Floating on Lake Titicaca

Advantages: Being invited to visit authentic local people
Disadvantages: Our visits could spoil the Lake for the local people in time

...Puno and the Uros Islands Lake Titicaca is 3,812 m above sea level which makes it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. It is also the largest lake in South America in volume of water and the deepest point of the lake measures 284m . It lies in both Peru and Bolivia and Lake Titicaca is fed by rainfall and from glaciers on the Andean Sierras. Five major river systems also feed into Lake Titicaca; these are the Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, and Suchez rivers. Lake Titicaca is one of the nominees for the New Seven Wonders, natural wonders. If you haven't heard of the New 7 Wonders website the go and have a look. They have recently come up with a New 7 wonders list of man made wonders and are now tasking nomination for the natural wonders - Lake Titicaca is one of these. After they shortlist you can then vote for your 7...

catsholiday 20.12.2008 (20.06.2009) · Read review
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Review of Lake Titicaca

Titicaca - Visitng the world's highest navigable lake (allegedly)

Advantages: Local people, local culture, Tranquility, Beauty, Location, Adventure
Disadvantages: Altitude sickness

...Lake Titicaca is situated on the border between Peru and Bolivia and is famous for being (arguably) the highest navigable lake in the world (3812m above sea level). Even though that definition may be a tiny bit subjective, (there are higher lakes in the world and some boats can navigate in only a few inches of water), you shouldn't question that claim too loudly it if you visit - this lake is home to the flotilla of the Bolivian Navy (pretty impressive, given that Bolivia is landlocked!). Either which way, the lake is visually very impressive and immense, with a surface area of over 8000 square kilometres. My review is of my travels on the Peruvian side of the lake, since that was where I visited. Getting there The main city in this region of Peru is Puno, which is located on the Western shore of the lake. We arrived here by...

beckyXX 08.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lake Titicaca

Sacred Islands and blessed cars

Advantages: Fascinating at every turn
Disadvantages: Altitude can cause problems

...Copacabana, Lake Titicaca and Huatajata We crossed the border between Peru and Bolivia on land. We walked to the Peru passport office and were stamped out of Peru then walked a few yards to be stamped into Bolivia. We climbed into a local mini bus - about 7 of us squeezed into a VW kombi sort of van which took us to Copacabana, in Bolivia. Copacabana is an Aymara town of about 20,000 people. Its name means 'The overlook of the Lake' in Aymara. It was Sunday and in Cocacabana on one Sunday in the month they have a very interesting celebration. Outside the church there were a huge number of new cars all decorated with flowers having beer or champagne shaken over them. The priest then came and blessed them one by one after which fire crackers were let off. The owners of the cars also enjoyed a bit of the alcohol and after the cars were...

catsholiday 22.12.2008 (03.12.2009) · Read review
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Review of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana

Come Mellow High Water

Advantages: Relaxing town with plenty of accomodation/dining, stunning Islands and Lake.
Disadvantages: High altitude makes exertion taxing, unremakable ruins.

...Titicaca and the Islands of the Sun and Moon. According to Incan legend, it was here that the Sun was born, emerging from a crack in the rocks of the Sun Island (Isla del Sol), and in my time here at least, it still seemed to have a close relationship with the Lake, rays cutting through the thin air day in and out. The largest lake in South America, Titicaca is also one of the highest navigable bodies of water in the world, some 3,800 metres above sea level. Situated on the southern shore of such a great expanse of water, one tends to forget the altitude when visiting Copacabana, although a stroll up the hills on the eastern side of town brings the realisation panting back. The town, the base for the majority of excursions on the Bolivian side of the lake, is accessible by road from either the capital La Paz or the nearby Peruvian border...

Puggers 26.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana

Not quite a Floating Island but near enough

Advantages: Lovely views and very close to the Uros islands
Disadvantages: Not really 5* butclean, comfortable and convenient

...Libertador Lake Titicaca We stayed at the Libertador hotel in Puno, Lake Titicaca which was built in the shape of a liner snuggled into a hillside on Esteves Island on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. It is the only five-star hotel in the region, and all rooms have a view of Lake Titicaca. The views which were stunning and we watched both sunset and sunrise from the lobby area of the hotel which has floor to ceiling windows so that the views are not spoilt at all. Having said the hotel is 5 star is a bit misleading, it is possibly the best in the area and certainly the position is wonderful but the hotel is showing signs of its age in many ways. The lobby is quite spacious but quite ordinary. There was a large urn with coca tea and this was available at all times, however there were not many...

