Beautiful lake worth the visit! (LakeTiticaca, Peru)

Member Name: poonam82

Product:	LakeTiticaca, Peru
Date:	17/05/09 (0 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: To see the reed islands - a real rare attraction

Disadvantages: If you go in high season, you cant see the beauty of the lake for the tourists!

Lake Titicaca is truly beautiful, if you catch it on a really hot day, it does shimmer and look truly magical. I crossed the lake from the Bolivian side - I must admit, first glance at the lake was pretty awful, the water line covered in plastic bottles/bags...etc - as you go further out onto the water, you get to see that it is in fact rather clean and as you head to the reed islands, you feel like its pretty magical.

The reed islands are a must see - although they have been really geared up to tourism, it's not a criticism. The people who live on them only really have fishing to subsidise livelihoods so tourism is really important.

Walking onto the reads is a surreal feeling, you sink as you walk onto the island and it does cross your mind for a moment if you are about to fink right down into the water line! You do get to have a glimpse into daily life - if you speak Spanish (although it is the indigenous language spoken predominantly) you will get more out of the experience. Beautiful handicrafts are sold there - come armed with pens and coloured pencils. I was told by one tour guide the kids ask for them for school - better than giving money.

I found it a beautiful experience if not somewhat intrusive, I was told to take a look inside homes...etc to see what they are like, and whilst of course I was curious, at the same time, I did question even though the island was open to tourists, there was a limit to everything and certainly didn't feel comfortable wondering into their house!!!

But, it is an experience like no other - learning how they made the islands and seeing how it all works on the island is a real eye opener!

Summary: Worth the visit without a doubt!