How long to stay in titicaca

How to get to Lake Titicaca — Compare transportation options. FAQs — We answer your frequently asked questions. Did you know? Peru is open! What to bring? Light backpack Water Sunscreen very important Hat Camera Sunglasses Sweater or jacket very important Basics like toilet paper, personal medications, etc Money for tips.

Do the tour prices include the island entry fees? Do I need to take extra money? Yes, all of the tour prices include the associated island entry fees.

If heading to the islands of Taquile and Amantani we advise to take some money for souvenirs as they are renowned for some of the finest woven goods in Peru. Does the tour include a ride on one of the traditional reed boats?

No, this experience is optional and can be paid directly to the locals on the island. The locals speak their own local language on the islands not Spanish or Quechua.

The islands of Taquile and Amantani are so remote that they were used as high security prison islands during the Spanish Rule in Peru. Over 25 rivers flow into Lake Titicaca. Here, he created his son and daughter, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the very first Incas who later travelled North to found Cusco at the heart of what would become the Inca Empire!

Thank you for your message! Then, ladies display their handicrafts for sale. Alternatively, you will be offered a ride around the island on a reed boat. However, we must admit that this is a very touristy experience. Most travelers opt for exploring Lake Titicaca on a full-day tour. Taquile Island, as you can see in the map above, requires a longer boat ride from Puno. Prices differ as there are conventional- and speed boats.

Our full-day excursion on Titicaca Lake is offered with a speedboat. It saves you up to 1. Unlike the conventional tours, ours starts in Taquile. After a weaving demonstration there, you navigate to Luquina. This tiny, yet charming, community lies on a pristine corner in Puno — on the shores of Titicaca Lake and offers scenes of the rural life in Puno.

Crystal clear water welcomes visitors on their way to the local restaurant. Meals here are prepared with fresh produce and include local crops and superfoods such as quinoa look for the pancakes below.

The dining room is simple. Luxurious here are the undisturbed lake views Booking in advance pays off as you can get a casita with a lake view. Although very simple, each casita comes with a private bathroom and electric shower. Overnighting gives you the chance to contemplate the sunset with mesmerizing views from the top of the peninsula a hike is required.

Alternatively, you can help the locals in the afternoon when they throw their fishing nets in the lake. Some travelers ask us if bathing is possible in Titicaca Lake. However, kayaking might be an option for you.

Especially if you are spending the night in Luquina. The chullpas were the final resting place for nobles whose mummies were put in the tombs alongside gold artifacts and other earthly riches. The site is perched on a little peninsula in Lake Umayo and overlook beautiful altiplano scenery. The archaeological site at Cutimbo features tall burial towers called chullpas that are similar to those at Sillustani.

The site was used by several different cultures, first, the Colla and Lupaca followed by the Inca. A trail from the main road leads up the circular and square-shaped Cutimbo chullpas perched on a table-topped mountain. Of particular interest are the monkey, snake, and puma shapes etched into the stones bricks of some ancient tombs. The archaeological complex at Pukara is where the first regional population in the northern Lake Titicaca basin thrived between BC — AD.

Weaving tools and shards of decorated pottery are among many artifacts discovered at Pukara that offer researchers important insight into the origins of Andean civilizations in the highlands.

Visit the archaeological site and the Pukara Lithic Museum on a day trip from Puno. Within the walled-off complex are rows of eyebrow-raising stone statues of male genitalia.

Rumor has it that women trying to get pregnant once frequented the temple to perform fertility-boosting rituals. While the stone wall at the temple is distinctly Inca, the originality of the statues and their placement at the site is up for debate. After exploring the Peru side of Lake Titicaca, you can extend your stay and cross the border into Bolivia and head to Copacabana.

Much smaller than Puno, this lakeside Bolivian town is popular for grabbing a boat to Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna. You can also spend a free afternoon around Copacabana, perusing the souvenir shops and walking up to Calvary Hill Cerro El Calvario for a nice lookout over town and lake.

Many of the original adobe-structures are long gone, but the remains of impressive stone structures still stand including the cross-shaped pyramid of Akapana, the Semi-Subterranean temple, the metric ton Ponce monolith at Pumapunku, and the temple of Kalasasaya.

Staying at a hotel in or near to Puno is convenient if you only have a few days to explore the main highlights of the Lake Titicaca region. But if you carve out time in your travel itinerary for an extended stay two nights or more , Lake Titicaca is an excellent destination to disconnect and surround yourself in serene beauty at a remote hotel, like Isla Suasi, on the lake shores.

The following are our preferred Lake Titicaca hotels, selected for their outstanding service, ideal location, and excellent amenities. See all Lake Titicaca Hotels. The culinary scene in Puno is not as refined as Lima or Cusco, but the following restaurants are great options for a sit-down meal in the city. We also recommend browsing the restaurant menu at your hotel this might be your only option if your accommodation is outside of Puno , as these kitchens are often hidden oases of culinary goodness.

A Peruvian fusion menu paired with floor-to-ceiling windows and lake views make for a pleasant meal. Sesquicentenario , Puno website. Come for the evening dance and music folk show and enjoy regional cuisine. Reservations are highly recommended because this is a popular venue for out-of-towners. Libertad , Puno website. A pleasant cafe on the main plaza in Puno and spot for a casual meal. Browse a menu of Peruvian staples as well as salads and sandwiches.

Deustua , Puno website. Mojsa is one of the nicest restaurants in Puno. Its relaxed ambiance and charming balcony with views overlooking the Puno Cathedral is a great way to unwind after a long day of exploration. Order from a well-assorted menu of typical Peruvian dishes including aji de gallina, lomo saltado, and rocoto relleno. Lima 2nd floor , Puno website. See All Tour Packages. Lake Titicaca forms a natural border between southeastern Peru and western Bolivia.

Puno is the gateway city to the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. Guided tours depart from Puno each day to nearby islands and archaeological sites. If you fly or take a bus from Cusco to Lake Titicaca , then you should already have had sufficient time to adjust to the high elevations. However, you may consider adding at least one day to your travel itinerary in Lake Titicaca to allow for time to acclimatize if coming from a low elevation. Lake Titicaca is at about 12, ft 3, m above sea level.

This is slightly higher than the elevation of Cusco city at 11, ft 3, m. From Puno city, the closest town in Bolivia is Copacabana about 90 mi km. Lake Titicaca expands 3, square miles 8, square km over southern Peru and western Bolivia.

The depth of Lake Titicaca averages between ft to ft m to m. The deepest part of the lake is over ft m. Read more ». One of the most unique sites on Lake Titicaca are the floating Uros Islands. Learn about the history, culture, tour options, and more! We're flexible! Postpone your tour with zero cost up to 30 days prior to departure. Rely on our expert services to customize a unique experience.

Comfortable hotels, tours, and all transportation. Toggle menu. Postpone at no cost up to 30 days prior to departure Help me plan my trip. Lake Titicaca Astonishment awaits on a trip to Lake Titicaca. Few trees survive at such a high altitude, so grass and shrubs dominate this wind-sheared landscape.

History Long before an imaginary line was drawn through Lake Titicaca, establishing its Peruvian and Bolivian halves, the ancient cultures of Pukara, Tiahuanaco, Colla, Lupaca, and Inca lived along its shores.

Uros Islands, Peru Centuries ago, the Uros people abandoned their homes on the mainland to establish a way of life on floating islands amid the waters of Lake Titicaca. Taquile Island, Peru Colorful traditional clothing is usually the first cultural aspect that catches your eyes. Amantani Island, Peru Of all the inhabited islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, Amantani is often regarded as the most authentic and a place with undeniable beauty.