South & Central America

Lake Titicaca & Puno

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake standing at 3856m above sea level and straddles Peru’s southern border with Bolivia. It is without question the most sacred lake in the Andes and its deep blue waters are held in almost mythical awe by the Aymara and Qechua peoples who still inhabit the area and predate the Incas by a thousand years or more.

Among the lake’s most famous inhabitants are the Uros Indians who have lived on the floating reed islands for hundreds of years, although in recent times they have intermarried with Aymara people and so no pure Uros people still exist, but many of their traditions remain. They still live on the platforms of lake reeds (totora) that they have built up over the years and it is fascinating, but somewhat disconcerting to have the ground beneath you move like a waterbed! The reeds are their principal building material and they are used to build the very foundations upon which they live as well as their houses and boats, which they use for hunting and fishing.

One of the most fascinating islands on the lake is Taquile Island, which lies approximately 40 kilometres (4 hour boat ride) from Puno and here you can see a wide variety of pre-Inca and Incan ruins. The landscape here is dominated by the Inca terracing where potatoes, corn and beans are grown and there is also a thriving textile industry. With no roads or electricity, the island has a serenity all of its own and with the generous hospitality of the indigenous people, a visit is well worth while.

Puno is the capital of this region, but is not the most attractive town to visit, but it is the gateway to Lake Titicaca and there are a few places that are well worth visiting.

The pre-Columbian funeral towers (chullpas) at Sillustani are just a half hour’s drive from Puno and lie beside the beautiful Lake Umayo, which is home to a wide variety of ducks and flamingos. The chullpas are elaborate constructions in which the Colla tribe buried the most important members of their community. With some chullpas reaching as high as 12 metres, the quality of engineering has baffled archaeologists and the chullpas known as Lagarto and Intiwatana are particularly fine and prominent examples.

Our preferred hotels include:

Casa Andina Private Collection Puno
Posadas del Inca
Libertador - Lake Titicaca Hotel
Casa Andina Private Collection Suasi Island

Titilaka