By air
Juliaca (JUL), ~45 km to Puno
South America · Peru
Lake Titicaca, Peru
The highest navigable lake and its floating islands
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — dry, with very cold nights
Don't miss
The Uros islands
Taquile
Amantaní
The town of Puno
Things to do
The Uros floating islands
Taquile's weavers
A homestay on Amantaní
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Warm layers, sun protection (it is 3,800 m up)
A quieter corner
The Sillustani burial towers at sunset
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Lake Titicaca?
May to October, when it's dry — but the nights are very cold.
How high is Lake Titicaca, and what should I pack?
At 3,800 m up, it's the highest navigable lake — pack warm layers and sun protection.
How do I get to Lake Titicaca?
Fly into Juliaca (JUL); the town of Puno is about 45 km away. Try the lake trout and quinoa dishes while you're there.
What can I do on Lake Titicaca?
Visit the Uros floating islands, meet Taquile's weavers and try a homestay on Amantaní. Save a sunset for the Sillustani burial towers.
About Lake Titicaca
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Lake Titicaca lies high on the Altiplano of the Andes at about 3,810 m, shared between Peru's Puno region and Bolivia, and is the largest lake in South America; the Peruvian city of Puno is the main base on its western shore.
History
The lake has been sacred to Andean peoples for many centuries: the Tiwanaku built a major temple on the Island of the Moon, and the Incas believed the sun god was born on the Island of the Sun. The Spanish took the region in the 16th century, and Puno grew as a silver-mining and trading town.
People
Quechua and Aymara communities live around the lake, fishing, farming and herding, and the Uros build their floating islands and boats from totora reeds. Taquile's textile art is recognised by UNESCO, and Puno's Fiesta de la Candelaria each February is one of South America's largest festivals of dance.
Known for
- The floating reed islands of the Uros
- Taquile Island's textiles
- Homestays on Amantaní
- The Sillustani burial towers
- The Candelaria festival in Puno
Did you know?
Titicaca is often called the highest navigable lake in the world, and the Yavari, a steamship built in Britain in 1862 and carried over the Andes in pieces, the last stretch by mule, is still moored at Puno.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.