Peru
Lake Titicaca
Add on to any of our Peru tours our 3-day tour to Lake Titicaca, or the 4-day program which includes a homestay on Taquile Island. This is a brilliant cultural immersion for a complete Peru adventure! Lake Titicaca lies at 12,500 feet above sea level, so this program is best added following acclimation time in Cuzco or Arequipa.
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A brilliant cultural immersion to add onto any of our Peru adventures! Choose the 3-day Introduction to Lake Titicaca for a hotel-based program, or the 4-day program which includes a homestay on Taquile Island. Lake Titicaca lies at 12,500 feet above sea level, so this program is best added following acclimation time in Cuzco or Arequipa.
The views east to the 20,000-foot peaks of the Royal Range enhance the scenic beauty of the lake. You'll stop at Inca and pre-Inca sites, the unique floating reed Uros Islands, and visit Taquile Island, a steep terraced rocky island inhabited by Quechuan people.
Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.
Moderate
These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.
Active
These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.
Strenuous
While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.
Extreme
Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).
Custom departures year round, upon request.
2011 Rates from $340 per person, double occupancy, for a 4-Day program
Click on "Read More" for pricing details
Read MoreCustom departures year round, on request.
2011 Rates, per person
3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS
LTI-1 INTRODUCTION TO LAKE TITICACA
Using standard hotels (Royal Inn or similar) in Puno. Services to Amantani and Taquile are on your own.
| No. passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $519 | $390 | $362 | $352 | $342 |
| Add per single room | $90 |
LTI-1P Lake Titicaca in Standard hotel, with overnight on Taquile Island in private charter service. (Replaces the group day trip to Taquile Island with private chartered service. Using standard class hotels, i.e. Hostal Hacienda, Eco Inn, or similar.)
| No. Passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $810 | $520 | $450 | $426 | $415 |
| Add per single room | $90 |
LTI-1E with superior hotels (using superior class Casa Andina Private Collection or Hotel Jose Antonio (Hotel Libertador Isla Esteves is available on request, for a surcharge.) Days 1 & 3 are same as above itineraries; on Day 2, you have a private chartered boat and guide for the full day on Lake Titicaca.
| No. Passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $1,094 | $657 | $553 | $545 | $519 |
| Add per single room | $275 |
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS
LTT-1 Lake Titicaca with overnight on Taquile Island
in standard hotels: (Royal Inn or similar) in Puno. Services to Amantani and Taquile are on your own
| No. passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $468 | $340 | $315 | $309 | $304 |
| Add per single room | $90 |
LTT-1P Lake Titicaca with private Taquile service Standard hotel with overnight on Taquile Island in private charter service. We include chartered boat service to and from Taquile Island, plus transfers from hotel to port and back.
| No. Passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $815 | $512 | $439 | $408 | $378 |
| Add per single room | $90 |
LTT-2 Superior Lake Titicaca with overnight on Taquile Island in private service. (Using superior class Casa Andina Private Collection or Hotel Jose Antonio. (Hotel Libertador Isla Esteves is available on request, for a surcharge.) In this program we include private chartered boat service to and from Taquile Island, plus transfers from hotel to port and back.
| No. passengers | 1 | 2 | 3 (in triple) | 4 | 5/7 |
| Land Cost | $1,155 | $670 | $550 | $542 | $524 |
| Add per single room | $275 |
Air rate Juliaca/Lima - $130 (STAR Peru V-class); $299 (LAN Peru H-class.) Rates are subject to change.
Introduction to Lake Titicaca
You’re picked up at your Cuzco hotel for a group coach tour via 14,200 ft. La Raya Pass to Puno. En route you’ll visit the pre-Inca site of Piqillacta, the colonial chapel at Andahuaylillas, and the enormous Inca-period Viracocha Temple complex at Raqchi. Reaching Puno, we transfer you to your hotel for two nights accommodation with breakfast.
Read MoreLIT-1 Introduction to Lake Titicaca (2 nights)
Day One You’re picked up at your Cuzco hotel for a group coach tour via 14,200 ft. La Raya Pass to Puno. En route you’ll visit the pre-Inca site of Piqillacta, the colonial chapel at Andahuaylillas, and the enormous Inca-period Viracocha Temple complex at Raqchi. Lunch is included. Reaching Puno, we transfer you to your hotel for two nights accommodation with breakfast
Day Two Full-day group excursion on Lake Titicaca Hotel pickup at 7.15AM. We cruise out of Puno Bay into the main body of the lake to Taquile Island. You have time for a scenic hike on Taquile’s trails before returning to the port. During the return to the mainland, we stop to visit a floating reed island community of the Uros Indians. Lunch is included, dinner on your own.
Day Three Sillustani and out Private tour of the impressive pre-Inca burial tower site at Sillustani. We then continue to Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima.
Includes: station and port transfers, transportation and group tours, daily breakfasts, two lunches, Sillustani site entrance. airport departure tax, site entrances unless specified.
Excludes: tips, meals not specified above.
