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Top Lake Titicaca Attractions
- Visiting the incredible floating islands, home of the Uros tribe
- Staying overnight with a local family
- Browsing through stalls selling homemade crafts and food
- Enjoying a festival on the streets of Punto
- Learning the local folklore and the Inca beliefs about Lake Titicaca
- Taking a boat trip around the lake
Lake Titicaca Tours & Travel Guide
Lake Titicaca Attractions & Landmarks Guide
South America’s largest lake and the world’s highest navigable body of water, Lake Titicaca is located in the Andes Mountains and occupies parts of two countries: Peru and Bolivia. The lake is rich in both ancient mythology – it’s the reputed birthplace of the Incas and the sun – and present-day attractions, including a group of inhabited artificial floating islands. It’s also a photographer’s dream, with the Andes reflected in its famously deep blue, placid waters.
The reputation that Lake Titicaca had for the ancient Inca is enough to make you catch your breath as you glide across the water’s surface. This was where the god Viracocha emerged and created the sun, the people, and the stars. This place. With it’s floating reeds, mysterious aura, surrounding mountains, and peaceful other-wordly sense. Sounds of birds, lapping waves against the shore. This was where the Inca were born, according to their own legend. Visit to experience ancient traditions still alive and well, absorb the folklore and the spirit of the native people.
It is maybe ironic then, that some of the native people who live on Lake Titicaca, live in their unique floating homes because centuries ago they needed a respite from the expansion of the Inca Empire.
Though Peru is known heavily for Machu Picchu, and the Incan Empire, what is not commonly considered is the cultures and peoples descended from the groups that the conquering Inca overtook.
Lake Titicaca is one place where this history will come to light when you meet with members of the Uros tribe, who today still live as they did many centuries ago, when the Inca’s expanded their empire. Although the Uros do have some modern conveniences around, such as motorboats, this is still an experience where the outside world falls away.
The Highest Lake in the World
Lake Titicaca is over 3800 meters above sea level, and the largest freshwater lake in South America. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can go and feel truly close to ancient life as it has existed for thousands of years.
Lake Titicaca is 118 miles long and 50 miles across at its widest point. Most of the lake is on the Peru side, but it does cross the border into Belize. Approximately 350 miles deep, it's waters hide many mysteries and it's the perfect getaway from Cusco for travelers interested in ancient history and seeking a different Peru beyond Machu Picchu.
Staying at Lake Titicaca
The coldest months at Lake Titicaca are June, July, and August. It’s not recommended to visit during this time, but all other times of year the weather is usually agreeable. One of the most unique experiences you can have while visiting Peru is a homestay on Lake Titicaca. Here you’ll meet a local family, learn to cook meals, and spend a day in the life. This experience is available through guided tour companies who visit Lake Titicaca only. The companies will have special arrangements with the families.
From Puno, most tours follow a similar route. You’ll visit the Uros on the floating islands and spend an afternoon learning about their fascinating history. From there you’ll head on to Amantani Island to meet the local family you’ll stay overnight with. These families are required to have a room set aside specifically for guests traveling with a tour, and amenities are expected to reach a certain code.
Enjoy a special warm meal, and watch a traditional dance show. Most guests bring a special gift of cooking items or school supplies for the local classroom, as a show of appreciation.
You can also stay in one of the many eco lodges on the islands, including the five star option on Sausi, Lake Titicaca’s only privately owned island. These lodges are fully self sustaining, and the perfect choice for travelers concerned about their carbon footprint and wanting an immersive vacation into nature. Drift into another time when you take a tour to Lake Titicaca.
Some may choose to stay in Puno, the main city on Lake Titicaca’s shores. Puno is known as the Folkloric Capital of Peru, and is a charming town that lives up to this name. Slightly quirky and offbeat, with winding streets, unusual buildings, and gritty, Puno is a clash of old and new, fast paced while also reflecting many centuries of life. Learn about ancient customs, enjoy local food and drink, and enjoy the native people’s fascinating balance of one foot in tradition, one foot in modern outlook.
The Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is known for several inhabited man-made floating islands (Islas Flotantes). The “Uros” tribe has been living on these islands for many centuries, since the time of conquest by the Inca Empire. In fact they originally adapted to this way of life as a result of Inca expansion. And they’ve lived this way ever since. Today they practice the same traditions as their ancient ancestors.
The islands last an average of 20 to 25 years, and once they start to sink, more reeds are added on top. The importance of this resource, the totora reed, cannot be understated. The Uros use it for nearly every facet of their livelihood. The reeds are used to make their boats, furniture, and of course their home.
Guests are greeted with dancing and singing by local villagers in traditional dress welcoming boats coming to dock. The islands which accommodate visitors rotate regularly. When you land, you’ll immediately notice the soft, spongy feeling underfoot as you explore this man-made phenomenon. There is no real solid ground - simply floating reeds strategically placed to create this unique home.
Staying, even for a short time, on a floating island is one of the most incredible experiences, as the outside world falls away. You’ll see demonstrations of how the totora are used, and how local crafts are made. Meet the families living on the island and enjoy a traditional meal - usually consisting of quinoa, fish, and vegetables. Take in a presentation of local dances and music before heading on your way to see more of Lake Titicaca.
You can also take a ride around the lake in one of the reed boats, made entirely out of the totora reeds, steered by a local guide who can provide more insight into life on Lake Titicaca. These boats are expertly crafted, but by nature of their materials, fall apart in two to three weeks! They take a full day for a team of workers to make - testament to the native way of life on the lake and their dependance on the reeds that provide their homes and livelihoods.
There is some criticism of Lake Titicaca’s floating islands for being too over-commercialized. One of the two main sources of income for the people living here is through selling souvenirs, and they see a constant flow of tourists.
Yet despite the overabundance of shops and merchandise available, in our opinion, Lake Titicaca is an example of that (often rare) travel phenomenon where you are simply are ok to look past the commercialization because it is just that fascinating to visit for an afternoon and learn about their history. Sometimes the tourist is the traveler, and Lake Titicaca is the intersection.
Lake Titicaca Reviews & Ratings
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Essential Peru
This was a fabulous adventure! Recounting it to friends at home, it seems incredible that we saw and experienced so much - or travelled so many miles in a relativ...
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Brilliant Adventure
What a brilliant time we had on our recent visit to Peru. From the moment we met our guide Sebastian at Lima airport the fun started. The itinerary was full on but...
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Qué paja el Perú !
Before I went on this holiday, anyone I talked to about Peru seemed to equate it principally with Machu Picchu and Inka trails. Frankly, as beautiful and wondrous...
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Amazing itinery, varied and comphrehensive
Essential trip covers the highlights in 2 weeks covering Andes and Desert Peru comprehensively (Jungle would be an additional bolt on). The itinery was key fo...
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An amazing trip of a life-time!
This was my first experience of Exodus and I was very impressed. All of the communication prior to travelling was excellent and this continued with my arrival in ...
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