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When you see Lake Titicaca you can be forgiven for thinking
someone has stuck a medium-size sea right in the middle of the
Andes! It is massive, covering 8,000km˛ and is the highest
navigable lake in the world, forming most of Peru's border with
Bolivia. Many people fit a visit to Lake Titicaca into their
Peru holidays and it's definitely a location you should consider
trying to visit on your holiday in Peru.
It is an incredibly tranquil place, and is home to some of the
most ancient of the Peruvian peoples. Many speak Quechua (the
language of the Incas) as a first language and maintain a very
traditional way of life. The lake itself played a prominent part
in Inca creation myths and there are many items of historical
interest both in and around the lake!
The Uros Islands are floating islands made entirely out
of the reeds which go all round the lake. The largest have
several hundred people living on them and one great thing to do
on your holiday in Peru is to take a boat trip out to visit some
of the smaller islands. The trip out to these remarkable homes
amid the tranquility of the lake is definitely something to
remember!
Of course, if you don't fancy trusting to reeds, then a trip to
Taquile or Amantani - two of the 'real' islands
further out in the lake is perhaps a better idea! Both islands
are absolutely beautiful and have a rich heritage of both Inca
and pre-Inca ruins, and both have a famous tradition of
handwoven textiles. For the more adventurous, it is also
possible to stay overnight on either of these islands with a
local family and sample some real Andean hospitality as part of
your holiday in Peru.
The main town on the lake is Puno and this is most people's base
when visiting Lake Titicaca during their Peru holidays. It is a
centre for traditional music and is a great place to buy llama
and alpaca gear - much cheaper than in Cuzco or Lima! There is a
large daily market in Puno and you can find it just by walking
towards the lake from the town itself, along Avenida Los Incas.
If you are arriving by train from Cusco, the very last stage of
the journey actually goes through it!
There is also a great vantage point behind the town which you
reach by following a path symbolising the stations of the cross.
The views across the town and out over the lake are well worth
the walk!
Outside Puno itself, there are several sites of interest within
easy reach, of which the most important is Sillustani.
This village has an astonishing congregation of Inca and
pre-Inca funeral towers. It is still unclear exactly how they
were constructed and they are defying archaeologists attempts to
re-create them. There is a small museum at the site (although
the exhibits and displays are all in Spanish) and the location
is beautiful so if you find yourself with a few hours to spare
then it's definitely worth a trip. A taxi from Puno should cost
about $25 and won't take more than 45 minutes - a worthwhile
addition to any holiday in Peru!
Lake Titicaca should definitely be on your Peru holiday
checklist so make sure you don't get carried away thinking about
Cusco and Machu Picchu and forget about when you're looking to
book your Peru holidays this year! If you'd like to know more
about Lake Titicaca, take a look at the Real Peru Holiday
Company's online guide to
Lake Titicaca online for some extra info!
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