Lake Titicaca holidays
Lake Titicaca holidays at a glance
Our Lake Titicaca tours take you to a vast sheet of cobalt water on the border between Peru and Bolivia. It’s a landscape of golden reed beds, terraced islands and pretty adobe villages, with the snow-capped Cordillera Real rising on the far horizon. In Inca tradition, this is where the creator god Viracocha rose from the water and set the sun in the sky, and the lake has been sacred to Andean peoples for centuries.
Most trips begin at the Peruvian port of Puno, the jumping-off point for the islands. A short boat ride out are the Uros floating islands, man-made platforms woven from totora reeds, where the Aymara-speaking Uros live. Further out lie Taquile and Amantani, where Quechua-speaking communities still farm the terraces and welcome visitors into their homes. Over the border in Bolivia lie Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, rich in Inca mythology, and the lakeside town of Copacabana.
A Lake Titicaca tour is about slowing down and spending time with the communities who live here. The Uros have lived on their floating islands for centuries, building homes, boats and furniture from the same reeds beneath their feet. On Taquile, weaving is a communal art passed down the generations and recognised by UNESCO, and on Amantani, homestays put you at the family table for authentic meals. Everywhere, the altitude and the light give the lake a magical stillness.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Lake Titicaca
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The homestay at Luquina Chico is a favourite of mine, far quieter than Amantani or Taquile and with a warm community welcome.
When to visit Lake Titicaca
The lake can feel chilly year-round even under a strong high-altitude sun, and conditions change noticeably between seasons. July and August are busiest, when Puno’s hotels and island homestays fill fast. May and September offer the best balance of comfortable weather, thinner crowds and good availability. If you can, time your trip for the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria in early February, one of South America’s most spectacular festivals, but book months ahead.
This is the dry season, with sapphire skies and warm, strong sunshine in the daytimes. With little cloud cover, night times at this altitude can drop below freezing, so be sure to pack warm clothing. This is the best time to explore the floating islands and take in sunsets over the shimmering waters. Most visitors arrive in July – August, so May or September are better options for those who wish to avoid crowds. There is little chance of rain during these months, though towards October you may experience some showers as the weather transitions into the wet season.
These are the wetter months, with rain on at least half of all days and warmer temperatures. This can still be a good time to visit if you don’t mind the chance of muddy hiking paths and reduced visibility. There is increased cloud cover but you can expect plenty of sunny intervals, and nighttimes are relatively mild. As the rainy season draws to a close in March, the landscapes are lush and green- Easter can be a wonderfully vibrant time to visit.
Places to visit in Lake Titicaca
The lake straddles Peru and Bolivia, and each side has its own character. Most visitors base themselves in Puno on the Peruvian shore, but the islands are the real draw, and crossing to Copacabana adds Inca archaeology and a quieter, slower pace. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Watch a priest bless flower-decked cars outside Copacabana’s white basilica, sail across the cobalt water to Isla del Sol, and walk island trails with the snow-capped Cordillera Real on the horizon. On Bolivia’s shore of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake feels quieter, more sacred and closer to its Andean roots.
Deep blue waters stretch towards snow-capped mountains at one of Latin America’s most iconic destinations, where traditional island communities preserve centuries-old ways of life. Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake and one of the Andes’ most remarkable cultural landscapes.
Top Things to do in Lake Titicaca
From stepping onto the springy surface of a reed island to sharing a meal with a family at 3,812m, Lake Titicaca’s best experiences are rooted in the living traditions of its communities. Here’s what we recommend.
Visit traditional Aymara villages on the shores of the world’s highest navigable lake.
Visit a traditional village, walk with llamas and visit the stone burial towers of the ancients on this cultural tour around 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.
