Lake Titicaca & Sun Island Overnight Cruise

<p>The main problem with the Lake Titicaca and Sun Island Overnight Catamaran Cruise from Puno derived from the lack of information the local operator gave us before setting off for the tour.</p> <p>Apparently some social unrest between the island communities had the northern part of sun island not viable for tourists. Too bad we werent told about this problem but on the bus driving us to Copacabana. As to the news, the strike has been on for several days before our visit and the local operator had to contact us to let us decide if an alternative plan could have been acceptable. </p> <p>I even contacted the local operator through Viators website on the 9th of April for some info on the time we would be back in Puno on the 18th and I got the answer on the 11th just to point out the fact that they where well aware we were ready fo the trip.</p> <p>On the 17th morning we got picked up at our Hotel in Puno but after a few kilometres on our way , talking with the other guests, it was evident that they had made us join a different tour with a different plan:<br/> As we crossed the bolivian border we had a quick visit at Copacabanas main church and then we boarded the Catamaran where we had a snack.<br/> After 30 minutes we landed on Sun Island and joined a 20 minute ride on a local boat, then we where taken to the Inti-Wata complex and its pre-incan garden terraces which was part of the original plan for 2 hours.<br/> We boarded the Catamaran again had lunch on board while cruising to Tiquina for almost 2 hours.<br/> Unlike the other tourist that were headed to La Paz we landed at Tiquina just to be driven back to Copacabana with a new guide and driver<br/> The local operator booked a Junior Suite in the Hotel Rosario del Lago very nice but unnecessary where we had dinner.<br/> The day after there were no options but go and visit a small, neglected and uninteresting village called Sampayo by car 2 hours and a half drive for a 20 minute visit, head back to the Hotel where we had lunch exactly the same 3 dish choice we had the night before and started the transfer back to Puno. We got to Puno a 4 p.m sharp. End of the tour.</p> <p>I must say all the local guides were very nice to us and tried everything they could to give us the best service possible.</p> <p>We understand the problems raised with the local strike and we appreciated the efforts made from the local operator to fix the problem but we feel we wasted a full day the second in a meaningless and unpleasant place and , more importantly, we should have been warned about the problem at least 24 hours before the tour started.</p>

<p>Guides were great. Very helpful an knowledgeable. Food was good and plentiful. They came to the hotel the night before to help with the paperwork. It was a good experience. I would be happy to use this service again.</p>