03 June 2022The largest lake in the Andes and the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca marks the border between Peru and Bolivia. You can easily venture on excursions to discover the Peruvian islands of the lake from the small town of Puno in Peru or arrive directly in riverside communities. Discover in this article the most beautiful islands to visit on the world's highest navigable lake!

The Floating Islands of Uros

Located just 6 kilometers from the town of Puno, the floating islands of Uros are the most extraordinary islands on Lake Titicaca. Their visit is often included in excursions to the islands of Taquile and Amantani. It's an opportunity to discover along the way the history of these floating islands built from totora, a reed that grows abundantly on Lake Titicaca.

Legend has it that the Uros people built totora rafts to escape the Incas. These vessels formed large islets over time, taking the name of their first inhabitants. The Uros people, who disappeared in the 1950s, left their floating archipelago to the Aymara people, who perpetuate their traditional way of life today.

When visiting one of the Uros islands, you'll have the chance to discover the fascinating process of constructing these remarkable islands. A biodegradable habitat that must constantly be renewed by adding a fresh layer of totora to the ground—an astonishing and captivating craft!

It's also possible to see two small isolated islands called Titinos. We also work with a very special island set apart from all the others, where you can venture into the reeds with the traditional Uros boats.

Taquile

Located 2 hours by boat from Puno, the island of Taquile is among the most beautiful islands on Lake Titicaca. Taquile is renowned for its traditional textile art, an ancestral craft passed down from generation to generation since ancient Inca civilizations.

Weaving is the daily activity of the island's inhabitants, and everyone participates: women spin and men knit, from their earliest years. When visiting Taquile you'll discover this artisanal tradition, one of the oldest in Peru, inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

To take home a souvenir, head to the Plaza de Armas where a crafts market is held. Several trails on the island lead to ancient Inca ceremonial centers, with magnificent panoramic views of the surroundings and the vastness of the lake.

Travel

Embark on a 15-day journey of full immersion in the blue waters of Lake Titicaca, meeting Quechua and Aymara communities and visiting the famous floating islands.

Our recommended tour: Perou de rêve

Suasi

The island of Suasi is the only private island on Lake Titicaca. The island's owner, Martha Giraldo, a Peruvian sociologist, inherited it from her grandmother. She decided to open an ecolodge in 2003, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in her little wilderness paradise. A bucolic and comfortable retreat in a world unto itself.

Martha's lodge is the island's only accommodation, a place that invites disconnection in a preserved and idyllic setting. Each room offers breathtaking views of Lake Titicaca where sunrises and sunsets are simply magnificent.

Visiting Suasi island guarantees a break from time, a true paradise on earth not to be missed! You can stroll around the island or circumnavigate it by tandem sea kayak or simply surrender to contemplation.

Amantani

The island of Amantani is quite remote from Puno, about 4 hours by boat, making it far less crowded than Taquile. Yet it continues to attract numerous travelers seeking authenticity.

Despite the growth in tourism, the inhabitants of Amantani have managed to preserve their customs and traditions. The community lives primarily from agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Here you'll be accommodated with local families where a rotation system ensures that each household gets to receive traveling guests. It's an opportunity to discover their way of life and share a convivial moment over a traditional meal, prepared with organic products from their harvests.

There is also a small luxury lodge with only two rooms. The owners work in cooperation with the island community, and it is island residents who welcome you.

Amantani island is filled with trails that should appeal to hiking enthusiasts. We recommend taking the one connecting the peaks of Pachatata and Pachamama, where the ruins of Inca temples stand. At the summit of Llaquistit hill, the island's highest point, the sunset spectacle is not to be missed!

Llachón and the Capachica Peninsula

The small village of Llachón sits on the Capachica Peninsula on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Far less touristy than the neighboring islands of Amantani and Taquile, the Capachica Peninsula, where Llachón is located, is less crowded and remains a good alternative for travelers seeking to get off the beaten path. It's the last area of the lake to open up to tourism.

The villagers are primarily farmers, fishermen, or craftspeople. Llachón consists of a church, a school, and a few houses. You can easily spend a night with a local family for an immersion into Peruvian culture. From the village, explore the surroundings on foot or rent a kayak to enjoy an unusual panorama of Lake Titicaca itself or venture out to the small floating islands of Titinos.

Elsewhere, we take you to remote communities along the lake's edge or on peninsulas that receive very few visitors, walking ancient Inca paths we've discovered, along ridges from which the lake panorama is simply magical, or between the islands of an archipelago where we were the first to bring visitors who can observe wild vicuñas there, facing Bolivia's Royal Cordillera.

TourismCharlène NomodaysA pioneering SEO writer at Nomadays from the start, Charlène has evolved into content manager and head of the communications division, accompanying the adventure with passion and loyalty since its inception. After spending seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her texts a sensitive, committed, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, every article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.