Puno
Price $56
Min age 1
Rating 4.68 / 5 [209 ratings]
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Travel bucket list idea:
Puno Region, Peru
Straddling the borders of Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is South America’s largest lake by water volume. According to Andean lore, the lake was venerated as the birthplace of the Sun God; located at a staggering 3,830m above sea level, it’s not hard to see why it would inspire such beliefs – and the sunsets are glorious.
The lake is also the cradle of the Incas and the ancient Tiwanaku Empire: archaeological sites litter its shores.
The waters of the lake are dotted with artificial floating islands made of reeds by the Uros people, using pre-Inca methods.
The floating Uros Islands are made from tightly-packed bundles of totora reeds, a giant bulrush segde that is native to South America. The islands were originally built for defence, allowing the settlement to be moved if threatened, and the largest still has a watchtower. The largest islands house about ten families, the smaller ones only two or three.
Although tourism has had an impact, the Uros people still follow many of their traditions, including wearing traditional costume. Their ways of life have little-changed in millennia.
A number of companies arrange kayaking excursions to the islands as part of a tour. These generally include a homestay with a local family, which gives a wonderful insight into Andean life.
Daily flights from Lima, Arequipa and Cuzco land in Juliaca, to the northwest of the lake. Alternatively, PeruRail runs a luxury train service from Cuzco (10 hours) that includes lunch and a pit-stop at Raya, the highest point on the route.
From Puno, travellers often transfer to lodges on the outskirts of the bustling, colonial-era city on the northwest shore. This is a good base for day trips to Taquile island, an ancient agricultural centre with ruins, as well as the Uros floating islands – the Uros islands are 5km west of Punos.
Note – this area is extraordinarily high and altitude sickness can be a problem. Spend the first day completely relaxing.
The lake lies amid the frigid Andean altiplano. The peak of the dry season, from June to August, is the sunniest time for outings. Visitors arrive all year round, but the rainiest months (December-March) can be cold and wet.
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