Lake Titicaca may have one of the funniest sounding names, but the name actually means “Rock Puma,” for the shape of the lake: from above it looks a bit like a puma catching a rabbit. Amusing names aside, Lake Titicaca is actually one of the more majestic places on earth. The largest lake in South America, it is also the lake that one of the highest-altitude lakes in the world: 12,500 feet above sea level. The lake is so large that it straddles both Peru and Bolivia.

What makes Lake Titicaca particularly interesting are the artificial islands comprised of floating reeds throughout the lake. There are also watchtowers built of reeds as well and these islands are a major tourist attraction in the lake. These are actually military installations that could be moved around the lake as necessary.

Amantani island is a timeless piece of history – there is no development on the island whatsoever and there functioning villages on the site – with electricity produced by a generator. Some homes on the island are open to tourist visits.

Taquile island has a number of interesting Inca ruins, as well as agricultural terraces like Amantani. Other islands include Isla del Sol, Isla de la Luna, and Suriqui – all unique and all providing different sites. What makes the areas around the lake so unique is the differences in languages and cultures between the inhabitants of each island. It’s highly recommended that you read about each culture’s history before visiting to get the most out of your visit to the lake.

To learn more about Lake Titicaca and Peru please visit our website at www.ventureperu.com