Lake Titicaca Travel Guide

Scattered all around Lake Titicaca you´ll find chullpas, gargantuan white-stone towers up to 10 m in height in which the ancient Colla tribe, who dominated the region before the Incas, buried their dead. Some of the most spectacular are at SILLUSTANI, set on a little peninsula in Lake Umayo overlooking Titicaca, 30 km northwest of Puno. This ancient temple/cemetery consists of a ring of stones more than five hundred years old – some of which have been tumbled by earthquakes or, more recently, by tomb robbers intent on stealing the rich goods (ceramics, jewellery and a few weapons) buried with important mummies. Two styles predominate at this site: the honeycomb chullpas and those whose superb stonework was influenced by the advance of the Inca Empire. The former are set aside from the rest and characterized by large stone slabs around a central core; some of them are carved, but most are simply plastered with white mud and small stones. The later, Inca-type stonework is more complicated and in some cases you can see the elaborate corner-jointing typical of Cusco masonry.

The man-made floating UROS ISLANDS have been inhabited since their construction centuries ago by Uros Indians retreating from more powerful neighbours like the Incas. They are now home to a dwindling and much-abused Indian population. Although there are about 48 of these islands, most guided tours limit themselves to the largest, Huacavacani, where several families live alongside a floating Seventh-Day Adventist missionary school.
The islands are made from layer upon layer of totora reeds, the dominant plant in the shallows of Titicaca and a source of food (the inner juicy bits near the roots), as well as the basic material for roofing, walling and fishing rafts. During the rainy season months of November to February it´s not unusual for some of the islands to move about the surface of the lake.

One of Titicaca´s non-floating islands, TAQUILE is peaceful place that sees fewer tourists than the Uros. Located 25-30 km across the water from Puno it lies just beyond the outer edge of the Gulf of Chucuito. Taquile is arguably the mots attractive of the islands hereabouts, measuring about 1 km by 7 km, and looking from some angles like a huge ribbed whale, large and bulbous to the east, tapering to its western tail end. The horizontal striations are produced by significant amounts of ancient terracing along the steep-sided shores. Such terraces are at an even greater premium here in the middle of the lake where soil erosion would otherwise slowly kill the island´s largely self-sufficient agricultural economy, of which potatoes, corn, broad beans and hardy quinoa are the main crops. Without good soil Taquile could become like the main floating islands, depending almost exclusively on tourism for its income. Today, the island is still very traditional. There is no grid-connected electricity on the island, though there is a solar-powered community loudspeaker and a growing number of individual houses with solar lighting; it´s therefore a good idea to take o torch, matches and candles.
The island has two main ports: Puerto Chilcano Doc (on the west of Puno side of the island) and El Otro Puerto (on the north side, used mostly by tour boats of tour agents because it has an easier and equally panoramic access climb). Arriving via Puerto Chilcano Doc, the main heart of the island is reached via 525 gruelling steps up a steep hill from the small stone harbour; this can easily take an hour of slow walking. When you´ve recovered your breath, you will eventually appreciate the spectacular view of the southeast of the island where you can see the hilltop ruins of Uray K´ari, built of stone in the Tiahuanaco era around 800 AD; looking to the west you may glimpse the larger, slightly higher ruins of Hanan K´ari. On arrival before climbing the stairs, you´ll be met by a committee of locals who delegate various native families to look after particular travellers – be aware that your family may live in basic conditions and speak no Spanish, let alone English (Quechua being the first language).

Like nearby Taquile, AMANTANI, a basket-weavers´ island and the largest on the lake, has managed to retain some degree of cultural isolation and autonomous control over the tourist trade. Amantani is the least visited of these two islands and consequently has fewer facilities and costs slightly more to reach by boar. Of course, tourism has had its effect on the local population, so it´s not uncommon to be offered drinks, then charged later, or for the children to sing you songs without being asked, expecting to be paid. He ancient agricultural terraces are excellently maintained, and traditional stone masonry is still practiced, as are the old Inca systems of agriculture, labour and ritual trade. The islanders eat mainly vegetables, with meat and fruit being rare commodities, and the women dress in colourful clothes, very distinctly woven. The island is dominated by two small hills: one is the Temple of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the other the Temple of Pachatata (Father Earth). Around February 20, the islanders celebrate their main festival with half the 5000-strong population going to one hill, the other half gathering at the other. Following ancient ceremonies, the two halves then gather together to celebrate their origins with traditional and colourful music and dance.

