Suani Island

Suasi is a tiny, beautiful island with breathtaking views of Lake Titicaca and hillsides where the four South American camelids -- llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas-- graze pretty much undisturbed. The only private island in the entire Titicaca, Suani is owned by Puno-born sociologist Martha Giraldo. After inheriting it from her grandmother, she decided to adapt the island into a showcase for the Altiplano's culture and ecology. As part of her project, she built in the mid 90s an ecolodge, using mostly local materials: stone, adobe, and totora reed.

The solar-powered lodge, currently very up-scale, is managed since 2005 by the Casa Andina hotel chain.

The 106-acre island has no electricity nor inhabitants (besides the lodge staff and the occasional guests), and is an isolated, peaceful retreat amid the chilly waters of the lake. It's located 80km northeast of Puno, and can be reached either by water (4 hours with a private motorboat) or by land (mostly).

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