Tours in Puno and Lake Titicaca: Floating Islands and Living Culture
Sail on the world's highest navigable lake, walk on the Uros's totora reed islands, and experience daily life in the communities of Taquile and Amantaní, at an elevation of 3,812 meters.
- 9 tours available
- From $15.00
- May through October · Dry season and clear skies
- 2 days
Why Visit Puno and Lake Titicaca
- The world's highest navigable lake, at 3,812 meters above sea level
- The floating islands of the Uros, built entirely of totora reeds
- Taquile, whose textile art is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
- Experiential Tourism in Amantaní, with Homestay Accommodations
Tours and Experiences in Puno and Lake Titicaca
Packages that include Puno and Lake Titicaca
7 days, 6 nights
Wonders of the South in 7 days
- LIMA
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
20 days, 19 nights
Peru Adventurer
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
15 days, 14 nights
Lima – Arequipa – Cusco – Puno – Huaraz
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
11 days, 10 nights
Southern Peru
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Ica and Huacachina
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Nazca
- Paracas
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
14 days, 13 nights
Magical Peru
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
2 days
Uros, Amantani and Taquile 02 Days 01 Night
Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
Things to Do in Puno and Lake Titicaca
The Floating Islands of the Uros
Platforms built with layers of totora reeds that are constantly being replaced. Families explain how they build them and keep them afloat.
View the tour
Taquile Island
A Quechua community known for its textiles, designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The men weave, and their hats indicate their marital status.
Amantaní Island
Immersive tourism experience featuring an overnight stay with a local family, a shared dinner, and a hike up to the temples of Pachamama and Pachatata to watch the sunset.
View the tour
Chullpas of Sillustani
Pre-Inca burial towers up to twelve meters high overlooking Lake Umayo, 34 km from Puno.
How to Get to Puno and Lake Titicaca, and When to Visit
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From Cusco
7 h
Sun Trail with stops in Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, and La Raya Pass, at 4,335 meters.
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From Arequipa
5 hours 30 minutes
Daytime and nighttime services on paved roads.
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From Lima
1 hr 45 min
Flight to Juliaca, followed by a one-hour drive to Puno.
When to Visit
The dry season runs from May to October, with sunny days, very clear skies, and very cold nights: in June and July, the temperature can drop below zero degrees in the early morning. This is the best time for boating, because the lake is calm and visibility is excellent. From November to March, it rains in the afternoon and the landscape turns green, with somewhat milder temperatures at night. In February, the Festival of the Virgin of Candelaria is celebrated—Peru’s largest folk festival, featuring thousands of dancers over the course of two weeks.
Before Traveling
- Puno is at an elevation of 3,827 meters: be sure to acclimate beforehand—it's higher than Cusco
- The nights are very cold all year round; be sure to bring a coat even if it's sunny during the day
- The sun is very strong at the lake because of the altitude and the reflection off the water: wear sunscreen
- If you're participating in experiential tourism, bring a small, useful gift for your host family
- On the islands, you'll be walking on slopes and at high altitudes: take it easy
- Bring cash in soles: there are no ATMs or card payment options on the islands
Frequently Asked Questions About Puno and Lake Titicaca
The full-day tour visits the Uros and Taquile islands and returns to Puno in the afternoon. The two-day itinerary includes an overnight stay in Amantaní with a local family, which is the part most appreciated by those seeking experiential tourism.
These are platforms made of layers of totora, an aquatic plant found in the lake, anchored to the bottom and constantly replaced because the base rots in the water. Families live on them in houses made of the same material.
At night, yes, all year round. Puno is at an elevation of 3,827 meters, and in winter the temperature drops below zero in the early morning, although it’s pleasant during the day when the sun is out. Be sure to bring a real coat, not just a light jacket.
You'll stay at the home of a local family, in a simple room with beds and plenty of blankets, usually without heat or hot water. Dinner and breakfast are shared with the family.
Yes, because Puno is about 400 meters higher. If you're coming from sea level, it's a good idea to acclimate first—ideally by stopping in Cusco or Arequipa on the way.
Guide to Puno and Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world: 8,400 square kilometers of water at 3,812 meters above sea level, shared between Peru and Bolivia. Puno, on the Peruvian shore, serves as a base for exploring the lake and is considered the country’s folkloric capital.
The lake is best known for the floating islands of the Uros, platforms built entirely of totora, the aquatic plant that grows along the shores. The families who live there constantly replace the top layers, because the base that comes into contact with the water decomposes. This way of life originated from the need to seek refuge from more powerful peoples by moving across the water.
Further inland lie Taquile and Amantaní, two islands connected to the mainland and inhabited by Quechua communities. Taquile is famous for its textile art, which has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: there, the men weave, and the hats they wear indicate whether they are single or married. Amantaní offers experiential tourism, with accommodations in homestays and a hike up to the temples of Pachamama and Pachatata at sunset.
On land, the chullpas of Sillustani feature pre-Inca funerary towers up to twelve meters tall. The dry season, from May to October, offers the clearest skies; in February, the Festival of La Candelaria fills the city with dancers for two weeks.
