Lampa: The Pink City in Puno

Index

• About the City of Lampa
• Altitude
• Best season
• Holidays
• Things to do
  • Visit the Santiago Apostle Church
  • Visit the Municipal Palace
  • Cross the Colonial Bridge
  • Visit the Chinchillas farm
  • Enjoy the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception
• How to get there?
  • By car
  • Bus
    • Lima – Juliaca – Lampa
    • Lima – Puno – Juliaca – Lampa
  • Plane
    • How to get from the airport of Puno to the city of Lampa?
• How to get ready for the city of Lampa?
• Lodging

About the Pink City in Puno

The City of Lampa or also known as the Pink City has become well known in the last 5 years as a tourist destination for travelers visiting Puno.

You may wonder why it is called Pink City? Well, although in this city some houses are made of carved ashlar and other stones extracted from the famous Amantani Island, which have colors other than pink, at the end of its construction these houses are painted with chocorosí, a material similar to clay that has a pink hue, so when you walk through the streets of Lampa, it will seem that the whole city was painted pink and that gives it a particular charm.

Given the peculiarity of its color, the streets of the city of Lampa were declared Historical Monuments of Peru in 1972. In addition to its beautiful color, walking through its streets will give you the impression that time has stopped and its mansions keep a very old colonial style that awakens history in every step you take.

At what altitude is the city of Lampa in Puno?

The city of Lampa is located at 3,927 meters above sea level.

What is the best season to visit the city of Lampa in Puno?

In the city of Lampa there are 2 very important seasons: the Rainy Season and the Dry Season or High Season.

In the Rainy Season (December to March), you will find warm and humid days, it is not as cold as in the rest of the year. Daytime temperatures in this season range from 13°C and 20°C and, at night, between 3°C and 7°C. The months with more rainfall are July and August.

In the Dry Season (April to November) you will find quite warm, clear and sunny days, but at night the days are very cold, because in this season frosts (freezing of water) are formed and the temperature can reach below 0°C. Daytime temperatures during this season range between 15°C and 25°C and at night, between 0°C and 7°C.

What are the Fiesta days in Lampa: The Pink City in Puno?

I suggest visiting Lampa during the first weeks of December, specifically between December 6 and 10, since on these dates the Festivity of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated, the patron saint of the Lampeños, so the City of Lampa dresses in colors, parades with musical bands and parties, so you will know the most cheerful and fun version of the small City of Lampa.

So, based on this information you can decide the season that suits you best. Have a good trip!

Santiago de Apostol Church, Lampa – Puno

What activities to do in the Pink City?

In this article I show you 5 places you can visit in the town of Lampa:

1.- Visit the Santiago Apostle Church.

The Santiago Apostle Church built in 1678, is the most outstanding attraction of the Pink City, is an imposing building that sometimes feels out of context with the sweetness that emanates the City of Lampa, as it is built with dark and light stones without carving that give this stately touch to the Santiago Apostle Church. This impressive church was recognized as a National Monument in 1941 and inside it keeps valuable sculptures and enclosures that will leave you with your mouth open. Here I show you which ones:

La Capilla de la Piedad or also known as “La Sixtina de América“, is located in one of the structures of the Santiago de Apóstol Church, it has this name because there is nothing more and nothing less than an exact aluminum replica of the work “La Piedad” by Italian artist Miguel Ángel Buonaroti, which rests on the top of a dome that keeps in its interior bones, skulls and skeletons perfectly arranged on the walls of the dome. A horror movie experience! I suggest it for those who love fear. It is worth mentioning that at the bottom of the dome lie the remains of an important personage for Lampa and Peru, the illustrious Torres Belon.

According to what our guide told us, many people prefer not to see inside the dome because of the sensitivity of having a graphic image of death.

Chapel of Santiago Apostle, entering the church we find this amazing chapel where you can see the image of Santiago Apostle, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, with armor and a red cloak, on a white horse with a furious aspect, really a majestic image that allows you to experience what was the struggle of this apostle so that the word of Jesus could be known in the West.

Sculptures of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception and Santiago Apostle, these sculptures are made of plaster and look quite natural, a bit creepy to be honest, due to the details in the faces that make them very real.

