A Peruvian village on Lake Titicaca (Ghetty Images)

Andean mythology describes Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake, as the cradle of all civilization, and once you lay eyes on this massive lake in the upper reaches of the Andes, you'll understand why. Resting at 12,555 feet above sea level, the area's high altitude provides intensely clear air and amplifies the strikingly blue water, giving the entire region an otherworldly feel. Titicaca is an improbable 5,319-square-mile sea in the midst of snow-capped peaks, hosting an indigenous population whose heritage and traditions haven't chanced since…well, since the dawn of time, should you ascribe to Incan folklore.

The Peruvian port city of Puno makes for the best base from which to explore Titicaca's many attractions. Puno's collection of narrow, busy streets may seem claustrophobic to some, but the wide expanse of the nearby lake and copious boat-trips on offer will quickly dissolve that sensation. Thirty-six islands, including Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna (the theoretical origins of the sun and moon, both adorned with Incan ruins), dot the water's surface. In addition, a number of "floating" islands, built from buoyant reeds by the Uros people, are now home to regional settlements. Taquile Island, less visited than most, makes for an enjoyable overnight trip. The inhabitants speak the ancient language of Quechua and their traditions date back to long before the explorations of Juan Pizarro, the 16th-century Spanish conquistador. Amantaní Island is even more untouched, an isolation that limits the number of restaurants and lodgings for independent travelers, but that will get you as close as possible to the ancient world of the Incas, short of time travel.

Titicaca, the name derived from the Aymaran word for "gray puma", straddles both Peru and Bolivia. Puno is easily accessible if you fly to the nearby city of Juliaca, but there are also several attractive overland options should you want to take in the Andean landscape while ascending to Titicaca. Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna are more accessible from Copacabana, a small town on the Bolivian side of the lake. Yampupata is also a good place to visit, and the five-hour drive from Copacabana to Yampupata should not be missed should your travels carry you closer to Titicaca's Bolivian shoreline.

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