Isla Suasi

A solar-powered ecolodge on remote and uniquely beautiful Isla Suasi – the only private island in immense Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water. Featuring panoramic lake views from every room, surrounded by terraced gardens and designed with native materials (stone, adobe and thatched roofs) to blend into the island, the lodge is committed to being green.
Suasi is a magical, and for many mystical, place to disconnect from the world. Spot rare vicuñas, hike to Itapilluni Hill to contemplate colorful high-altitude sunsets, paddle a canoe around the island, go on quiet nature walks, or visit the earthy spa for massages and steam saunas. With 23 well-appointed but appealingly rustic rooms and the Andean Cottage (a spectacular two-bedroom lakefront suite), a candlelit gourmet restaurant, bar and game room, the lodge is the perfect place to relax after a day of doing plenty – or doing nothing at all.

Rates:
From USD 249 per night for a double room.

Location:
Isla Suasi is situated in the northeastern part of Lake Titicaca, just 1 km (0.6 miles) from the mainland.

Accommodation:
23 Superior Rooms (with lake view) and 1 Andean Cottage.
Suasi makes ingenious use of rustic local materials but is unexpectedly refined for a remote, solar-powered ecolodge. The Superior Rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with large bathrooms, peaked ceilings with wooden beams, and chimneys. All rooms feature huge picture windows framing great views of the bay and deep blue of Lake Titicaca.
The Andean Cottage is a very large & extremely private 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom suite right at the water’s edge. The master bedroom has a king-size bed, the guest bedroom 2 queen-size beds. The suite also features a large living room/bar, Jacuzzi tub with expansive lake views, 2 chimneys, a private pier, and 24-hour butler & room service.

Activities:
Kick back with a book and just relax. Enjoy the remoteness and splendid vistas of the pristine blue expanse of Lake Titicaca. Explore the natural habitat and indigenous altiplano flora and fauna. Nature walks, canoeing and boating on Lake Titicaca. Trek up to Suasi’s highest point, Itapilluni Hill. Guided visits to a small museum & library to learn about the topography of Lake Titicaca, its languages and culture, textiles, history and religion.
Stargazing & Nightly Bonfires: The expansive sky over Titicaca, with so little artificial light in any direction, is superb to observe the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. An astronomy-trained guide leads guests in viewing stars and planets with a Bushnell telescope and explains Inca cosmology. Then relax with a nightcap at a blazing bonfire in the fire pit near the lodge.

Sauna & Massage Room:
The inviting sauna & massage room boasts great lake views. Massages by a professional masseuse take advantage of creams, oils and aromatherapy based on regional Andean plants, while a laid-back steam sauna uses eucalyptus leaves. The sauna is offered free of charge to guests.

Restaurant & Gastronomy:
The gourmet restaurant, lit by candlelight, is elegant and sophisticated but with relaxing rustic touches. The chef uses native grains in soups, such as sopa de quinoa, and indigenous meats like alpaca. A superb selection of Peruvian and imported wines and spirits is on tap. Most guests begin the evening with a drink in the fire-warmed bar and end it with a nightcap and some billiards or board games. For groups, barbecues or classic Andean-style pachamancas can be arranged.
The daily breakfast buffet includes a custom omelette bar as well as a full complement of local fruits, juices, cereals and more.

Best Time to Travel:
Temperatures vary between 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 drop to nearly freezing point at night, however.

How to get there:
Isla Suasi can be reached in about 3 hours by speedboat, leaving directly from the private pier of the Casa Andina Private Collection in Puno. Visitors stop en route at the unique Uros’ Floating Islands and then enjoy a singular cultural experience visiting the traditional Alsuno community of weavers on Taquile Island before venturing on to Suasi – arriving just in time for a barbecue lunch.
Most guests return from Suasi by land, along a spectacularly scenic but rustic road (167 km/98 miles, about 2.5 hours) that hugs the banks of Lake Titicaca, and either head back to Puno or directly to the airport in Juliaca. Casa Andina makes all transportation arrangements.

Fixed departures:
Fixed departures for Suasi are Wednesday and Saturday from March through November. An extra departure is available on Sundays from May through November. Casa Andina strongly recommends taking advantage of fixed departures, as the island’s remoteness means that chartered transportation services are considerably more expensive, and a fixed departure can save as much as 50% on transportation to the island.