Plan Your Trip
Totally off the beaten track on its own private peninsula on Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest navigable lake – Titilaka Lodge is tucked away in a unique landscape. At an altitude of more than 3,800 meters in the Andes, this birthplace of the fabled Inca Empire is still home to one of the oldest communities in South America. You can discover this and more, as Titilaka offers a taste of the lake dwellers’ traditions and way of life. On this 5-day/4-night experience based at the lodge, you can explore the Andean communities on the floating reed islands of Taquile or Uros, visit Inca and pre-Inca ruins such as Chullpas de Sillustani, and experience splendid colonial churches in the towns of Juli, Pomata and Lampa. Alternatively, you might choose to simply absorb the spirit of the region or do some leisurely hiking or biking through stunning Andean scenery. Sunsets and the star-speckled night sky here are also once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The lodge’s 18 rooms each enjoy a splendid lake view and are decorated in a contemporary style with touches of local heritage, all in symbiosis with the luxuriant natural setting.
“I was very happy in every way with your booking and Cuyabeno Lodge. It surpassed my expectations in every way. No hitches with flights and transportation. The lodge was beautiful. The staff was professional and friendly.”
You will be welcomed at Juliaca Airport by the lodge’s Guest Services Representative and driven to Titilaka Lodge. On the way, you will pass through the city of Juliaca and the port of Puno.
On arrival at the lodge, you can check-in, rest up and enjoy the scenery. Lunch, based on the local cuisine, is served from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. We recommend an afternoon siesta and drinking plenty of liquids to help you acclimate. Enjoy teatime at 3:00 pm, followed by activities near the lodge in the afternoon. Explore the lake and paddle through nearby totora reeds as you choose from a selection of nautical activities, including kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, and sailing. Or, if you prefer, ride a bicycle through the fields of the district of Platería, take a walk on country paths, or watch local birds and drink in Puno’s striking landscapes.
Evening cocktails are served from 6:30 pm, followed by dinner from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
This is an active day. If you wish, get up at dawn to witness a magnificent sunrise. Whenever you do wake, enjoy a healthy breakfast in bed or on the lodge’s terrace. In the morning, your guides will take you by car and boat to visit the famed Uros floating islands, near the Titicaca National Reserve. Here you will meet one of the traditional families that inhabit these unique islands. The Uro-Aymara people are a proud culture, where the men skillfully traverse the lake with rafts made from reeds, and the women are expert weavers. Calling themselves kot-suña or, “people of the lake,” the Uro-Aymara were once persecuted by other groups and forced to relocate to Lake Titicaca, where they found refuge by creating the islands out of totora reeds. Considering themselves guardians of Titicaca, the Uro-Aymara claim to have black blood that supposedly makes them impervious to the cold. A must for travelers to the area, expect to see many visitors here.
You will then explore Quechua beliefs and culture through the rich weaving tradition on the island of Taquile. Declared a part of UNESCO’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Taquile’s vivid textiles convey complex messages about the wearer’s social status and life. As the island enjoys a privileged microclimate, you’ll likely see men weaving wonderful pieces outdoors.
You will then enjoy a picnic against the stunning backdrop of Titicaca’s deep blue skies, the lake’s sapphire waters, and on the horizon, Bolivia’s Cordillera Real (or "Royal Mountain Range").
Return to the hotel around 5:30 pm and enjoy cocktails from 6:30 pm and an á la carte dinner at around 7:30 pm.
This is also an active day. Wake at dawn and witness a magnificent sunrise or rise whenever best suits you to a healthy breakfast of fresh fruits and local cereals in bed or on the lodge’s terrace.
The Aymara Route is worth a full day’s exploration, with its landscapes, wildlife, villages, and privileged views of the Chucuito peninsula and community of Ácora.
Through the oral traditions that your guide will share with you, you will travel back to pre-Inca times and learn about Titicaca’s central role in the Andean way of life and cosmovision, and the intimate relationship between man and nature here that survives to this day.
By car, bicycle, or foot, set your own pace through curving country paths as they cross open farmland. From natural lookouts, drink in inspiring views of Lake Titicaca. Keep an eye out for native birds, archaeological remains and locals going about their daily chores. Lunch will be a picnic while enjoying open vistas of Lake Titicaca.
You return to the hotel for dinner at 7:30 pm.
This day is flexible, offering you the free time to set your own pace, including just sitting back at the lodge and enjoying the sumptuous views. After witnessing a breathtaking sunrise or lying in, as you prefer, enjoy a healthy breakfast with an assortment of fresh fruits and local cereals in bed or on the terrace. You can then choose from a selection of activities near the lodge for a quarter- or half-day excursion.
You can return to the boathouse to choose from kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, or sailing, among other options. Explore the Totora reeds near the lodge, or cycle around the fields surrounding the nearby village of Platería, go birdwatching, or take a leisurely hike. Depending on timing, you can also choose a short excursion such as visiting nearby colonial churches, a portion of the Colla Route hike, a visit to the local market (only Saturdays and Sundays), or birdwatching.
Before stepping into the lodge’s spa, enjoy a slow lunch in front of the lake. Cocktails are served from 6:30 pm and dinner from 7:30 pm.
After breakfast, and depending on the timing of your departure, you may enjoy a short excursion, an en route excursion, or one of a range of activities near the lodge.
The en route excursion involves a visit to the mysterious, ancient site of Sillustani, home to the area’s best preserved chullpas, or funerary towers. Once a burial ground for the Pucara, Tiahuanaco, and Ccolla pre-Inca cultures, and then the Incas themselves, Sillustani’s chullpas offer an ideal opportunity to compare the contrasting pre-Columbian architectonic styles.
Symbolizing life and birth, these ancient tombs were used for chiefs and other dignitaries. Made of stones weighing up to six tons, the biggest tower took around 50 years to complete. Offering archaeology and history, in a stunning natural setting, Sillustani is an impressive site we strongly recommend you see.
Farewell takes place at Juliaca airport or Puno train station as you head off to your next destination.
| Days | |||
| Double | |||
| King | Amanacer / Atardecer | Corner | |
| 5 | US$ 1,585 PP | US$ 2,011 PP | US$ 2,773 PP |
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“The trip was excellent from beginning to end. The Isabella II was a fine ship and the crew and guides were all of the highest quality. I would recommend them to others. For us, the ship was the perfect size – not too small and not too large.”
