Highland Adventure is a local travel agency based in Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Since 2015 we have been designing tours across southern Peru and Bolivia for travelers who want to see the Andes the way locals live them: Lake Titicaca and its floating islands, the Colca Canyon, Cusco, Machu Picchu and lesser-known places like Pallay Punchu.
Our story
Highland Adventure started with a simple idea: the people who know these mountains best should be the ones showing them. What began as small private trips around Lake Titicaca grew into a team of local guides, drivers and partners across Puno, Arequipa and Cusco. We are still a small, family-run company, and we like it that way: every itinerary is planned by people who have walked it many times.
Tours off the beaten path
Most visitors see Lake Titicaca from a crowded boat in a single morning. We prefer to show it slowly: from the water, and from the homes of the families who live on its shores. Many of our trips go to places the big tour buses skip.
- Kayaking on Lake Titicaca: paddle the calm bays of the highest navigable lake in the world, at 3,800 m. Join our one-day kayak tour or stay longer on the two-day kayak trip.
- Homestays in Luquina and Llachón: spend a night with Aymara and Quechua families, share their food and watch the sunset over the lake. See our Luquina homestay and Llachón homestay.
- Amantaní and Taquile: visit the islands known for their textile tradition, on the Amantaní 2-day tour or the Taquile speed boat tour.
- Colca Canyon trek: hike down into one of the deepest canyons in the world and watch Andean condors fly over it. We run the Colca Canyon trek from Arequipa and also from Puno.
- Cusco to Puno overland: travel between Cusco and Puno with stops along the Andean route instead of a plain bus ride, on the Cusco Puno bus tour or the 3-day Cusco to Puno package.
- Pallay Punchu and Vinicunca: Pallay Punchu is a colorful mountain near Cusco, much quieter than Vinicunca. Visit it on our Pallay Punchu tour, or see the original on our Rainbow Mountain tour to Vinicunca.
We also run the classics: Machu Picchu tours, Lake Titicaca tours to the Uros and Taquile islands, and Colca Canyon tours from Arequipa or Puno. We can combine any of these trips into one itinerary.
Meet the founder
Elmer Mendoza was born in Puno and has been guiding travelers through the Andes for more than 10 years. He holds an official tour guide license and has led hundreds of groups on the Inca Trail, around Lake Titicaca and through the Colca Valley. He also writes most of the travel guides on our blog, sharing what he has learned on the road.
Read more about Elmer and his articles →
Why travel with us
- Local guides: born and raised in the regions they guide, fluent in English and Spanish.
- Small groups and private tours: more time at each place and a pace that suits you.
- Responsible tourism: we work with local families and communities, and we follow the "Protégeme" code against the exploitation of children in tourism.
- Clear prices: no hidden fees; you know what is included before you book.
- Support before and during the trip: our team answers on WhatsApp 24/7.
Company information
- Registered name: HIGHLAND ADVENTURE E.I.R.L.
- Tax ID (RUC): 20600985818
- Travel agency license: 019-2026 (DIRCETUR Puno)
- Address: Jr. Latinoamerica Nro. 190, Puno, Peru
- Phone / WhatsApp: +51 994833777
- Email: info@highlandadventure.net
Plan your trip with us
Tell us how you like to travel and we will design the right itinerary for you. Contact our team or browse our tours.