Lake Titicaca & the Floating Islands of Uros
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Two hours west of La Paz by bus brings us to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water at 3,812m (12,507ft) AMSL! Once again there is so much to see, be it a tour of the pre-Inca Tiwanaku culture on the banks of Lake Titicaca, or a fascinating visit to the workshops of the Limache Brothers, legendary boat builders of Thor Heyerdahl’s “totora” (reed) boats Ra II and Tigris. A full-scale replica of Ra II can be seen at Port Huatajata, with a museum on Aymara culture. From here and nearby Copacabana, motor launches take visitors out on tours to the Island of the Sun and Island of the Moon, where ruins of the Inca and Tiwanaku civilisations can be explored.
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Then it is on to Puno in Peru, where a tour should be taken to visit the unique "Floating Islands of Uros" some 5kms offshore. Here, an ancient community survives on some 60+ swathes of floating totora reeds, typically 4-5 families per "island". A unique experience, this can be extended by staying overnight with a Uro-Aimara family! Another favourite outing is to Sullistani, to view ancient funerary towers. Finally, you may board the Andean Explorer or Perurail Titicaca trains* at Puno for a luxurious ride to Cusco, or jump on a short flight from nearby Juliaca airport. Next stop - Machu Picchu!
(* From 3 May 2017 revised schedules apply; Andean Explorer departs midday Wednesdays for Cuzco; Perurail departs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays) |
Hotels, Lake Titicaca
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Both Copacabana (Bol) and Puno (Peru) offer a fair selection of accommodation on the shores of beautiful Lake Titicaca. However, the better 5/4* hotels get booked up early (peak holiday dates or 3 months in advance). The majority of accommodation is 3* or less. An excellent 5* room in Copacabana starts at US$ 115/night/room*; a 3* room in either Copacabana or Puno starts from US$50/night/room*. (* based on 2 persons sharing, with breakfast) |