Organized Tours in Puno and Lake Titicaca

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, 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.

Uros Islands half-day trips cost about $12 per person. Uros Islands and Taquile Island full-day trips cost $25 per person. Uros, Taquile, and Amantaní trips, lasting 2 days and 1 night, cost $30 to $35 per person. Sillustani and Chucuito tours, usually 3 hours long, cost $12 per person.