Puno · Peru and Bolivia
Lake Titicaca
In short
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 m, split between Peru and Bolivia. From Puno on the Peruvian side, two days covers the floating Uros islands and a night with a family on Amantaní or Taquile.
The Uros islands are the famous half: reed platforms that have to be rebuilt continuously, anchored in the shallows an hour from Puno. They are inhabited and they are also, honestly, a stop that lasts an hour.
The islands worth the second day are further out. Amantaní and Taquile are solid ground, farmed in terraces, and the homestays there are the reason people come back — Taquile's weaving is on the UNESCO intangible heritage list.
Puno is at 3,810 m, higher than Cusco, so it belongs after Cusco in any itinerary and never before. The overland route between the two is ten hours with stops, and it is a better day than it sounds.
What Lake Titicaca is known for
- The Uros floating reed islands, an hour from Puno
- A homestay night on Amantaní or Taquile
- Taquile weaving, on the UNESCO heritage list
- Sillustani funerary towers on the road in
- The overland route from Cusco with stops, 10 hours
Practical detail
- Altitude
- 3,810 m — higher than Cusco
- How long you need
- 2 days from Puno
- Order
- After Cusco, never before
- From Cusco
- 10 hours overland or 1h by air via Juliaca
Frequently asked
How many days do you need at Lake Titicaca?
Two from Puno: one for the Uros islands and one for a homestay on Amantaní or Taquile. One day only gets you the reed islands, which is the least interesting half.
Should you visit Titicaca before or after Cusco?
After. Puno sits at 3,810 m, higher than Cusco, so arriving there first makes the whole trip harder than it needs to be.
Is the Peruvian or Bolivian side better?
Peru has the floating islands and the homestays; Bolivia has Isla del Sol and Copacabana. Most Peru itineraries use Puno, and crossing to Bolivia is a separate trip.