Explore the islands of Lake Titicaca

Visit the floating reed islands of the Uros Uruitos and the Islands of the Moon and Sun with their Inca ruins and fascinating cultures.

Vast Lake Titicaca lies at the confluence of several important indigenous cultures, and their timeless traditions live on in island communities scattered across its shimmering surface.

One of the most unique lifestyles to be found on Lake Titicaca is that of the Uros Indians, who since the days of the Incas have chosen to isolate themselves from their lakeside neighbours on curious floating islands made of reeds. From the Bolivian side of the lake you can visit the Uros Uruitos islands, setting foot on their spongy surface.

Continue on to the Isla de la Luna (‘Moon Island’) to visit the Inca nunnery of the Iñak Uyu Sun Virgins, one of the most significant archaeological sites on the lake. From here it’s a 10-minute crossing to the Isla del Sol (‘Sun Island’), revered in Inca society as the legendary birthplace of the sun god.

The island is criss-crossed with paths offering panoramic views of the lake’s sapphire surface – so expansive it could easily be mistaken for the ocean – and dotted with the vestiges of ancient civilisations, beside the not dissimilar settlements of modern-day ones. Visit the Fuente del Inca, which the Spanish conquistadors optimistically mistook for a fountain of eternal youth. If staying overnight, the island is big enough for a day’s walk taking in all the sights and the enduring spirit of the ancient world.