But even more creepy than these striking plaster sculptures is the Christ made of cowhide, which takes the prize for surreal sculptures of the church, as the resemblance of the joints and veins of the cowhide make the Christ look very real, as they really look like human veins and joints. A curious fact about this sculpture is that there are only two Christs made of cowhide in the world, one in Spain and another in Peru. In short, works of art that surpass the imagination.

In the Santiago Apostle Church, there is much to see and if you are one of those who love to appreciate various works of art, you will enjoy the tour of this temple, also have catacombs and subway paths that, as our young guide said, can take us to Cusco, although this has not yet been purchased, on the other hand, you will also find various works of art of the Cusco School. In short, you can not pass through Lampa without enjoying this unusual temple.

Admission hours

Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm (refreshments from 12 pm -2pm).

2.- Visit the Municipal Palace of Lampa

This imposing construction definitely does not go unnoticed when you walk through the Plaza de Armas of Lampa, this pink palace, which covers almost an entire street at one end of the square, tells you its importance with the clock tower, which reminds me a little of the clock tower from the movie “Back to the Future”. In addition, its two floors, show you, in the upper part, 20 arched windows and, in the lower part, 11 perfectly made arches.

But the most amazing thing about the Municipal Palace of Lampa, is that, inside the Palace Museum is the first white plaster replica of “La Piedad” by Italian artist Miguel Angel Buonaroti, undoubtedly this piece is amazing and gives a sense of pride and pleasure to know that Peruvians can appreciate closely such a piece and do not have to travel to the other end of the world to see it.

In addition, the Municipal Palace has works of Victor Humareda, the most recognized painter of the city of Lampa, antiques, maps of ancient Peru and a library that holds a hundred ancient and modern books, which are free access for students and researchers, who are the ones who use them most, according to our guide.

Inside the Municipal Palace you can see in its center a small square that has a beautiful bronze pool and is surrounded by queñuales trees (trees typical of the high Andean zone). In addition, you can find a sculpture of Torres Belón, a very important character for the people of Lampa and Peru.

Free admission. A donation to the guide for his work is appreciated (optional)

Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm (refreshments from 12 pm -1pm)

3.- Cross the Puente Colonial de Cal y Canto (Colonial Bridge of Cal y Canto)

The Colonial Bridge of Cal y Canto, is one of the most important, not only in the city of Lampa, but also in the entire region of Puno, was built in 1845 based on stone and covered with ashlar, its construction was done in order to unite the neighboring towns separated by the river Lampa, this peculiar and ancient bridge has 3 arches that give it a stately appearance.

Today, the bridge is in the process of restructuring and repair, because unfortunately it collapsed due to heavy rains on March 16, 2020, curiously a few days before we were there knowing the city of Lampa for the first time and enjoying its attractions, so we were lucky to see the bridge still intact.

4.- Visiting the Chinchilla farm

The Ministry of Culture has a space reserved for the breeding of Chinchillas, these animals are native to the high Andean zone of Peru, but due to indiscriminate hunting these animals are now in danger of extinction so the government has these hatcheries to preserve this species. If you like animals or want to learn a little about these Peruvian animals I suggest you visit this place.

Location: Lampa 21801, Puno

5.- Enjoy the feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception

Every December 8th of every year the people of Lampa celebrate with fervor the Feast of the Virgin of the Im maculate or also known as “The Patroness of the Lampeños”, usually begin with preparations and folkloric parades from December 6th and can be extended until December 10th.

During these days the parades consist of dance contests with typical costumes of the Puno Region, also contests of musical bands, fireworks and much more. In short, being part of a traditional festival is an unprecedented experience and takes you out of the daily routine of visiting only tourist sites so you can have a more experiential experience.

If you dare to visit Lampa during the season of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate I suggest you do not miss the day of December 8 because the Virgin of the Immaculate walks through the streets and squares of Lampa in her solemn platform, a piece of art of more than 3 meters high made with 900 kilos of silver, very similar to the platform of the Virgin of the Macarena in Seville, Spain.

