Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is a huge lake about 195 km long and 75 km wide at its maximum. While some of the shore zones are very shallow and offer the best conditions for the growth of the totora (reed species), in other places the shore drops steeply up to 50 m into the water. The deepest point of the lake is 281 m.

The totora is of great importance for the daily life of the inhabitants of the lake: it is the raw material for the manufacture of boats (caballitos de totora), for handicrafts and even for the artificial islands of the Uros.

Lake Titicaca plays an important role in the history of Peru. Even before the Incas, the culture of the Tiahuanaco flourished here, of which many archaeological remains bear witness, e.g. the funerary towers of Sillustani. Legend has it that Manco Capac and Mama Occllo, the founders of the Inca Empire, rose from the depths of the lake.

36 islands rise out of the water of Lake Titicaca. The most important are Taquile and Amantani in the peruvian part and the Sun and Moon Island in the bolivian part and the artificial islands of the Uros made of totora (reeds). The inhabitants of the islands still preserve their ancestral way of life, customs, language and dress.

Altitude

3812 m.

Average temperature

January: 8 °C, February: 8 °C, March: 7,9 °C, April: 6,8 °C, May: 4,8 °C, June: 2,9 °C, July: 2,8 °C, August: 3,8 °C, September: 5,8 °C, October: 7 °C, November: 7,7 °C, December: 8 °C.

Average rainfall

January: 158,7 mm, February: 157,7 mm, March: 133 mm, April: 38 mm, May: 14,6 mm, June: 2,2 mm, July: 3,3 mm, August: 7,5 mm, September: 28,2 mm, October: 35,1 mm, November: 54,3 mm, December: 119 mm.

Average relative humidity

January: 67,7%, February: 70,1%, March: 68,6%, April: 59,8%, May: 51%, June: 45,8%, July: 46,9%, August: 49,9%, September: 51,9%, October: 50,7%, November: 51,6%, December: 60,2%.

Source of statistical data: Weatherbase, city of Puno.

Travel programs:

		PTW-PER001 Experience Peru 12 days / 11 nights Round trip: Lima, Arequipa, Colca valley, Lake Titicaca, journey from Puno to Cusco, the «Sacred Valley» of the Urubamba, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Lima.
		PTW-PER002 Experience Peru + Cloud Forest of Manu 15 days / 14 nights Round trip: Lima, Arequipa, Colca valley, Lake Titicaca, journey from Puno to Cusco, the «Sacred Valley» of the Urubamba, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Manu mountain forest, Lima.
		PTW-PER003 Experience Peru + Tambopata Rainforest 16 days / 15 nights Round trip: Lima, Arequipa, Colca valley, Lake Titicaca, journey from Puno to Cusco, the «Sacred Valley» of the Urubamba, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Tambopata jungle, Lima.
		PTW-PER004 Experience Peru + Paracas and Nasca 15 days / 14 nights Round trip: Lima, Paracas, Nasca, Nasca lines, Arequipa, Colca valley, Lake Titicaca, journey from Puno to Cusco, the «Sacred Valley» of the Urubamba, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Lima.
		PTW-PUN003 Island of Uros and Taquile 1 day Boat trip to the floating islands of the Uros and visit to the island of Taquile, characterized by the spectacular landscape and whose inhabitants still cling to the ancient traditions.