Lake Tota Lake

Address: Lake Tota, Tota / Aquitania area, Boyacá Department, Colombia

Lake Tota is a high-altitude freshwater lake in Boyacá Department, Colombia, and is the largest natural lake in the country by surface area. It lies on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at an elevation of about 3,015 metres above sea level.

The lake is a regional center for recreation, fishing and local agriculture; key visitor experiences include boat trips to a small protected island reserve and shoreline birdwatching. Shoreline towns provide visitor facilities, local markets and access for water activities.

Lake Tota occupies a plateau basin in the eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes and is surrounded by agricultural land and small towns; it is a prominent geographic feature of Boyacá Department and a freshwater resource for nearby communities.

• Altitude and size: Sits at high altitude in the Andes at roughly 3,015 metres above sea level and is Colombia’s largest natural lake by surface area.

What to See#

• Isla de La Corota (island reserve): A small protected island that preserves wetlands and montane forest used for ecotourism and birdwatching within the lake.

• Base yourself in the towns of Aquitania or Iza and take a morning boat to Isla de la Corota (a small protected island reserve)-these departures are the usual way to visit the island and are calmer before winds pick up later in the day.
• Plan for morning visits when winds are lighter; Lake Tota becomes noticeably windier in the afternoon, which affects small-boat trips and makes the water choppier for photos and fishing excursions.