A Lake Titicaca tour is one of the highlights of a visit to Bolivia. Its setting at 3,811 m (12,500 ft) above sea level makes it one of the highest lakes you can navigate on Earth.
Location
The lake is situated at the north end of the Altiplano basin at the Andes. This is at the Bolivian and Peruvian border. The Puno Region of Peru has the western portion of the lake while the Bolivian La Paz Department has the eastern section.
What to See
There are a few islands surrounding the lake. Some of the islands are Suriqui, Isla de la Luna, Isla del Sol, the Taquile, the Amantani and Uros. All of these islands are attractive in their own right.
Apart from the islands, there are other activities you can do on a Lake Titicaca tour. Chief among them are taking boat rides and enjoying the scenery. The sight of the blue waters in the midst of the plains is truly a sight to behold.
History
The lake is comprised of two almost separate sub-basins. These are linked by the Tiquina Strait. At the narrowest point it is 800 m (2,620 ft). Lago Grande is the bigger of the sub-basins with a depth of 135 m (443 ft). Its deepest point is 284 m (932 ft).
Winaymarka is the smaller of the two. The maximum depth is 40 m (131 ft). Its mean depth is 9 m (30 ft). The lake has an overall depth of 107 m (351 ft).
The following river systems feed into the lake: Suchez, Huancanc, Ilave, Coata and Ramis. There are also over 20 small streams that empty into the lake. The lake has 41 islands. The lake is monomictic as there is only one free circulation season. The average temperature is 10 to 14 C (50 to 57 F).
Cost
There are many tours in and around the lake available. On the average, expect to pay around 250 to 270 USD per person.
Other Info
The lake has a maximum length of 190 km (118 mi). The surface area is 8,372 km2 (3,232 sq mi) and has a maximum width of 80 km (50 mi). The water volume is 893 km3 (214 cu mi). The lake has a shore length of 1,125 km (699 mi).
A Lake Titicaca tour will also give you the chance to explore the Aymaran villages by the lake shore. You will also get to see the magnificent mountains.
