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12º C
Puno fair (day) |
Its magnificent presence has marked the life of the Altiplano and that of its inhabitants. First, it gave them shelter on its islands and lakeshore; later on, it provided them food; lastly, it turned into their protector, their father, and their very lives. A trip around Lake Titicaca means you will find yourself in an untouched past surging from its dark waters, charged with legend.
The story of the birth of Andean man has been deeply associated with Lake Titicaca. In the legend retold by the famous Peruvian writer Garcilaso de la Vega, out of the blue depths of its waters came forth Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo on a mission to build an empire, the Tahuantinsuyo, or Incan Empire. Centuries earlier, Lake Titicaca was the seat of one of the most influential pre-Incan empires, the Tiahuanaco culture (100 A.D. – 700 A.D.), which held sway throughout almost the entire area of what is today Peru.
The Altiplano, a mountain plateau of contrasts in which the lake sits, preserves a never ending list of attractions where history, geography, and ancient customs merge with the fascinating setting of the puna grasslands. It is home to the Sillustani and Cutimbo chullpas (burial towers), the impressive Tinajani Canyon, the Tarucani Puya Raimondi forests, the pink city of Lampa, and the Spanish Colonial churches in the towns of Juli and Pomata; yet, if that were not enough, the lake holds in its bosom a string of islands, Taquile, Amantani, Suasi, and Anapia to name a few, whose inhabitants are engaged in successful businesses where they offer community based, rural tourism activities. An all-embracing and essential destination for every type of traveler.
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