LTI-1P Introduction to Lake Titicaca (2 nights)
As above in standard hotels, but replaces the group day trip to Taquile with private chartered boat service
LTI-1E Superior Introduction to Lake Titicaca (2 nights)
Days One and Three Same as above, but using 4-star Hotel Libertador Isla Esteves or Posada del Inca Private Collection.
Day Two. Private chartered boat and guide for the full day on Lake Titicaca
LTT-1 Lake Titicaca with overnight on Taquile Island (3 nights)
Taquile is a rocky, terraced island some 4 miles north to south and barely a mile wide, located in the main body of Lake Titicaca. The three hundred Quechua-speaking families who make up the community support themselves by farming and traditionally by leaving the island for periods of time to work on the mainland. Starting in the mid- 1980’s, they organized themselves to receive outside visitors. Host families constructed special guest rooms onto their family compounds, and cooperatives were formed to construct and operate motor launches to provide reliable daily service with the mainland.
On arrival at the island by boat from Puno, you are assigned to a host family for your overnight in native home-stay. Accommodation is basic – there is no electricity on the island, nor running water. Your hosts give you a comfortable bed with clean sheets and plenty of blankets, water in a clay pot drawn from a nearby spring, and candles for your room in the evening. Views in every direction are spectacular – you are in the center of the lake, surrounded by mountains of which the 20,000-foot summits of the Royal Range in Bolivia are the most impressive. Sunrise and sunset are exquisite; at night the Milky Way is a brilliant swathe of light.
Islanders are famous for their fine knitted hats and tightly-woven textiles, some of which are available for sale in the community store on the main square. You’ll enjoy walking on the main footpaths – you’ll often meet shepherd girls weaving or spinning wool as they watch over a few grazing sheep. Or you’ll come across a group of young men, sitting shooting the breeze while they knit woolen hats with the incredibly intricate designs typical of the island. A night on Taquile Island is an opportunity to step outside the normal physical surroundings of your trip through the Andes, and to open yourself up to whatever the Andean world may offer.
Day One Cuzco to Puno Travel via group tour (see description above). Accommodation in hotel
Day Two Uros and Taquile Transfer on your own to the port, where you will find pool boats departing at 8.00AM daily to Taquile Island, stopping en route at one of the floating Uros reed island communities. On arrival at the island, the reception committee assigns you to a family for the night.
Note: on LTT-1P and LTT-2 we include charter boat and private guide for the Taquile overnight. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
Day 3 Taquile Island/Puno Your morning is free to explore the island. 2.30PM departure from Taquile, reaching the mainland around dusk. Transfer on your own to your hotel. Meals are on your own today.
Day 4 Sillustani and out Private Sillustani ruins tour en route to Juliaca airport for check-in to your flight to Lima.
LTT-2 Superior Lake Titicaca with overnight on Taquile Island in private service (3 nights)
We use Hotel Libertador Isla Esteves or Casa Andina Private Collection. In this program we include private chartered boat service to and from Taquile Island, plus transfers from hotel to port and back.
LTT-1P Standard-Class Lake Titicaca with overnight on Taquile Island in private charter
We include chartered boat service to and from Taquile Island, plus transfers from hotel to port and back.
Standard (Tourist-class) hotels include the Royal Inn, Hostal Hacienda, Hotel Taypikala Lago
Superior+ hotels include Casa Andina Private Collection, Hotel José Antonio, & Libertador Isla Esteves (at additional cost)
Read MoreHotel Royal Inn
The hotel's location on a quiet street just half a block from the Plaza de Armas puts you in the heart of Puno. Rooms in this 4-star hotel are comfortably appointed. One of the most appreciated features in this town at 12,500 feet above sea level, where nights are cold, is the radiant floor heating. Guests enjoy excellent service from receptive staff.
Hotel Libertador Isla Esteves
Located on Esteves Island on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the Libertador is only five minutes away from downtown Puno. Enjoy breakfast with tremendous views over the lake, and a Pisco sour by the warm fireplace later. Rooms lack a whole lot of charm, but the views make up for it.
Casa Andina Private Collection (Puno)
Casa Andina Private Collection looks out onto Lake Titicaca from the west side of Puno Bay, 10 minutes drive from downtown Puno. Guests may use the dock for embarking on private excursions to the Uros floating reed islands and other destinations on the lake. The restaurant is one of the best choices in town. Guest are accommodated in 46 rooms, both standard and superior (lake-view).
Hotel José Antonio Puno
This hotel opened in March of 2008 and is located on the outskirts of Puno, overlooking the lake.
Rooms are spacious, with telephone, TV and minibar. Most of them have great views to the lake, which appears amazing, particularly at night. The restaurant offers a buffet but you are able to order a la carte. Other dining options would be available in Puno, about one mile away.
Coming Soon!
Read MoreComing Soon!
Quick Facts
- 3-day and 4-day itineraries
- Visit Inca and pre-Inca sites between Cuzco and Puno
- Cruise on Lake Titicaca and visit Uros floating reed islands
- Optional native homestay on Taquile Island
- Tourist-class or superior hotel options