Lake Titicaca 1-day itinerary

Take an early boat from Puno harbour to the Uros floating islands, one of the most extraordinary human habitats on Earth. The islands are constructed entirely from totora reeds harvested from the lake shallows, layered and re-layered as the bottom layers decompose. The Uros people have lived on these islands for centuries, originally to escape Inca aggression. Walk carefully on the spongy surface, visit a family home, and ride a traditional reed boat between islands. The light on the vast lake at dawn is ethereal.

Return to Puno and explore the lakeside town. The central market sells alpaca clothing, dried quinoa, and medicinal herbs. Walk to the Mirador Kuntur Wasi viewpoint for panoramic views over the city and the vast lake stretching to the horizon. Puno is the folklore capital of Peru with more traditional dances than any other city — the Museo Carlos Dreyer has exhibits on local culture and pre-Inca civilisations. Have lunch at a market comedor for fresh trucha (lake trout) and quinoa soup.

Walk along the lake promenade as the sun sets over Titicaca — the colours reflected on the vast body of water are extraordinary, shifting from gold to purple as darkness falls. The lake is the highest navigable body of water in the world at 3,812m and covers 8,372 square kilometres, straddling the Peru-Bolivia border. Eat trucha frita (fried trout) at a lakeside restaurant — the fish is pulled from the lake daily and served with potatoes, rice, and salad. Puno's evenings are bitterly cold, so bring warm layers.