Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sunday is also the day of Juli's market, the region's largest. Wednesday is a secondary
market day.
Micros (S4, one hour) from the terminal zonal in Puno drop you off near the market, 10
minutes' walk downhill from the center, but leave from Jirón Lima, two blocks up from
the plaza. Internet cafes and basic guesthouses can be found around here.
POMATA
051 / POP 1800
Beyond Juli, the road continues southeast to Pomata, 105km from Puno. As you arrive,
you'll see Dominican church Templo de Pomata Santiago Apóstolo (admission S2) -
totally out of proportion with the town it dominates, in terms of both size and splendor -
dramatically located on top of a small hill. Founded in 1700, it is known for its windows
made of translucent alabaster and its intricately carved baroque sandstone facade. Look
for the puma carvings - the town's name means 'place of the puma' in Aymara.
Just out of Pomata, the road forks. The main road continues southeast through Zepita to
the unsavory border town of Desaguadero . The left fork hugs the shore of Lake Titicaca
and leads to another, more pleasant border crossing at Yunguyo. If you're going this way,
consider stopping off at the Mirador Natural de Asiru Patjata lookout, a few kilometers
from Yunguyo. Here, a 5000m-long rock formation resembles a culebra (snake), whose
head is a viewpoint looking over to Isla del Sol. The area around here is known for its
isolated villages and shamans.
Colectivos from the Terminal Zonal in Puno stop here (S6, 1½ hours); they are marked
with signs for Yunguyo or Desgaguadero.
Bolivian Shore
If you are drawn to the idea of staying longer in Bolivia, Lonely Planet's Bolivia guide-
book has more comprehensive information.
COPACABANA
591-02 / POP 54,300 / ELEV 3808M
Just across the border from Yunguyo, Copacabana is a restful Bolivian town on Lake Tit-
icaca's south shore. For centuries it has been the site of religious pilgrimages, and today
local and international pilgrims flock to its fiestas. Small and bright, it makes a handy
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