It is the only luxury hotel in Puno city that sits atop private Esteves Island on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. From anywhere in the hotel, guests can admire the sunrise and sunset into this area, as each room has a spectacular and unique view of the lake.
The hotel offers superior rooms, featuring flat-screen televisions and views of the city or lake, as well as the Junior suite, which is more spacious to stretch out , and includes a separate dining and living area. The hotel offers an array of modern amenities like Wi-Fi, a fitness center, Jacuzzi and outdoor pool where you can enjoy a day of sun.

With its contemporary design cutting-edge technology, the Casa Andina Private Collection. Puno hotel is the top of its class.
The rich and varied breakfast buffet features seasonal fruits, cereals, hams, cheeses and egg. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers a proposal that combines inputs from roots and traditional local cuisine with the best of international dishes. Besides services like facial, body treatments and massages, hot stones, reflexology and relieving.

The Eco Inn Lake Titicaca hotel offers the best in Puno accommodation and treats each individual guest with high quality service, making each vacation a memorable one. This 4 star hotel is perfect for solo travelers who would like to explore the wonders of South America, honeymoon couples looking for something a bit different, friends and family.
The Eco Inn Lake Titicaca Hotel features a restaurant where its guests can try local cuisine, business travelers can make use of the hotel’s complimentary wired Internet access and onsite business center.

The Hacienda Puno Plaza hotel offers a central location in the city, a few steps from the main plaza and the Cathedral of Puno. This hotel offers a restaurant where guests can try Peruvian and international dishes, also is offered a complimentary breakfast is served daily, as well as a business center that guests can have complimentary high-speed Internet (wired), open 24 hours and a computer at your disposal.
The hotel features 28 pleasant rooms with LCD cable TV, free wireless internet; guests can also watch their favorite TV show with satellite channels, besides offer private bathroom with a bathtub or shower and hair dryer, bath amenities, telephone.

This lovely 4-star hotel feature panoramic views of the Lake and is designed to resemble traditional Peruvian and Inca cultures.At this hotel, guests will be immersed in the magical city of Puno while discovering the wonders of Tiahuanaco culture and enjoying the beauty of this unique landscape and the genuine hospitality by its people.
Make sure to try the excellent "Inkafe" restaurant, offering a huge variety of menus with delicious Andean and international dishes. During your meal time, you will enjoy great views of the Lake either on the terrace if weather allows it, or from the large windows.

The hotel is located in front of the Lake Titicaca, at 10 minutes from the center of Puno. Jose Antonio Puno hotel offers people the comfort and the warmth of home that everybody deserves.
The Jose Antonio Puno Hotel is enviously set upon the shore of Lake Titicaca; the vast whitewashed red-roofed building is carved almost in solitude into the sloping cliffs that drop into the world’s highest navigable lake. The hotel was opened in 2008, it boasts ultra-modernity, top-class luxury and impressive views of the stunning lake from almost every window of its rooms.

The Sol Plaza Hotel is located in the heart of the city of Puno, a few steps from the main square, near museums, colonial churches, shopping centers, banks, ATMs, travel agencies and among other interested places.
The Sol Plaza Hotel offers its guests the comfort of modern facilities and equipment, as well as its experience in hospitality. Its main priority is to satisfy the desires and needs of its guests, ensuring their holiday unforgettable and maximizing their trip.

The Tierra Viva Puno Plaza hotel is located at Grau Street, into the historic center of Puno city. Its strategic location allows its guests an easy access to several main attractions, such as the main plaza, the Cathedral and the Dreyer Museum. The hotel is also next to Lima Street, the most commercial and cosmopolitan street in the city, where travellers may enjoy the best restaurants, popular art stores, artistic bars and peñas of Puno.This hotel was design, with spacious, bright rooms equipped with modern soundproof windows, which allow its guests the maximum comfort and resting after a long day discovering the Lake Titicaca and the Andean Plateau.