Organized Tours

Most travel agencies in Puno handle the conventional tours of Lake Titicaca and Sillustani, along with a handful of other ruins programs. Two of the best agencies are All Ways Travel, Jr. Deustua 576 (in the courtyard of La Casa del Corregidor; tel. 051/353-979) and Jr. Tacna 234 (tel. 051/355-552; www.titicacaperu.com), which is run by the friendly and very helpful Victor Pauca and his daughter Eliana (currently on leave in the U.S.), with good guides and progressive cultural trips in addition to the standard tours (including a library bus that takes tourists to rural communities to donate books and toys to children); and Edgar Adventures, Jr. Lima 328 (tel. 051/353-444; www.edgaradventures.com), which is run by a Peruvian husband/wife team. Both agencies can arrange bus and air travel as well, including travel to Bolivia. Other agencies worth checking out for travel arrangements are Highland Travel Experts, Independencia 273 (tel. 051/964-139; hightravel@latinmail.com), and Pirámide Tours, Jr. Deza 129 (tel. 051/367-302).

Uros Islands half-day trips cost about $6 (£3) per person. Uros Islands and Taquile Island full-day trips cost $10 (£5) per person. Uros, Taquile, and Amantaní trips, lasting 2 days and 1 night, cost $15 to $20 (£7.50-£10) per person. Sillustani and Chucuito tours, usually 3 hours long, cost $5 to $7 (£2.50-£3.50) per person.