Lake Titicaca extension

Titicaca's floating reed islands, native communities and ancient burial towers

Journey across the spectacular high altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable freshwater lake (3800m). Explore its waters by boat and visit the descendants of the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands, and are also known for producing fine textiles. Back on the mainland, we visit the pre-Incan site of Sillustani, comprised of burial towers with fantastic views over the region.

Visa

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/peru
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Vaccination

Peru

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Additionally, Zika fever, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in Peru. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so you should take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Amazon: If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a yellow fever vaccination. Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and one lunch are included in the extension. On the drive from Cuzco to Puno there is a scheduled lunch stop en route - usually comprising a buffet, serving a mixture of local and Western dishes.

Please do not drink the tap water in Peru - it is not potable.

Weather

Peru's diverse geography results in a very varied climate between different regions.

Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season; characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (approx. 20 degrees C on average) but night times only 5-10 degrees C, except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid and unexpected changes! 

Lake Titicaca is high, lying at 3800m above sea level, and at this altitude the sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You will need to bring some warm layers and a waterproof or wind-stopper. 

Peru is affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon whereby warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. A strong El Niño event occurred in 2014-16. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.

Weather Charts

Puno weather chart

Is this trip for you?

This extension is offered after any Peru tour which ends in Cuzco; we do not offer it pre-tour as Puno/Lake Titicaca is situated at high altitude (3800m) and acclimatisation is required.

There is no Exodus leader on this extension but you will have the services of local guides and transfer agents and be provided with the contact details of our local partner in Peru in case you should require assistance. 

Altitude is a factor to consider when booking this extension and may make activities feel more strenuous than normal; please see the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notesfor further information. The maximum altitude reached is 4335m at La Raya Pass, on the drive from Cuzco to Puno.

You should be comfortable getting on and off boats and have the mobility to do so. There is one long drive; the drive from Cuzco to Puno is by shared tourist coach and takes around ten hours including stops at sites of interest along the way and a lunch break. 

Protest action/strikes are not uncommon in Peru, and whilst these are generally peaceful, they can involve roadblocks and cause disruption to travel. Occasionally our local partner may have to adapt your itinerary in response to this. Similarly, occasionally Lake Titicaca's waters can be too rough for boats to go out and it may not be possible to reach the Uros Islands, in which case an alternative activity will be offered (usually you would visit the Llachon Peninsula instead).

The sun is strong at altitude however at the same time it can be very cold; you will need to bring suitable sun protection and warm clothing.