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Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour

Rating: 5
Rating: 5/5 Read 1 reviews

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.

Activity

Culture

Overview

Titicaca’s floating reed islands, native communities and ancient burial towers

Journey across the spectacular high altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable freshwater lake (3800m). Explore its waters by boat and visit the descendants of the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands, and are also known for producing fine textiles. Back on the mainland, we visit the pre-Incan site of Sillustani, comprised of burial towers with fantastic views over the region.

Key Information

What's Included

  • 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • All accommodation
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Local representative and guide

Highlights

  • Spectacular drive across Peru's altiplano, with stops at La Raya Pass and Raqchi Temple Complex
  • Boat trip to visit the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians
  • Sillustani burial towers
  • Lakeside Puno city and its markets and textiles

Itinerary

Titicaca Extension trip map
  • First Destination: Cuzco Hotel
  • Next Destination: Juliaca Airport
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast
  • Meals included:Breakfast
  • First Destination: Cuzco Hotel
  • Next Destination: Juliaca Airport

Today we travel by shared tourist coach across the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it is quite a long drive (approx. 10hrs), it is interesting and often spectacular as you get a feeling for the immensity of the Andean landscapes. There will be a bilingual guide on board who will provide information in English and Spanish. There are four scheduled stops along the route (plus a lunch stop) to visit some of the most interesting sites: Andahuaylillas Church, the Raqchi Temple Complex, La Raya Pass (4335m) and the lithic Museum of Pukara. We arrive into Puno in the late afternoon (around 5pm), a high, chilly town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. A local representative/guide will meet you off the coach and take you to your hotel. There will be a short briefing about the next two days.

Accommodation: Hotel Casona Plaza (or similar)

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour

A morning spent exploring Lake Titicaca by boat, visiting the descendants of the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds and produce some fine textiles. In the afternoon there is a visit to Sillustani burial towers outside of town. Though the altitude here is tiring, the air is very clear and the lakeside views magnificent, with the snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes towering in the background.

Accommodation: Hotel Casona Plaza (or similar)

  • Meals included:Breakfast
Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour

A transfer to Juliaca airport is included today – the add-on tour ends here. Those who have booked a flight inclusive package from London will board a flight to Lima or Cuzco, then connect with your overnight international flight back to London.

  • Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Hotel

You will spend two nights in a comfortable hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The hotel used may change depending on availability but the hotel usually used is Hotel Casona Plaza. This has local 4-star rating and is conveniently located within walking distance of the main plaza in Puno.

A compulsory single supplement or sole traveller supplement may be applicable.

Essential Information

This add-on tour is offered after any Peru tour which ends in Cuzco; we do not offer it pre-tour as Puno/Lake Titicaca is situated at high altitude (3800m) and acclimatisation is required.

There is no Exodus leader but you will have the services of local guides and transfer agents and be provided with the contact details of our local partner in Peru in case you should require assistance.

Altitude is a factor to consider when booking and may make activities feel more strenuous than normal; please see the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further information. The maximum altitude reached is 4335m at La Raya Pass, on the drive from Cuzco to Puno.

You should be comfortable getting on and off boats and have the mobility to do so. There is one long drive; the drive from Cuzco to Puno is by shared tourist coach and takes around ten hours including stops at sites of interest along the way and a lunch break.

Protest action/strikes are not uncommon in Peru, and whilst these are generally peaceful, they can involve roadblocks and cause disruption to travel. Occasionally our local partner may have to adapt your itinerary in response to this. Similarly, occasionally Lake Titicaca’s waters can be too rough for boats to go out and it may not be possible to reach the Uros Islands, in which case an alternative activity will be offered (usually you would visit the Llachon Peninsula instead).

The sun is strong at altitude however at the same time it can be very cold; you will need to bring suitable sun protection and warm clothing.

3 days starting Cuzco hotel, ending Juliaca airport

A car and driver will collect you from your hotel in Cuzco in the morning and transfer you to the tourist coach on which you will travel to Puno. Upon arrival at Puno bus station in the afternoon, a local representative will meet you and take you to your hotel where they will give you a short briefing about the next day.

On the last day you will be transferred to Juliaca airport where this add-on tour ends.

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

All breakfasts and one lunch are included. On the drive from Cuzco to Puno there is a scheduled lunch stop en route – usually comprising a buffet, serving a mixture of local and Western dishes.

Please do not drink the tap water in Peru – it is not potable.

Peru’s diverse geography results in a very varied climate between different regions.

Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season; characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (approx. 20 degrees C on average) but night times only 5-10 degrees C, except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid and unexpected changes! 

Lake Titicaca is high, lying at 3800m above sea level, and at this altitude the sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You will need to bring some warm layers and a waterproof or wind-stopper. 

Peru is affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon whereby warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. A strong El Niño event occurred in 2014-16. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Rosie H

Rating: 5

Lake Titicaca Extension

The Titicaca extension is an enjoyable and good value addition to the Inca Trail. If leave isn't an issue I would definitely recommend this extension (after the trail). Don't be put off by the long drive - it's a comfortable coach and includes 4 sightseeing stops and a buffet lunch.

Most Inspirational Moment

The boat trip on Lake Titicaca & rowing a reed boat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

N/A - no leader on this extension.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring water on the coach. One of the stops has a pay toilet (1 sol), free at all other stops. Do the reed boat hop between islands. Take money on the boat trip - you will be expected to buy something from the stall of the island mama who shows you her hut & dresses you in traditional costume, preferably something locally made eg local design cushion cover (c 70 sol), model reed boat (c 70 sol). Ask your main tour guide to book the Balcons de Puna restaurant for you for dinner. La Recetta cafe is convenient for a light lunch.

Suggestions

Hotel Casona Plaza is a convenient location. I would have liked a slightly longer stop at La Raya Pass (4335m).

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Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour