Lake Titicaca has developed a reputation as one of South America's top tourist attractions thanks to its riveting beauty and intriguing local culture. Haven to backpackers and eco-tourists, the mysterious waters of Lake Titicaca possess a certain allure that is hard to pinpoint but undeniably exists. There's plenty to see and do around the shores and islands of this world-renowned body of water, so come prepared for an unforgettable experience.
Lake Titicaca creates a natural border between Peru and Bolivia in South America. The lake sits at the northern end of the Altiplano Basin in the Andes Mountains, occupying areas in southeastern Peru and western Bolivia.
At 12,500 feet above sea level, Lake Titicaca is one of the highest commercially navigable lakes in the world. It's also the largest lake in South America by volume of water. Lake Titicaca has a maximum length of 118 miles and a maximum width of 50 miles. The average depth of the lake is 351 feet, although some parts of the lake are over 900 feet deep.
Lake Titicaca boasts a rich cultural history that spans thousands of years. Incan mythology claims that Lake Titicaca was the site where civilization first began. It was here that the first Inca king, Manco Capac, is said to have been born of the sun god. The gods later created a wife for him, and together they founded a tribe that would eventually grow into the Inca Empire that dominated much of South America before the arrival of Europeans in colonial times. More than 180 ruins and monuments remain in the area as testaments to the architectural prowess and cultural beliefs of the ancient groups of indigenous people that inhabited the region long ago.
Points of Interest
There are several primary points of interest around Lake Titicaca. First and foremost is the Isla del Sol, an island site with a slew of well-preserved ruins. It is here that Manco Capac was supposedly born. Nearby is the Isla de la Luna, home to a cluster of ruins once used as a convent for virgins of the Inca kings. Both of these islands are on the Bolivian side of the lake. Copacabana is a tourist-oriented town in Bolivia on the mainland that serves as the hub for excursions to these islands. On the Peruvian side of the lake sits Puno. This town is known as the capital of Peruvian folklore and features myriad tour companies that can provide you with transport to Los Uros, offshore floating islands constructed of reeds. The nearby islands of Taquile and Amantani have additional ruins and traditional villages that are also worth visiting. Boating is the primary means of transportation here, although buses and taxis also take tourists in and around the towns of Puno and Copacabana.
The climate in Puno is cold and dry year-round. The high altitude contributes to these conditions, and travelers may experience some mild symptoms of altitude sickness upon first arriving. The average temperature hovers around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures can drop down as low as 30 degrees in the winter months from June to August. The maximum temperature here is around 60 degrees in the summer months of December and January. Precipitation is minimal for most of the year, but it has been known to rain or snow on occasion.
- Ã®lo lac titicaca image by Tanguy Prouvost from Fotolia.com