Suasi Island (Isla Suasi)

The Basics

Travelers enjoy the island amongst wandering vicunas and alpacas. The hotel’s rustic flagstone-and-adobe architecture, thatched roofs and commitment to eco-friendly amenities such as solar power and wood stoves, stay true to the Earth-conscious spirit of Titicaca tourism. Whitewashed rooms all enjoy panoramic views across the lake and Bolivian Andes, and larger cottages offer balconies and fireplaces.

Guests are free to wander the island, along the way, discovering terraced gardens, hikes to Itapilluni Hill for fantastic sunset views. Expert guides are available for nature walks, and there’s even astronomer-led tours of the night sky that feature a Bushnell telescope.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Suitable for solo travelers, couples, families.
• Be sure to check itineraries for the boats as they may change.
• Bring change and small bills (in Peruvian Nuevos Soles) for the round-trip boat ride.
• Travelers may stay overnight on the island’s only hotel, an upscale ecolodge.
• Electricity and hot water are solar; heating is from wood-burning stoves.

How to Get There

Sausi Island is a private island in Lake Titicaca, which is located on the border between Bolivia and southern Peru. From Puno, the hotel provides daily transfers at about 7am for pre-arranged guests, with stops at the Uros Islands and Taquile Island. Travelers may make the 3-hour drive along dirt roads to Cambria where boat rides are shorter.

When to Get There

Lake Titicaca (and Suasi Island) are accessible year-round, but the most pleasant time to visit in terms of weather is from February through November, when days are spring-like with virtually no rain. December and January are usually quite rainy. The lake is 12,4673 feet (4,800 meters) above the sea-level, which means nights can get chilly during any time of the year.

Little Island History

Before the hotel arrived, Suasi Island was originally home to sociologist Martha Giraldo. Hailing from a prominent Peruvian family, she had inherited the island from her grandmother and built the original eco-friendly estate. In 2003, Giraldo leased her land to the five-star Andina Group and rechristened the hotel, Casa Andina. Though expanded services to some 20 rooms, the lodge is still run by the highest ecological standards.