Peru Tours, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu

Titicaca Lake is a most sacred place when it comes to Inca religion & mythology, as it was here that the first Inca king, Manco Capac was born by the sun god, Inti. Manco would create the Kingdom of Cusco, thus beginning the Inca Empire. If you make it to the Bolivian town of Copacabana, where pilgrims from all over the continent come to get the Virgin's blessing, then you can take a boat to the Isla del Sol. There is a sacred rock here which marks the point from which Manco Capac emerged. As far as the origin of the name Titicaca goes, it remains mostly a mystery. Two possible translations for the name are "Puma Rock" and "Crag of Lead". If you are looking at a Lake Titicaca map, you will see that it is separated into two sub-basins that are linked by the narrow Strait of Tiquina. In the Spanish language, the larger sub-basin is named Lago Grande (Big Lake), while the smaller is known as Lago Pequeño (Small Lake). Lake Titicaca deepest point is some 300m. (930ft). It is found on the larger side. The average depth of Lake Titicaca is 350 feet, and perhaps due to the coverage of the surrounding snow-covered peaks, the lake's waters are generally quite calm. When it is cloudy, the lake takes on a sort of grey color, but when the sun is out, its soft blue tone makes for a truly beautiful setting.
The water in Titicaca lake comes from a combination of rainfall and meltwater. Glaciers in the sierra and throughout the Altiplano region feed five major rivers that end at the lake. Some 20 other smaller rivers also feed into the lake, and due to the sources, the water is quite cold. Suffice to say that unless you somehow fall out of a tour boat, you won't be swimming here. One of the more curious Lake Titicaca facts has to do with its number of islands. There are 41 of them, and a good amount of people call them home. The aforementioned Isla del Sol (Sun Island) is among the larger Lake Titicaca islands, whereas the Uros Islands are probably the most curious. In Puno, you can arrange to go on one of the Lake Titicaca tours that visits the Uros islands, which are made from the totora reed. These islands float, and the natives who live here carry on a tradition that goes back thousands of years. The artificial islands of Uros are among Peru's top tourist attractions, and you can purchase handmade crafts here that will surely make for great souvenirs. Many of the Lake Titicaca tours also visit the Taquile & Amantani islands, which are more populated. Taquile is a standard island, fashioned by the earth itself. These tours include sailing for hours on the lake, which is a joy in itself, especially if the sun is shining. Perhaps asking the sun god Inti for help in that department isn't a bad idea.