Tours to Lake Titicaca

Situated between south-eastern Peru and western Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the largest (196 km/122 miles long) in South America and the highest in the world (approx. 3,810 meters above sea level /12,500 feet). According to Incan mythology, it was here that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo emerged from the depths of the lake to create the Inca Empire. “Titicaca” combines words from the local “Quechua and Aymara” languages. However, the origin of Titicaca’s name is unknown.

AMANTANI Island – Lake Titicaca
Amantani is a circular Island located at 36km (22miles) northeast of Puno. Two holy ruins dating back to the Tiwanaku civilization sit on Amantani Island: the Pachamama and the Pachatata (respectively, Mother and Father Earth). Amantani’s sunsets over Lake Titicaca are unrivaled! No, cars, hotels or electricity make Amantani a distinctive place. Visitors normally stay in private homes hosted by native. The Amantani hospitality is an experience you will appreciate as one of the highlights of your stay by Lake Titicaca.

TAQUILE Island – Lake Titicaca
Taquile is located 34km (21 miles) from Puno city. During the Spanish conquest, Taquile was used as a prison; lately it has become a private property owned by of the local community. Taquile offers stunning sceneries and archaeological ruins although its main attraction is Textile Art, declared “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by the Unesco in 2005.

UROS Island – Lake Titicaca
About 50 islands float on the waters of Lake Titicaca. These islands are made and an re-made with totora’s reeds. Hundreds of people still live on these floating islands. The Uros are part of the Titicaca National Reserve, which protects several species of native birds, fish and amphibians species.

Ethnic Lake Titicaca

Appreciate Peru’s ethnicity and its marvelous Lake Titicaca islands: Amantani, Taquille, and Uros. Understand how Amantani’s islanders live. Learn about the Taquileños charming way of life, their customs and hand woven textile crafts. Visit the Uros Islands and feel their ancestral characther. Travel across the altiplano to live the legend of Manco Capac’s route and discover the amazing Wiracocha Temple in Ratchi and the wonderful Peruvian Sistine Chapel in Andahuaylillas. The tour finishes in Cusco, where you will appreciate the beauty of some of the most important Inca ruins.

DAY 1. Tour to Lake Titicaca – Amantani
Your Lake Titicaca Tour begins with the excursion to Amantani Island. After a fantastic three hours boat ride, you will meet your hosting family at Amantani’s port. After a healthy lunch, you will pay a visit to the Tiwanaku ruins located at the top of the Island. Here, you will watch the Pachamama ritual. In the evening, you will be invited by locals to join in dancing their traditional dance: what a show! Overnight stay in Amantani.

DAY 2. Titicaca Lake Tour – Taquile, Uros
The excursion will start with a transfer to Taquile Island. Your guide will share with you the secrets and peculiarities of this very structured society that you will observe in Taquile. Taquile is well known for its textile traditions and since 2005 “Taquile Textile Arts” were proclaimed “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. Later your Titicaca Lake tour will bring you to the Uros Islands. Close to Puno, these islands are made using layers of totora (reeds) that grow in Lake Titicaca and that give them a touch of originality: they are in fact floating islands. Back in Puno, it’s time to rest.

Peru Classic Tour

Peru Classic Tour is intended to make you discover the majestic Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the highest navigable lake in the world – Lake Titicaca – and the enigmatic Nazca Lines. During the tour you will also learn about the astonishing nature of the Ballestas Islands, the Huacachina Oasis, as well as one of the deepest canyons in the world: the Colca Canyon! Be surprised by the traditional communities in the Andes and the modernity of Peru in Lima.

DAY 9. Lake Titicaca Tour – Amantani
Your excursion to Lake Titicaca begins at Puno’s port. During the three hours boat ride you will enjoy Lake Titicaca’s crystalline waters, the sparkling sunshine and the altiplano intense blue sky. Once on Amantani Island, a host family will welcome you to their home where you be served lunch. After a deserved rest, you will be invited to visit the Tiwanaku ruins and hike to the top of the island for the Pachamama (mother earth) ritual. At night, local folks will invite you to take part in a traditional dance where you will be offered traditional clothes. Overnight stay in Amantani.