Accommodation in Lake Titicaca
Accommodation ranges from simple island homestays to comfortable lakeside hotels, and we hand-pick every option for location and character. Puno has the widest choice, with several hotels set right on the shore outside town, some with oxygen-enriched rooms to help you acclimatise. On the islands, homestays are basic but memorable, with adobe rooms and meals cooked over open fires. For real seclusion, Isla Suasi is a private-island retreat, and across the border Copacabana has guesthouses along the waterfront.
Stylish, small and charming hotel with a matchless location on the shores of Lake Titicaca and superb views from many rooms.
Charming and friendly guesthouse in a 17th-century hacienda on the idyllic Isla del Sol, with magnificent views over the cobalt waters of Lake Titicaca.
Modern hotel on the scenic shores of Lake Titicaca, with a warm and homely feel.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Lake Titicaca
From classic holidays that explore the area’s unmissable sights to cross-continent tours that visit the area, we have a range of Lake Titicaca holidays to choose from. Browse our carefully curated packages below.
Group Lake Titicaca Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
17 days from £5,636
Condor: Peru in depth
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
20 days from £3,851
Galapagos Hawk: Peru and Galapagos
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Guayaquil
15 days from £7,009
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Jacana: Crossing the continent
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Asuncion and the heartland · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
19 days from £4,583
Pato Andino: Panorama of the Andes
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Atacama Desert · Uyuni salt flats · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
20 days from £5,222
Pelicano: Essential Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
14 days from £4,087
Swift: Ultimate highlights of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
10 days from £2,790
Tailor-Made Lake Titicaca Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Peru and Bolivia: trekking Andean peaks to tropical rainforest
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · La Paz and the altiplano
17 days from £4,140
Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
16 days from £5,510
Signature Peru: Classic highlights of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
15 days from £3,940
Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca
Places visited: Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
12 days from £1,950
FAQs about visiting Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Lake Titicaca?
Lake Titicaca is visited throughout the year, not least because it is on the main route between southern Peru and Bolivia. The dry season, when sunny days can be expected, runs May-Oct but in June and July it can be below freezing at night. Rain falls Jan-Mar and the lake becomes grey and choppy, but still atmospheric.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language at Lake Titicaca?
Spanish is the official language of Lake Titicaca.
- What's the official currency at Lake Titicaca?
In Peru, the local currency is Nuevo Sol, while in Bolivia, it’s Peso Boliviano. Notes in local currency or US dollars can be withdrawn from banks in Puno using a UK credit or debit card. Money exchange offices exchange US dollars cash (few accept euros or sterling and the rate may be poor). In Copacabana, Bolivia, there’s a bank which offers advances on a Visa card and casas de cambio which exchange US dollars and Peruvian Soles. Commission rates are generally higher than in the major towns and cities.
- What's the time difference between Lake Titicaca and the UK?
Reaching across two countries, Lake Titicaca has two time zones. The time difference between the UK and Peru is -5 hours GMT, and -4 hours GMT between the UK and Bolivia.
- Which other countries combine well with Lake Titicaca?
Cusco, Peru 6-9 hours by road or 10 hours by train; La Paz, Bolivia (155km).
- How do I get to Lake Titicaca?
To get to Lake Titicaca you can travel to Puno (Peru), by train from Cusco (10 hours) or by road (6-9 hours). Fly to Juliaca from Lima or Arequipa, 1 hour and 30 mins respectively; from here it’s a 45 minute drive to Puno. It’s a couple of hour’s drive and short ferry ride to Copacabana from La Paz (3.5 hours).
- What are the festivals and cultural events on Lake Titcaca?
There are lots of exciting events taking place in Lake Titicaca throughout the year:
Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria: Puno and Copacabana, early Feb. Dance competitions, re-enactments of local Aymara legends, masked processions, much drinking and generalboisterousness.
Semana Santa (Easter): Candelight processions in Puno, pilgrims walking the stations of the cross in Copacabana.
Foundation of Puno: Puno, 5 Nov. Impressive pageant, and enactment of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo emerging from the waters of the lake.
Independencia: Copacabana, first week of August. Animated music, parades, fireworks, boozing.
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