Esteves Island

Small island just off the harbour, connected to Puno by a causeway

A small island in the bay just north of the Puno harbour, connected to the mainland by a short causeway. Esteves is occupied entirely by a large lakeside hotel and a few public walkways; non-guests can walk out onto the island via the causeway and along the lakeside paths for views back over the city.

The position gives some of the best near-shore views of the lake — open water in one direction, the long curve of Puno spread along the hillside in the other. Worth a half-hour walk if you have an afternoon to fill and want to escape the central streets.

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A story
Esteves was once used as a prison for political detainees in the early 20th century. Many of the prisoners helped build the original causeway connecting the island to the mainland — the road is still in use today as the access route to the lakeside hotel.

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