Date of trip: December 2007

On our visit to Peru, Will was adamant that we make a trip to Lake Titicaca. At 12,500 feet above sea level, it is the highest lake in the world that large commercial vessels can navigate and it is the biggest lake in South America. I was a bit unenthusiastic because of the travel time involved, but it turned out to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places I’ve been to.

The city of Puno is the base for exploring Titicaca and there are a limited number of ways to get there. You can fly into Juliaca airport, an hour away, or you can travel by bus or rail. We opted for the train from Cusco called the Andean Explorer which takes roughly 10 hours. Although it’s considered first class and includes lunch, the setup is fairly basic. What makes the Andean Explorer special is its route. The ride through the Andes mountains is absolutely stunning and I think you would be hard pressed to find a more spectacular journey by rail anywhere in the world.

In Puno, we met up with a guide who took us by boat to the famous floating Uros islands. The islands are man-made, woven out of totora reeds by the native people who also build reed houses and reed boats. The terrain is uneven and your feet sink in a bit but it’s very stable considering it’s built on water. Although they speak little English, the Uros people are very friendly and love visitors. They showed us how the islands are built and rebuilt, took us out on their boats and invited us into their homes. The houses are simple, but have solar powered electricity and even television. Before we left, Will and I had to buy one of the beautiful woven textiles the women create and sell to tourists.

Next we traveled to Taquile, an island which offers great views of Lake Titicaca and Bolivia. Taquile is home to 1700 people, most of them farmers. We hiked around the island, dodged a couple of grazing sheep and ate quinoa soup with vegetables prepared by some locals. We also had some delicious, mint-like tea grown right on the island.

After the tour, which took most of the day, we wandered around Puno, a somewhat unimpressive, small city. We visited a church in the square and a few shops. The main attraction is clearly Lake Titicaca and to see the best areas, a boat tour is a must.

Calling Lake Titicaca unique is an understatement. Where else can you meet people that not only build their own homes, but create the actual land they live on? There have been few times in my travels that I’ve been as inspired and impressed with the locals as I was on this trip. The islanders on Lake Titicaca are proof that no matter what conditions people find themselves in, they can accomplish amazing things working together.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Lake Titicaca Links:
Peru Official Site
Puno
Lake Titicaca
Andean Explorer Train