Hotels in the Andean Highlands
by Marina Garcia Burgos y Maria Soledad Ramirez
Revista IN, July 2009
TITILAKA
Traveling to Lake Titicaca is like seeing heaven with your own eyes. At over twelve hundred feet above sea level, the blue waters of the lake are of almost otherworldly purity, fusing along the horizon with pristine Andean Sky. We arrive at the city of Juliaca, where a comfortable 4x4 truck waits to take us to the hotel Titilaka . During the nearly two hour ride, we relax in our seats and enjoy the scenery. The altitude is not something to be taken lightly; soroche (altitude sickness) can bother visitors. The most efficient remedy is coca leaf tea, a concoction that is waiting for us in the truck. Arriving at the hotel is an unforgettable experience. Designed by celebrated Peruvian architect Jordi Puig, the building’s simple lines harmoniously combine native elements and state-of-the-art technology (the hotel uses radiant floor heating). The décor also bears the stamp of the local Aymara peoples. The skills of these age-old experts in the craft of weaving can be seen in the hand-woven rugs and hand embroidered cushions that lend the suites and lounges a truly original beauty. The food is yet another pleasure here. The menu is written daily on one of the dining room's beautiful Venetian mirrors. Using trout, alpaca, quinoa, totora, olluco and elderberry, among other ingredients from the region, the chef creates a magnificent New Andean cuisine. But the experience at Titilaka goes beyond the hotel and its breathtaking view. Guests can also participate in a range o f excursions and experiences, like taking a yacht to see the islands that dot the lake or having a picnic in a stone forest and visiting the unusual city of Lampa (where we found a replica of Michelangelo's Pietá, made from a mold taken from the original), all more than enough reason to include the hotel as an essential stop on your travel agenda.
