Five-star boutique Titilaka is the smartest hotel in Lake Titicaca. Set on a private peninsula overlooking the lake’s deep blue waters, this is an all-inclusive luxury resort that offers gourmet dining and a wide range of authentic activities. Excursions are arranged on a shared-basis, with the option to upgrade and privatize guiding. Cruise to scenic islands, bike or hike through typical rural villages, kick back in style to catch the sunset with a cocktail in hand and curl up in one of the 18 lake-view rooms during an escape to the world’s higest navigable lake.
Titilaka
The high-altitude hotel has prime position on a quiet corner on the lake – a one hour drive from the city of Puno, where most hotels in Lake Titicaca are clustered. It takes around one hour to drive to Titilaka from Puno Train Station and two hours from the nearest airport, Juliaca, with direct flights to Lima and Cusco. The Bolivian border is a two hour drive away – it is perfectly possible to reach Bolivia’s capital by road the same day.
Though relatively isolated and a world away from the trappings of modern development, the hotel is located among a rural community. As such, you might expect to see locals fishing in wooden boats, working the land or relaxing on a nearby secluded beach. Given the range of activities included at the hotel and the relative time needed to reach the property, a two nights minimum stay is strongly recommended – three is ideal.
Contemporary Style
This plush hotel playfully mixes local decorative design touches with its modern, urban architecture. Bespoke art, high-end Peruvian textiles and upcycled furniture deck the property out. The service is personal, befitting of its small size.
The Rooms
Titilaka is an intimate size, with a total of just 18 lake-view rooms across its three floors, connected by a central hallway. Each room is fully equipped with pima cotton linens, extra pillows, heated floors, stocked mini-bar, i-pod dock, blackout curtains, organic bathroom amenities, coffee table, desk and ample closet space. Each of the 18 rooms offers lake views across the three categories: King Rooms, Dawn/Dusk Rooms and Corner Suites.
King Rooms
There are a total of 4 cozy king Rooms in Titilaka, with heated floors and lake views. One of the King Rooms is suitable for disabled travelers with limited mobility. Though more economical than the other room options, given their smaller size and the fact they’re located on the ground floor we definitely recommend upgrading if there’s availability to the Dawn or Dusk rooms.
Dawn & Dusk Rooms
As the Dawn and Dusk names suggest, these are located on different sides of the property and thus face in different directions to catch the sun either rise or set. The Dawn and Dusk rooms are the same category, and preference between them is personal. The Dawn rooms see the sun rise and – importantly – have a complete panorama of uninterrupted lake views. Dusk rooms, on the other hand, face out the other side of the building where they view both the lake and the countryside. The view of the lake is therefore more expansive and far-reaching from the Dawn side of the property, but if you’re in a Dusk room you might also get to see locals in wooden rowing boats or passing by in the fields. Rooms are relatively compact – there’s a sofa bed, but no room for an additional full-size single bed.
Corner Suites
This is the top level category. There are a total of just two spacious corner suites in – you guessed it – the front-facing corners of the property. These boast sublime views towards the lake at the front, as well as the Dusk or Dawn vistas; one Corner suite therefore takes in the countryside with the lake, while the other provides more focus on lake-only views.
Facilities
There are three floors and a network of outdoor wrap-around terraces with loungers and cushions to catch the strong sun rays and enjoy the views. The ground floor is comprised of the lobby – where you can meet with affable guides to choose from a menu of activities during your stay – a small shop, bar, restaurant and TV lounge (you won’t find TVs in the rooms, but they have a total of four they can add to rooms on request). There is ample space for taking in the scenery, with indoor lounge chairs facing out to the mountainous landscape and perfectly positioned by the bar to sink into with a cocktail or coca tea. There is a masage room in the hotel, but spa treatments are not included and need to be booked in advance as the spa team isn’t based on-site. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, though considering the relatively remote location, it is not absolutely unheard of for signal to dip out momentarily and can be slower in the evenings when it sees heavier use. As the property is located at altitude, oxygen is on hand at all times from the helpful staff should you find yourself short of air at any moment.
Included Activities
Titilaka bills itself as an ‘experience lodge’, with a wide range of activities to choose from during your stay. Excellently organized excursions are on a shared-basis, but you can optionally upgrade for privatized guiding services. It might be tempting to spend all your time just enjoying the fabulous view and comfort of the hotel, but make the most of the opportunity to understand local culture in and around the lake with short activities to full-day excurions. The not-to-be-missed boat excursion (the only speed boat activity offered) is to visit the floating reed islands of Uros and additional island Taquile, with a gourmet picnic lunch. Another popular full-day option is the ‘Aymara Route’ excursion, where you can combine village visits with some biking. There are also shorter excursions, from birdwatching to rafting through the reeds by the hotel.
Adventure seekers will enjoy a whole host of water sports that can be enjoyed right at the hotel, including kayaking, Canadian canoes and sailing. You can also head to the countryside behind the hotel for hikes and bike rides.
When traveling to or from the airport, it’s also possible to combine the transfer with sightseeing, such as the pre-Incan ruins of Sillustani.
Dining
All food and drink is included in the rate at Titilaka. Guests can enjoy meals in the main dining room, terraces or on full-day outings with posh picnics. The same a la carte menu is offered at lunch and dinner and draws heavily on local cuisine and specialties like lake trout (there’s a trout farm only a five minute walk away). You’ll also find international staples like sandwiches and salads. If you express an interest in learning the secrets of Peruvian cooking, the chef will be glad to give foodies a demo in the kitchen, even though this isn’t on the excursion list.
Afternoon tea is served, bar snacks appear in the evening and sundowners are held often outside by the lake, with a bonfire and waiter to serve wine and canapes.
Family Travel
With so many activities on offer, this is a great base for families to explore this part of Peru. Although the style and decor of the hotel is firmly grown-up geared, the staff are well accustomed to entertaining and managing children of all ages. Cribs and nanny services are available on request. If you’re looking for a hotel where your family can take over the place without worrying about distrubing any other guests, then you might like to also consider two-bed private villa Amantica Lodge, on Amantani Island. You can also consider privatizing guiding services for your family at Titilaka, as otherwise activities are on a shared basis.
Sustainability
At the heart of Titilaka, you will observe their efforts to maintain sustainable travel. The preservation of local flora and fauna, employing local staff, supporting local artists and artisans, offering locally and organiclly grown produce and the use of hydroelectric power and natural gas are just a few of the ways that this hotel makes this effort.