DAY 10. Titicaca Lake Tour – Taquile, Uros
Early morning, you will say farewell to your hosting family and continue your Lake Titicaca tour to Taquile. Taquile is a Quechua-speaking island and local customs are untouched by modernity. Taquileños are best known for their fine hand-woven textiles and clothing. You will see with your own eyes why Taquile was declared by UNESCO “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2005. After lunch, you will enjoy a downhill and panoramic excursion to the shores of the island where you will again board your boat toward the Uros Islands. These 50 or so islands are made with totora reeds. Here your excursion to Lake Titicaca comes to a close. Overnight stay in Puno.

Amazing Peru Tour

The Amazing Peru Tour will make you discover the wonders and the beauty of this fascinating country. Travel begins with a visit to the exclusive Museo Larco Herrera in Lima, the impenetrable Nazca Lines, and the elegant colonial city of Arequipa. You will also be amazed when discovering the most incredible Inca sites of Saqsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Huayna Picchu, and the extraordinary Machu Picchu Sanctuary. The visit to the cultural site of Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience!

DAY 11. Lake Titicaca Tour – Amantani
Your Lake Titicaca Tour starts with a boat excursion to Amantani Island. On arrival at Amantani Island, you will meet your hosting family. After tasting some local dishes for lunch, you will join the group to explore the top of the island and the Tiwanaku ruins. Amantani will make you re-discover the values of a simple life and the community spirit which rules Amantani society. After dinner, islanders will engage in traditional folkloric dances, which you will experience personally!

DAY 12. Lake Titicaca Tour: Taquile and Uros
Early morning you will be greeted by spectacular sunshine. It is time to thank your family and continue your tour of Lake Titicaca to Taquile. Taquile is a very structured society where tasks performed by men and women are well defined. This reflects also Taquile’s main feature: textile art! Knitting is exclusively performed by men, while women only yarn and weave. Since 2005, Taquile’s Textile Art was officially acknowledged by the Unesco. After lunch, your excursion to Lake Titicaca will reveal the Uros islands. These islands are well-known to travelers who venture to Lake Titicaca. These 50 or so floating islands are perpetually built and re-built using layers of totora (reeds) that grow in Lake Titicaca. Your Lake Titicaca tour ends in Puno. Overnight stay in Puno.

Peru Express Tour

Peru Express represents the essence of the Andean customs and the mysteries of the Inca culture. Surrounded by volcanoes, the refined colonial city of Arequipa will welcome you! The Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca are two on the highlights of the tour, which continues with a visit to the beautiful city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Peru Express Tour culminates with the tour to Machu Picchu to live the legend of the Incas and discover one of the new Seven Wonders of the World!

DAY 5. Lake Titicaca – Amantani
Lake Titicaca will welcome you and you will realize how this enormous lake holds lots of secrets and ancient traditions. After a three hours navigation, you will arrive in Amantani. Locals live with no electricity, so don’t be surprised by the simplicity of life. Your hosting family will offer local specialties mainly based on vegetables and potatoes. The Amantani excursion is an experience that will remain in your heart for a long time. In the afternoon you will visit the Tiwanaku ruins at the top of the island and learn about the Pachamama (mother earth) ritual. In the evening islanders will show a traditional dance and you will be invited to join in wearing traditional clothes.

DAY 6. Lake Titicaca – Taquile, Uros
In the morning you will say goodbye to your host family in Amantani and the tour continues to Taquile. Taquile is a Quechua-speaking island untouched by modernity. Its main feature is textiles, which were declared “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2005. Later you will navigate to the “floating Islands” of the Uros. The Uros are maybe the main touristic attraction on Lake Titicaca because they are not real islands. Locals make and re-make the islands using totora’s reeds that grow on Lake Titicaca. Return to Puno in the afternoon, where you will spend the night.