cathedral is the Balcony of the Count of Lemos, found on a once illustrious house where Peru's Viceroy Don Pedro Antonio Fernandez de Castro – the Count – purportedly stayed when he first arrived in the city to stamp out local disturbances. Today, it serves the much more peaceful function of housing the cultural complex of the National Culture Institute of the Department of Puno and its associated art gallery.

Not far from the Plaza de Armas is the Museo Carlos Dreyer (289 Jr. Conde de Lemos), a small but well-curated museum displaying a collection of Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Paracas, Chimú, and Inca artifacts and colonial art bequeathed to the city upon the death of their owner, for whom the museum is named. An artist in oil painting, aquarelle, charcoal, and pencil, Carlos Dreyer was born in Germany but was captivated by the intoxicating beauty and majesty of the Andean highlands, spending 30 years of his life in the region and producing a prolific amount of work characterized by delicate colors and a strong indigenous influence. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 3:30pm; admission is around S/3.50 ($1.20).

For a superb view of Lake Titicaca and a vantage point over the city, there are two look-out points atop a steep hill about 10 minutes southwest of the main square: Mirador Kuntur Wasi and Huajsapata Park. At the top, you will find a gleaming white statue of Manco Cápac, the legendary first Inca and founder of the empire. Back down below, Jr. (Pasaje) Lima is a pedestrian mall, lined with shops, restaurants, and bars, that runs from the Plaza de Armas to Parque Pino, an attractive square populated by relaxing locals.