catsholiday 09.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Libertador Lake Titicaca, Puno

Somewhere that will be exploited soon

Advantages: Remote Beauty
Disadvantages: Risk of sunburn

...Lake Titicaca spans the border between Peru and Bolivia and is one of (if not the) highest navigable lakes in the world at altitude 4600m (approx). It is also the largest lake in South America. The Peruvian side of Titicaca is better known for its "floating islands" but the Bolivian side has much to recommend it. It is very undeveloped by western standards - there are a few, well spaced restaurants and boats for hire, but nothing equating to mass tourism - yet. There are two sections to the lake - the more famous larger section contains the Isla del Sol - where it is possible to stay overnight. On our trip, however, we only went for a day visit and went to the smaller part of the lake, visiting one of the islands there. It was a fascinating trip. On the islands, villagers live a subsistence lifestyle which is, as yet largely...

beatlemanic 18.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of Lake Titicaca

La Paz, fascinating city high in the Andes

Advantages: stunning location, interesting people
Disadvantages: Car fumes and general pollution

...impressive style and architecture from an ancient civilisation. Many people enter La Paz for the first time by bus either from lake Titicaca or destinations further south in Bolivia, and there are two bus stations but the main one that most people will enter the city into is within 15 minutes walking distance of the main San Fransisco square so orientation is relatively easy. There are bus connections from here to destinations across Bolivia as well as Peru, Chile and a few extremely long distance buses to Argentina. Alternatively some tourists fly directly into El Alto International around 14 kilometres outside the city on the altiplano. Be aware if flying here that the airport is at over 4000 metres above sea level and if not arriving from altitude then it can be a punishing first breath of the city. it isn't ususual to see people white...

flyingllamas 08.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of La Paz

Incaredible!

Advantages: Lots to see and do, friendly and historic
Disadvantages: cost and distance

...Peru is a fantastic country for a wide range of activities and attractions. The mountains are stunning; the people beautiful and generally very friendly; the wildlife amazing and the Inca sites truly spectacular. Peru is a country that has something to offer for everyone, especially the adventurous traveller, or people looking for an experience of culture and history. I would recommend staying in a range of accomodation and travelling by a variety of means, e.g. coach, train and plane plus boat trips in certain areas (e.g. the coast,Lake Titicaca and the amazon). Not to be missed: Paracas and the seals off the coast; Arequipa; Nazca lines; Lake Titicaca; Cusco; Inca Trail and Machu Picchu; Amazon. If your time is short go on an organised country tour (I travelled with Exodus on a three week trip - excellent!). It's not cheap, but...

ZooStephen 02.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of General: Peru

moon walking, political demonstrations and women in bowler hats

Advantages: unique capital city, cheap, friendly people
Disadvantages: high altitide can cause problems

...A FEW FACTS: La Paz is the capital of Bolivia which is a land locked country next to Peru in South America. It is one of the poorest South American countries but this I no way detracts from its charm as a country to visit. Strangely in La Paz the wealthier you are the closer to the bottom of the valley in La Paz is where you live. The poorer people live higher up the mountain sides and so get the best views, I'm not sure why this is whether they were closer to the river initially or what but I found it quite odd. GETTING THERE: You can fly in to La Paz airport in El Alto which is where we flew out from. They have flights from several South American countries. I'm not sure if you can fly direct from Europe, you may have to go via the USA. We had come by the Andean Express to Puno near Lake Titicaca and the driven over the border to...

catsholiday 23.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of La Paz

Tiwanaku a city being rediscovered

Advantages: Interesting archeological site
Disadvantages: You can only see part of the site as it is still being excavated

...Tiwanaku is about 50 miles west of La Paz and near the south-eastern shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco or Tihuanacu) has the Pre - Columbian ruins which were the capital of the state for over 500 years and are in the process of being excavated. The city dates back as far as 1500BC but it is between 300BC and 300AD that Tiwanaku is thought to have been a religious pilgrimage centre. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site administered by the Bolivian government. Prior to this there have been a number of archaeological investigations, some more sensitive than others. The price of entry to the site is much less for Bolivians than foreign tourists, It is 80 Bolivianos for foreigners and 10 for locals which considering how little local people earn I think is more than fair, it is certainly not expensive...

catsholiday 31.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco), Tiahuanaco