Peru Attractions

Venue: Titicaca    When: Daily

Lake Titicaca, at 3800 metres, is the world's highest lake and is shared between Peru and Bolivia, with its western side located in Peru. The beautiful landscape and the dramatic light here, as well as the altitude, will take your breath away.

Titicaca is huge, covering some 3200 square miles (8300 square kilometres). Forty-one islands rise from its waters. The largest, Titicaca Island, also known as Isla del Sol, lies just off the tip of the Copacabana Peninsula in Bolivia. The Peruvian town of Puno is the base for travellers wanting to visit the islands and surrounding area.

From Puno you can take a boat to the Uros floating islands. These artificial islands are made of tortura reeds and thought to have no firm base, hence the term. The islanders also use tortura reeds to build their boats, which look flimsy but are capable of carrying an entire family.

The islands' isolation from the mainland and their self-sufficient lifestyle enabled them to remain relatively free from outside cultural influences. Recently, however, tourism has brought closer connections with the outside world and the islands have come to depend on the tourist trade.

It's also possible to stay with local families on the nearby (real) island of Taquile in the islanders' own community-run tourism scheme. The area is rich in wildlife, with around 60 species of bird, including the Titicaca grebe and a variety of native fish and amphibians, including the giant Titicaca toad.

Temperatures fluctuate greatly during day and night. The best time to visit the area is from May to October, when there is less rain and days are sunny, with temperatures often topping 25°C. At night it is usually near to freezing.