Climate: Temperatures fluctuate widely during day and night. The best time to visit the area is from May to October, when days are sunny, rain showers infrequent and daytime temperatures often topping 25°C. Temperatures plunge to nearly freezing at night, however.
Access: There are regular flights from Lima to the town of Juliaca, an hour by road from Puno. The port of Puno also features several ferry services which run to the main Lake Titicaca Islands.
Services: Tourist infrastructure such as restaurants and lodging is plentiful around the lake. Visitors are recommended to spend at least three days, with a night on one of the islands on the Lake Titicaca (such as Taquile or Amantaní).
Located in the department of Puno, with a surface area of 36,180 hectares, the Titicaca National Reserve in practically its entirety covers the world's highest navigable lake. It was created on October 31, 1978, through Law (D.S.) N 185-78-AA, and covers part of Huancane and Puno provinces.
The Titicaca Reserve is split into two separate sectors: the first, which lies in the Bay of Puno itself, protects the totora reed clumps which provide sustenance to the Uros-Chulluni communities; the second, which is located in the Huancané area, features less-visited totora marshes, but which are equally rich in species and just as interesting. In the area there are 60 bird species, including the Titicaca grebe, 14 native fish species and 18 types of amphibians, including the giant Titicaca toad.
Birds species include the zambullidor del Titicaca (Rollandia micropterum), the yanauico (Plegadis rediai), the cormoran (Phalacrorax olivaceus) and the totorero (Phleocryptes melonopos). We can also find ducks (Anatidae), chocas (Rallidac), chorlos (Chara driidae), playeros (Scolopacidae), and flamingoes (Phoenicop teridae), among others.
There are just a few species of mammals inhabiting the Titicaca Reserve such as the vizcacha (Cagidium peruanum), the wild guinea-pig (Cavia Ischudii), and the andean wild wolf (Pseudalopex culpaeus).
Local flora includes aquatic plants such as the reed plant (Schoenplectus totora), the yana llacho (Elodea potamogeton), the lenteja de agua (Lemma sp.), and the purima (Chara sp.).
Main objectives of the Titicaca National Reserve are the conservation of the wild flora and fauna, the protection of local natural resources and the promotion of tourism.
Pampa Galeras National Reserve
Junin National Reserve
Paracas National Reserve
Lachay National Reserve
Titicaca National Reserve
Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Calipuy National Reserve
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
