At an altitude of over 3,800m (the highest navigable lake in the world) a visit to Lake Titicaca and a boat trip to its unique floating islands is a must. Whilst there, visit the pre-Inca tribe of the Uros, who have lived on these waters for over a thousand years.

Good time to visit: April to September

Sights

Peru and Bolivia share the lake, which is 3,500 square miles (9000 km2), and about 850 feet (250 m) deep in the centre. There are about forty of these floating islands which are made and re-made from the totora reed which provide shelter, sustenance and transportation for their residents, the Uros tribe.

The Uros islands lie among stands of reeds in shallow water at the western end close to the Peruvian port of Puno and have been here for around a thousand years, which actually pre-dates the Inca civilization. According to their legends they existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. Because of their simple and precarious lifestyle, the Incas thought them worth little and accordingly taxed them very little, allowing them to live their simple lives undisturbed for centuries.

Yet in end, the Uros, with their basic reed homes, outlasted the mighty Incas with their huge stone temples and mountaintop enclaves. Come and experience this unique culture for yourself and witness the splendid colours of this natural marvel, perched atop South America’s magnificent Andes Mountains.