The 2018 Dakar Rally says goodbye to Peru after passing through Puno 12.01.2018: • The last stage of the most extreme rally in the world ended with the high plateau of Puno in fron to the eyes of hundreds of fans.

•    The last stage of the most extreme rally in the world ended with the high plateau of Puno in fron to the eyes of hundreds of fans.


•    The most outstanding Peruvians were Juan Carlos Uribe (SxS) and Alexis Hernández (quad), who are in the second place of the general standings in their categories.


•    The fans of the race and the locals enjoyed the second 'Peru, Mucho Gusto' fair , which was held in this city on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

 


The last stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally started from the city of Arequipa and passed through the high plateau of Puno to complete its journey through Peru. The city of Puno, located at more than 3,800 meters above sea level, tested the pilots who delighted fans who follow the most demanding off-road race in the world.




One of the most outstanding of the race was Antoine Meo, motorcycle rider. The Frenchman took the sixth stage -first of this year- of the Arequipa-La Paz stage, passing through Puno (Peru) and covering a total of 313 kilometers. He was joined on the podium by Australian Toby Price and Argentine Kevin Benavides.



"First stage win. After this very long day spent on the bike with a little rain and snow. Tomorrow, we will be able to rest", Meo declared after reaching the goal.



The most outstanding Peruvians today were Juan Carlos Uribe and his co-driver Javier Uribe who were in third place in the SxS category. Thanks to this, they are second in the general standings. On the other hand, Alexis Hernández won seventh place in the quad category. The outstanding rider maintains the second place in the general standings.



The sixth stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally started from the city of Arequipa in the direction of Puno to end its journey in Peru. This city, located on the shores of the mystic Lake Titicaca, invites its visitors to be part of a magical atmosphere where legends, traditions and colorful parties are lived every day.




Puno is located in the Andean plateau of Collao, the highest in the Andes. One of the most important places is the Main Square, where you can find the Minor Basilica of the Cathedral of Puno, a building that has a mestizo-baroque style. This tourist destination was named Cultural Heritage in Peru and presents reliefs carved in granite with Andean motifs.



Another important place in the city is the Sanctuary of Virgen de la Candelaria, patron saint of Puno. Every year, in February, a party is held in honor of the virgin, where locals and visitors celebrate tasting cuisine from Puno and watching exhibitions of thousands of dancers throughout the city.



On the outskirts of the city you can find the highest navigable lake in the world: Titicaca. The legendary lake is the main attraction of this city. The Titicaca National Reserve is a protected area that preserves the natural resources of its ecosystem. There are about 109 species of birds and up to twelve varieties of aquatic plants, including 'totora' and 'llacho'.




About the 'totora' plant, inside the lake you can locate the Uros Islands, which is a community settled on amazing floating islands made of totora mats. The inhabitants of the islands interweave their artificial islands. Time did not pass through this place, as its inhabitants still practice ancestral activities such as fishing in rafts made of this material.



On the other hand, at about three hours in boat from the port of Puno you can find Taquile Island. In this place there are platforms and pre-Inca ceremonial centers. The inhabitants of the island are experts in the practice of traditional textiles, considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. Strong colors and symmetrical decorations are the main feature of these fabrics.





Finally, the 'Peru, Much Taste' fair, which took place in Cuartel Manco Cápac in Puno, finished. Attendees were able to taste the dishes of the different southern regions of Peru and also could see the dance shows of the cities participating in the rally in the Inca country.



For more information about tourist attractions that Lima has visit: www.peru.travel




Marcelo Carballar, photos @ShakedownTeam/PROMPERÚ