If you’re planning a trip to La Paz in Bolivia, I recommend that you plan a little extra time to add a trip to Lake Titicaca to your itinerary. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to see one of South America’s largest lakes. It’s also the highest navigable body of water in the world. And that’s just the beginning! I also recommend that you read my blog about about everything you need to know before visiting Bolivia and my guide to La Paz to prepare for your stay.
Before going any further, don’t forget to find me on Instagram, on Pinterest and on Youtube. You can also watch my Bolivia vlogs on Youtube. You can also read my guide about Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Some interesting facts about Lake Titicaca
- Lake Titicaca lies at an altitude of 3,812 meters.
- It is the highest navigable lake in the world.
- It covers an area of over 8,000m².
- Lake Titicaca straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia, in the Andes mountain range.
- Lake Titicaca is said to be the cradle of Inca mythology.
- There are over 40 islands in the lake. Some inhabited, others not. Some can be visited, some even have hotels for overnight stays.
- More than 25 rivers flow into Lake Titicaca.
How to get to Lake Titicaca?
The answer will depend on several things:
- Whether you’re coming from Bolivia or Peru.
- Whether you want to drive or prefer to be driven.
- Whether you want to have more flexibility on site.
Personally, with my group of friends we preferred to book an all-inclusive day tour from La Paz to Lake Tititcaca on Viator. They pick you up at your hotel and drop you off in the evening. Knowing that we were only going for a day, we preferred to take advantage of the expertise of professionals rather than struggle with renting a car, insurance, finding our way around, getting the vehicle across the lake, etc. We didn’t regret it at all.
Please note that this tour is for a maximum of 12 people. We were 4 and we were alone, depending on the day you book you might get our chance!
You can get there:
- by bus from Central Station
- in an organized group
- by car
How long can I stay on Lake Titicaca?
It depends on what you want to do. Personally, I only stayed for a day. But let’s be honest, that’s a really long and intense day. If you have a little more flexibility in your program, you can stay at least 2 days.
The journey between La Paz and Lake Titicaca
If you choose to be accompanied by a guide, you may be able to get the advice and information we did. We stopped to refuel, buy snacks and take a few photos.
The photo below shows a mountain range in the background. You can make the trip by bike or on foot. Over several days, since it’s 250 kilometres. The guide told us that this was a very popular expedition among French people.
You may notice large fields on the sides. And you may wonder what they are. Well, they’re quinoa fields. Bolivia and Peru are two major producers of quinoa.
What to do on Lake Titicaca
Visiting Isla Del Sol
I loved this part of the trip so much. I recommend it 1000%. It was included in our tour for the day so they took care of everything for us. But if you traveled on your own you can find several boat companies that offer the trip from Copacabana. The views of the lake and the island are magnificent. I think we spent about 2 hours exploring. You can walk around, climb a good part of the mountain and explore the Inca ruins.
Boat tour
Let’s continue our trip to Lake Titicaca with a boat ride. It’s a great way to discover the vastness of the lake and the diversity of the islands. Remember to pack a little wool, as it can quickly become chilly on the boat.
Eating out in Copacabana
This is where the boats depart to explore the islands. You can grab a bite to eat to recharge your batteries and sample the local specialities. There are also stores if you want to bring back a souvenir.
Visit the Copacabana Basilica
This is perhaps one of Copacabana’s most attractive points of interest: the basilica. The building, which dates back to the 16th century, is magnificent. It’s home of the Virgin of Copacabana. It’s a very important place to visit for locals and Catholics alike, a lot of people will make the trip to Lake Titicaca to come here.
Island tours
If you prefer to see more than one island, you can find tours departing from Copacabana to discover the islands of Lake Titicaca. It’s a great way to discover the surrounding area and learn more about the culture.
Zipline over Lake Titicaca
This is on the list of the most impressive experiences I’ve had. I went zip-lining over the world’s highest lake – insert cries of joy – Lake Titicaca. Keep in mind, the crew only spoke Spanish. I know this may seem obvious, since we’re in a Spanish-speaking country. But it’s true that it’s easy to find people who also speak English in tourist areas. I wanted to go first, but as I was the only one who spoke Spanish, they asked me to go last to give directions to my group. I might as well tell you that if I was scared before, I was even more scared after hearing my friends screaming as they descended haha. But it’s a unique experience that I’d 200% recommend.
If you ever want to film with a GoPro like I do, remember to have a way of attaching it securely to your wrist or around your torso. You need to have your hands free for the descent. You can have a backpack though.
If you want to get an idea of the adventure that awaits you, you can watch my vlog and see how I ended up suspended in the middle of Lake Titicaca …
Admire the view from above
On our way out we stopped high up to get a view of the lake and Copacabana. I couldn’t tell you exactly where we stopped. But all you have to do is climb up and find a spot with an unobstructed view.
I hope this article helps you prepare for your trip to Lake Titicaca. I’m really excited for you. It’s a wonderful place to discover. Enjoy it and if you go, send me a little photo on Instagram to say hi!
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