Aluminum sculpture of The Pietà, Santiago de Apostol Church of Lampa – Puno

Interior of marble dome, Santiago Apostol Church, Lampa – Puno

View of Lampa from the Cal y Canto Bridge, Lampa – Puno

How to get to the City of Lampa?

• By car

Traveling with your car by road I think it is the most convenient option if you want to have privacy and travel alone with your family, in case you do not have a car a good option is to rent, you can also reach several of the tourist destinations in Puno by road, so you would save on tourist service.

From the city of Puno by private road you will travel 76 km and reach the city of Lampa in 1 hour and 30 minutes approximately.

If you take a cab from the city of Puno to the city of Lampa, the cost of transportation will be between S/. 80 to 120 soles (USD 22 to 33 dollars) approximately, per way and for the total of passengers.

In addition, you can travel to Juliaca from Cusco, Arequipa and Ayacucho, in a car you can make a good route throughout southern Peru.

• By bus

Lima – Juliaca – Lampa by bus

The transportation agencies that go to the district of Juliaca from Lima are: Cruz del Sur, ExcluCiva and Civa. Prices vary according to the agencies and the amenities they offer, but the average price ranges from S/. 100 to 150 soles ( USD 28 to 30 dollars) per person per way. If you buy the tickets 1 month in advance you will find prices from S/. 80 soles (USD 26 dollars) per person.

At the Juliaca Bus Terminal you can take a bus to the bus stop (public cab) to Lampa, the cost of transportation ranges from S/. 10 to 15 soles (USD 3 to 5 dollars) per person and the trip lasts 40 minutes, approximately.

At the bus stop to Lampa you will find buses from S/. 5 soles (USD 1.20 dollars) per person (traveling with several people) and cars from S/. 20 to 30 soles (USD 6 to 9 dollars) (traveling alone or with your companions), you can choose the transport you want. The transportation will leave you about 2 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Lampa. I suggest that you keep an eye on your Google Maps application to avoid unexpected detours and reach your destination safely.

Address of Terminal Terrestre Juliaca: Jirón Obelisco con Jirón San Martin, Juliaca

Address of the bus stop to Lampa: Between Jirón 2 de Mayo and Avenida Colón, Juliaca. Reference: 4 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Juliaca

In addition, you can travel to Juliaca from Arequipa, Cusco and Ayacucho, through the interprovincial transport companies mentioned in the previous paragraph, since being neighboring departments transfer times are much shorter, between 5 or 6 hours approximately.

Lima – Puno – Juliaca – Lampa by bus

You will find many transportation agencies that go daily to the city of Puno from Lima, some of them are: Cruz del Sur, Movil tours, Oltursa, Flores, Wari Palomino, ExcluCiva, Civa, Andoriña, Tepsa, Romeliza, among others. Prices vary according to the agencies and the amenities they offer, but the average price ranges from S/. 80 to 100 soles ( USD 22 to 28 dollars) per person per way. If you buy the tickets 1 month in advance you will find prices from S/. 65 soles (USD 18 dollars) per person.

The distance from Lima to Puno by bus is 1350 km and you will arrive in Puno between 18 to 20 hours, without stops (you will travel: Lima, Ica and Arequipa).

From the Terminal del Puno you must take a bus to the Terminal Terrestre de Juliaca, the amount of the ticket is S/. 10 soles (USD 3 dollars) per person and the trip lasts 1 hour, approximately.

Once at the Juliaca Bus Terminal, you can take a bus to the bus stop (public cab) to Lampa, the cost of transportation ranges from S/. 10 to 15 soles (USD 2.50 to 4 dollars) per person and the trip lasts 40 minutes, approximately.

At the bus stop in the direction of Lampa you will find buses from S/. 5 soles per person (USD 1.20) (traveling with several people) and cars from S/. 20 to 30 soles (USD 6 to 9 dollars) (traveling alone or with your companions), you can choose the transport you want. The transportation will leave you about 2 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Lampa. I suggest that you keep an eye on your Google Maps application to avoid unexpected detours and arrive at your destination peacefully.

Address of Terminal Terrestre Puno: Jirón Primero de Mayo # 703 – 705, Barrio César Vallejo, Puno.

