Quick facts about Lake Titicaca

For first time travellers to Lake Titicaca, take a read of our snappy Lake Titicaca fact file.

Location

The border between southern Peru and northern Bolivia.

Size

Spreads 8,300 square kilometres and roughly 107 kilometres deep. It comprises two parts: Lago Grande and Lago Pequeño.

Altitude

3,808 metres above sea level, it is the world’s highest navigable body of water.

Weather

Between February and November is the best time to visit, it is warm and pleasant. The highest levels of rainfall occur between December and January.

Islands

Dotted with about 41 islands, most are inhabited and by people who have lived on the islands all their lives.

Ownership

60% Peru (western side) and 40% Bolivia (eastern side).

Surroundings

Fertile soils on the lake's shores support pretty adobe, indigenous villages with fields stretching down to the water's edge. Bordering the lake on the far horizon is the Cordillera Real, a regiment of snow-capped mountains. Puno – the capital of folklore – is a small university town on the Peruvian side of the lake. Copacabana is a small, enchanting town on the Bolivian side.

Myth

Lake Titicaca is believed to be the birthplace of the Inca civilisation; in Incan mythology the first Inca king, Manco Capac, was born here.

Accommodation

There is a variety of options from mid-range through to smart, first-class properties. The best places to stay are on the lake's shores and allow you to soak up the mesmerising views.

Favourite accommodation

Titilaka is a special place, with an emphasis on meaningful experiences and a bold stylish contemporary design. Isla Suasi is a charming hotel in a secluded magical setting on the uninhabited Suasi Island. Posada del Inca Isla del Sol a friendly guesthouse in a 17^th-century hacienda on the idyllic Isla del Sol on the Bolivian side of the lake, with unbeatable views.

Combines well with

Unmissable highlights in Peru: Cusco, Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. And equally unmissable highlights in Bolivia: Uyuni Salt Flats and La Paz.

Things to do

There’s more than you’d think, from staying with a local family on one of the islands to exploring the Pre-Columbian ruins to visiting the floating islands made out of reeds.

Last updated: 15 Jun 2017