Lake Titicaca Tours: Make the Most of Your Floating Island Experience!

The beautiful Lake Titicaca is located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, near a city called Puno, and is often referred to as the highest navigable lake in the world thanks to its positioning atop the Andes mountain range. The mystery surrounding such a place means Lake Titicaca tours are continuously growing in popularity. At an elevation of 3,812m, there is something quite surreal about such an incredibly vast lake being located at such heights, adding to the mysterious aura of the place. The wonders of Lake Titicaca don’t stop at its beauty. The world famous floating islands of Puno are made entirely from Totora reed, which means the inhabitants of the islands have found many wild and wonderful ways to make use of the limited resources available. Lake Titicaca tours have become one of the most popular activities each side of the border, meaning if you’re visiting one of Peru or Bolivia, this is a must on the to-do list. For more information on the famous lake, the official website, www.laketiticacaperu.com, is a perfect place to start!

Lake Titicaca Tours

2-Hour Tours
When it comes to Lake Titicaca tours, there are three stand-out options for adventurers seeking to explore the wonderful floating islands atop the lake. For as little as $10, travelers can take a 2-hour tour of the famous lake and its islands. There is a range of operators offering both a morning or afternoon tour starting at 06:30 or 16:00 respectively. This boat tour of the lake gives travelers the opportunity to explore the wonderful islands in an organic way, onboard the traditional reed boats famous to the lake.

1-Day Tours
For those with more time to explore the area, a 1-day tour is a perfect way to explore the islands to the fullest and includes a tour of the Taquile Island too. There are several operators of this tour available who offer similar experiences, varying slightly in cost and pick-up times. This day-long tour costs around $20 and includes a more in-depth tour of the famous islands and their surroundings. With the help of the bilingual tour guides, this is the perfect way to learn about the ways of the Islanders in the area and how they have learned and adapted to life on the highest islands in the world.

2-Day/1-Night Tours
The most immersive Lake Titicaca tours available are the 2-day/1-night tours that include spending a night on one of the famous floating islands with a local family. This tour costs $40 and includes meals during your stay, a bilingual guide and a boat tour around the lake, allowing explorers to experience the lake and its culture in the best way possible. This tour also includes a visit to the island of Taquile and Amantani, the most traditional of the Lake Titicaca islands. Travelers taking this tour are guaranteed a night of fun and festivities with the local people, who never turn down the opportunity for a song and a dance! This tour is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and one you won’t regret.

How to Get to Lake Titicaca

Before considering what Lake Titicaca tours to choose, you must get to Puno first! We recommend that our readers take the popular bus service Peru Hop/Bolivia Hop to reach the magic islands. Their hop-on/hop-off service means travelers can pick and choose how long they spend in all the wonderful destinations on the way to Puno and we all know that flexibility is king! There are several other bus services in Peru that offer a more direct service from Lima to Puno, but skip some of the amazing destinations along the way such as Huacachina, that Peru Hop stops at, that we recommend you visit on the way to Puno. For those looking to get to Puno Quick, Peru Hop offers a quick pass to Puno for as little as $189 that includes some of the most famous destinations in Peru along the way.

Fun Facts to Prepare you for the Lake Titicaca Tours

• The people of the Uros floating Islands actually speak a unique language that isn’t related to either Quechua or Spanish!
• The closest city to the famous lake is Puno, which is the starting point for all Lake Titicaca tours.
• At 3,812m, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world! There are small bodies of water higher, but none big enough to be navigated by a boat.
• The famous lake borders both Peru and Bolivia.
• The famous floating islands are made completely of Totora Reed, which is used by the locals for almost everything from housing to boats!
• The islands of Taquile and Amantani are more isolated and are home to the most traditional aspects of Lake Titicaca culture!

What to Bring on Lake Titicaca Tours

• Small backpack
• Water
• Sunscreen – Very important
• Hat, sunglasses.
• Warm layers, sweater or jacket (can reach -10ºC)
• Basics like toilet paper, etc
• Snacks
• Personal medications (if necessary)
• Money for drinks
• Camera
• If doing the overnight tour, bring a small overnight bag and toiletries

What Are You Waiting For?

With all the wonderful Lake Titicaca tours waiting to be enjoyed, it’s no wonder that the mountaintop lake and its floating islands are becoming one the most popular tours in Peru. So what are you waiting for? Jump on the bus to Puno and explore the incredible culture of Lake Titicaca in the clouds.

If you want to keep planning your trip to Peru then check out more information about the people of the Uros Islands!