Address of Terminal Terrestre Juliaca: Jirón Obelisco con Jirón San Martin, Juliaca

Location of the bus stop to Lampa: Between Jirón 2 de Mayo and Avenida Colón, Juliaca. Reference: 4 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Juliaca

In addition, you can travel to Juliaca from Arequipa, Cusco and Ayacucho, through the interprovincial transport companies mentioned in the previous paragraph, since being neighboring departments transfer times are much shorter, from 5 or 6 hours approximately.

• By plane

Going by plane from Lima to Puno is a highly recommended option if you have little time for this tourist destination or you simply do not feel comfortable traveling by bus for many hours.

The airlines that go from Lima to Puno (Juliaca) today are: Sky Airlines and Latam Airlines. You can find air tickets from S/. 130 soles ( USD 35 dollars) per person one way, but it all depends on the season in which you buy your tickets and the time in advance with which you do it. During the Virgen de la Candelaria Festival season, prices go up considerably, so if you want to visit Puno during the festival season, I suggest you buy your plane tickets 2 or 3 months in advance.

You will arrive in less than 2 hours at the airport of Puno (Inca Manco Capac).

Suggestion: when you do your searches on the airlines’ websites, put JULIACA as your destination and not PUNO, since the airport is located in the district of Juliaca, a district adjacent to the city of Puno.

How to get from the airport of Puno (Juliaca) to the city of Lampa?

Leaving the airport, you will find a main avenue where you can take a cab or a mototaxi (3-wheeled motorcycle) towards the bus stop that goes to Lampa, the cost of this ticket is between S/. 4 to 10 soles (USD 1 to 3 dollars) for the trip and per person, the travel time is 10 minutes.

At the bus stop to Lampa you will find buses and cars from S/. 5 soles (USD 1.20 dollars) per person (traveling with several people) and cars or private buses from S/. 20 to 30 soles (USD 6 to 9 dollars) each way (traveling alone or with your companions), the travel time is 30 minutes, you can choose the transport you want, the transport will leave about 2 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Lampa.

I suggest you to be aware of your Google Maps application to avoid unexpected detours and reach your destination without any inconvenience.

Location of the bus stop to Lampa: Between Jiron 2 de Mayo and Avenida Colon, Juliaca. Reference: 4 blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Juliaca.

How to prepare and what to expect in the city of Lampa in Puno?

Bring a warm jacket, normally at night the temperature drops, I suggest you check in what season you plan to travel to Puno, since temperatures vary according to the seasons.

Although the ground of the city of Lampa is paved, if you want to walk around the city, which are full of hills, I suggest you have the right shoes.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, this is very important because being at altitude the sun’s rays can damage your skin faster.

Take medication for “altitude sickness” or “soroche”, coca tea or coca leaves to chacchar (chew).

In the city of Lampa you will find many stores, street food stalls, modest restaurants, pharmacies and even an ambulatory health post.

Take cash (Peruvian nuevos soles), preferably coins, remember that, being far from the city, most locals only receive cash. So I suggest you go prepared.

Where to stay in the city of Lampa?

The City of Lampa is small, but with a lot of potential, so you will find 2 or 3 lodging options, normally the lodgings have rooms available all year round since the City of Lampa is still not very well known, but on holidays, such as the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate, the City of Lampa is full of travelers and visitors from other surrounding towns, although not in the same intensity as in the Feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria in the City of Puno.

Here are some lodging options in the city of Lampa:

La Casona Lampa, this lodging has rooms from S./ 100 soles (USD 27 dollars) and is located a few meters from the Santiago de Apóstol Church.

Contact telephone: +51 994 686 688

E-mail: info@lacasonalampa.com

Casa Romero, this lodging is not a traditional lodging like La Casona Lampa since it is a more modest lodging. It has rooms from S./ 50 soles (USD 12 dollars).

Contact Telephone: +51 973 108 482

Plaster Sculpture of La Piedad, Municipal Palace of Lampa – Puno

Sculpture by Torres Belón, Lampa Municipal Palace – Puno

Interior of marble dome, Santiago Apostol Church, Lampa – Puno

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