Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), shared by Peru and Bolivia at 3,812 metres, is the largest lake in South America by volume and often called the highest navigable lake in the world. In Inca legend the sun god sent the first Inca, Manco Cápac, out of its waters to found Cusco. On the Peruvian side, the Uros people live on floating islands they build from layers of totora reed, just offshore from Puno. Further out, the people of Taquile are known for their hand-knitted textiles, a craft recognised by UNESCO, and families on Amantaní welcome visitors for overnight homestays. On the Capachica Peninsula, villages such as Llachón offer quiet walks and kayaking, and the pre-Inca burial towers of Sillustani stand on a lake nearby.