“I have a surprise for you,” said Julio, our brown-skinned guide at Hotel Titilaka in the Highlands region of Peru. The motor boat we were riding in was approaching Uros, a community of more than 70 floating islands, on Lake Titicaca. The boat docked beside one of these tiny islands made from totora reeds. When we disembarked Julio cautioned us to walk carefully on the crunchy, undulating strands.
As he explained how the native people live, cook, work, and sleep on the ever-shifting surface, the inhabitants of this island appeared--a mature woman, two young women (one with a toddler), and an older man. Then Julio announced, “This is my family. Until two years ago, I slept in the reed hut behind us.”
Julio’s passion for his ancestry helped us understand why the upscale Hotel Titilaka, situated in a remote rural area overlooking the world’s highest navigable lake (12,500 feet altitude), considers sharing experiences as important as pampering guests.
When Peruvian developer Ignacio Masias purchased an existing hotel on a private peninsula jutting into Lake Titicaca, he decided to enlarge the rooms, add walls of windows to take advantage of spectacular scenery, and provide included excursions, airport transfers, meals, and drinks--altogether marketed as The Andean Experience. The renovated hotel, opened in May 2008, has seen remarkable success catering to families, adventure-seekers, and couples looking for a secluded, romantic destination...
