Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia. On the Peruvian shore sits the city of Puno, while on the Bolivian side lies Copacabana.

If you are looking for information on the best buses to take to Puno or Copacabana, visit our passes page. Select your departure city, the countries you want to visit, and amount of time you have to travel. Then browse our passes to see which include your desired stop in Puno or Copacabana.

• Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake at over 3800m above sea level!
• The locals speak their own local language on the islands (not Spanish or Quechua).
• The island of Amantani is so remote that they were used as high security prison islands during the Spanish Rule in Peru.
• Over 25 rivers flow into Lake Titicaca.
• 56% of the area of the Lake belongs to Peru and 44% belongs to Bolivia.
• According to Inca legend the principal God, Inti (the Sun God), lived on one of the islands on the Bolivia side of the lake, Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun). Here, he created his son and daughter, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the very first Incas who later travelled North to found Cusco at the heart of what would become the Inca Empire!

We want you to be well prepared for your tour of the lake.

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

I have heard that the Floating Islands are very touristy and fake. Do the Uros people actually live on the islands and are they worth the visit?

The Floating Islands in Puno are the original authentic floating Islands. Due to their unique nature, they have become a very popular tourist attraction in Peru and have become almost a victim of their own success. A visit is still definitely worthwhile to learn about the incredible construction of these islands (houses, boats are all made of reed), and how the Uros people manage to forge a life out in the middle of Lake Titicaca on these tiny buoyant islands. Tourism is now the number one income and whilst families do live out on the islands a lot of the families and younger members do work and study in Puno.

Do the tour prices include the island entry fees? Do I need to take extra money?

Yes, all of the tour prices include the associated island entry fees. Please review the tour table above to see which meals are included if applicable. If heading to the islands of Uros and Amantani, we advise to take some money for souvenirs as they are renowned for some of the finest woven goods in Peru.

I will not be staying the night in Puno. Do I need to take my bags with me on the tour? What should I select as my pick up location?

In Puno, we work with the hostel, Lucky Your House – Titicaca 144. They offer our passengers a free bag storage service and a cheap price for shower use. You can leave your bags at the hostel whilst you do your tour and select this as your pick up location from Puno for the evening departure. It is a couple of blocks from the main plaza – Plaza de Armas.

Can I leave to do the Lake Titicaca Full Day Tour or 2-Day Homestay the same day as I arrive into Puno at 13:00pm?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. The 2-day Homestay and the Full Day tours start everyday early in the morning as the islands themselves are more than 3 hours in boat across the Lake from the city of Puno. You can spend the afternoon visiting the city of Puno, spend the night there and leave for the islands early the next day. Similarly it is not possible to come back from the Islands very early the next morning, there are no boats, the schedule of boats if fixed for these tours.