Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 35-1921;
www.casadelcorregidor.pe
; Deustua 576; 9:30am-7:30pm Mon-Fri,
12:30-7pm Sat)
An attraction in its own right, this 17th-century house is one of Puno's
oldest residences. A former community center, it now houses a small fair-trade arts-and-
crafts store.
Museo Carlos Dreyer
(Conde de Lemos 289; admission with English-speaking guide S15; 9:30am-7pm
Mon-Sat)
Around the corner from Casa del Corregidor, this museum houses a fascinating
collection of Puno-related archaeological artifacts and art. Upstairs there are three mum-
mies and a full-scale fiberglass
chullpa
(funerary tower).
MUSEUM
Coca Museum
( 36-5087; Deza 301; admission S5; 9am-1pm & 3-8pm)
Tiny and quirky, this mu-
seum offers lots of interesting information - historical, medicinal, cultural - about the
coca plant and its many uses. Presentation isn't that interesting, though: reams of text (in
English only) are stuck to the wall and interspersed with photographs and old Coca-Cola
ads. The display of traditional costumes is what makes a visit to this museum worthwhile.
Though the relation between traditional dress and coca is unfathomable, it's a boon for
making sense of the costumes worn in street parades.
MUSEUM
Tours
It pays to shop around for a tour operator. Agencies abound and competition is fierce,
leading to touting in streets and bus terminals, undeliverable promises, and prices so low
as to undercut fair wages. Several of the cheaper tour agencies have reputations for rip-
ping off the islanders of Amantaní and Taquile, with whom travelers stay overnight, and
whose living culture is one of the main selling points of these tours.
Island-hopping tours, even with the better agencies, are often disappointing: formulaic,
lifeless and inflexible, the inevitable result of sheer numbers and repetition. Seeing the is-
lands independently is recommended - you can wander around freely and spend longer in
the places you like.
The following agencies offer responsible tours of the region:
