Sample itinerary
There are many ways to approach your trip to Lake Titicaca. You can overnight on the lake or visit for a day, and combine the trip with the world-famous train trip to or from Cusco.
Please contact the office for an individual itinerary tailored to your requirements.
Sample itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Puno, transfer in to hotel
You arrive into Puno by plane, bus or train and into your hotel.
You can take a look at the Sillustani ruins or explore this bustling town before you set off on the Lake the next day.
Day 2: Depart Puno, visit Uros and overnight on Taquile
It's an early start and down to the bustling port of Puno.
We set off on the world's highest navigable lake, with the first stop being the floating islands of Uros. We step off the boat and explore these fascinating islands, seeing how people live and make the islands.
There is a chance to buy some of the high quality weaving and sail in one of the local's reed boats before we set off for Taquile.
It is short walk from the port to the main square of Taquile. If you are staying overnight, the village elder will designate your host family for the night.
You are then free to explore the trails and far reaches of this fascinating culture.
Day 3: Depart Taquile, Puno hotel
After a free morning, your boat takes you back to Puno mid-afternoon, leaving you with an evening to explore the lakeside town.
More information - Uros
The Uros is a group of 42 floating islands just off Puno. The Uro originally created these artificial islands to escape the Inca, who dominated the mainland at the time; today they are a major tourist destination.
Around 3,000 descendants of the Uros are alive today, although only a few hundred still live on and maintain the islands; most have moved to the mainland. The islands are made of totora reeds, which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop support the islands. They are anchored with ropes attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake but the reeds at the bottoms of the islands rot away fairly quickly, so new reeds are added to the top to compensate.
Each island lasts about 30 years. The larger islands house about 10 families, while smaller ones, only about 30 metres wide, house only two or three.
Taquile
Taquile Island is one of the most idiosyncratic and beautiful spots in all of Peru. Located some 2 1/2 hours by fast boat (4 hours in a standard boat) from Puno, it is only 4km long and on average 1km wide but supports a population of almost 2,000 Taquileños.
The island has several archaeological sites dating from the Tiahuanaco culture. But it is the culture of the people living here today that makes Taquile so interesting; a culture far removed from our own and distinct from the rest of Peru. Taquile is known for the extremely high quality of the sophisticated weaving, practised from a young age by both men and women. The islanders spin, knit and weave whenever they have a free moment in the busy agricultural calendar.
By staying overnight, or taking the fast boat for a day trip, you have an opportunity to explore the many trails leading around the island, and to experience an island lifestyle unchanged in centuries. Be prepared for intense sun and perhaps a very cold wind on the boat – take good quality sun protection and, just in case, plenty of warm clothing.
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