If you’ve been following our Puno travel guide, you must already know that the region holds an extensive cultural expression in every corner. Puno is not only about Lake Titicaca but all the different attractions and things to do there that complement the overall experience in and out of the city.
The highest navigable lake in the world certainly holds a majestic scenery on its waters, with pre-Columbian cultures that spread all across the region, diversifying it in such a way that must certainly be experienced firsthand.
For that reason, we’ve come up with this blog, where you’ll get to organize your trip according to your interests. Here we have listed religious festivities, artistic expression, and even experimental tourism options where you can stay with a local family and learn about their daily lives. Continue reading and learn all about it!
1. Virgen de la Candelaria Festival
Puno honors being named the Capital of Folklore in Peru every year, essentially because of the Virgen de la Candelaria Festival, which is celebrated between January 25th and February 8th. This religious festival was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
Without a doubt, It is an unmissable experience that has captured the attention of local and foreign tourists where more than 180 groups perform their typical dances and music. Here you’ll get to see more than 100,000 dancers and musicians giving you the best experience with their cultural expression.
The persons involved in this catholic celebration are part of the Quechua and Aymara communities of the region. Many of them migrated to other cities and came back to continue with this important tradition carried out through generations.
2. Easter Week in Puno
While thinking back at the origins of the city of Puno, the region was previously inhabited by several native communities, including the ones in Lake Titicaca. However, these Etnies were considered a threat by the Spanish Crown, which is why the colonizers tried to change their beliefs by introducing them to the catholic religion.
Nonetheless, the Andean people were resilient and managed to combine their ancient beliefs with the religion imposed by the Spaniards. Nowadays, Puno City is recognized for its catholic expression but also the mestizo-oriented culture of its people.
Easter Week, for example, is one of the most important religious traditions in the Puno region, where they do different celebrations such as the early morning hike to the White Christ statue in Huaynaroque mountain, palm Sunday, and following a quinoa-based diet for a week.
Due to the Spanish and pre-Columbian influence in these lands, Puno holds an impressive artistic expression, where its inhabitants have combined both styles and traditions into an incomparable cultural identity.
- Funeral Art: The expression developed long before the Spanish conquerors came since pre-Columbian civilizations used to build burial towers and carved figures on their walls, representing their symbolism and gods.
Later, when the Spanish had already conquered Peru, they influenced these traditions, starting with the paintings on tombstones. The funeral art developed years later, evolving from classic occidental religious painting into representations of the day-to-day life of the deceased.
- Pottery Art: As you already know, the ancient Peruvians were famous for their incredible pottery style, which was perfected as new societies originated, influencing the development of one another.
The region of Puno is recognized for implementing this ancestral knowledge until the current date, where utilitarian and decorative pottery is highlighted among the famous artistic expressions.
- Textile Art: As we have mentioned on this blog many times, our ancestors did leave a mark on our society since many traditions are carried out to this date by different communities, textile art being one of the greatest examples.
The Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca is recognized for having the best weavers and textile style in the entire continent. This ancient tradition has been carried out for over 4,800 years, which is why it has been improved exponentially over time.
If you’re eager to experience Puno culture at its fullest, different communities have opened their doors to foreigners, where you can get involved in their daily lives and activities. That way, you would immerse yourself in the lively heritage of these Etnies that has lived on for centuries.
Puno offers the perfect setting for a more enriching travel experience, where traditions, natural wonders, and mysticism overflow across the entire Andean highland. Likewise, there are not only experiential tourism options around the city but also in Lake Titicaca itself.
In case you’d like to attend any of these activities, our team could organize transport to and from the location, as well as help you to get around. For more information, please contact our travel specialists.
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