Lake Titicaca (2 Days)

Before boarding the motor boat to Uros Island we will have a brief stop at the boat pier where you can buy some snacks and bottled water. Once onboard the boat, a local musician would welcome you with an Andean Folkloric music. Our guide would then introduce himself and the captain of the boat before giving you a brief about the day’s itinerary on the World’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. Our first stop will be at the iconic floating islands of Uros. During the journey from the mainland to one of the Uros Islands, you can see totora plants that grow on Lake Titicaca. These constitute the basic source of food and, at the same time, they serve as a maintenance system that the Uros have to perpetuate the existence of the islands As the boat would dock in, local women dressed in the local attire would extend a warm welcome to the place they call home. The head of the island would then demonstrate how they build these islands using totora plants and would share a few words in their native language (Aymara). Natives here are known for their handicrafts, so you may buy some if you would wish to. You will then have an option of sailing on the traditional totora reed boat (10 Soles) to the main island of Uros. If desired, you can get your passport stamped here as a souvenir. From here, we will start our boat ride to Amantani islands. You may walk up to the open deck on the upper level of the boat and get some photos of the floating islands that you would be passing through.

The head of the family will be walking you to their house where you will be spending the night in a private room. They would welcome you with a freshly cooked authentic Peruvian meal for lunch. After having lunch you would have some free time to wink a nap or saunter through the cobble stone streets of this beautiful island. In the evening our guide would meet you to start your up hill walk to the two ancient Incan temple Pachatata and Pachamama. These temples offer a stunning panoramic view of the Lake Titicaca and you can witness the sunset from here. Once you are back from this short tour, your host family would have dinner cooked for you. And after relishing on a Peruvian meal for dinner (with options for vegetarians), you may join the local folkloric musical event. Your host would help you get dressed in a traditional attire and walk you to the community hall where the event would be held. Young boys from the island play live Andean Folkloric Music while the visitors dance to the tune.

We will be boarding the ferry to Taquile Island. Breaching the green waters of Peru’s Lake Titicaca is the little mound island of Taquile where the local villagers have created a steady industry of knit handicrafts, which are knit by the men of the community. Taquile is home of a Quechua population of 2,000 people who are mainly farmers, fishermen and above all renowned weavers. The fine textiles that come out of Taquile are renowned the world over and are even protected as a UNESCO world heritage subject. However unlike the often tragically traditional view of knitting and textile work as the demesne of women, it is the men of Taquile Island do much of the delicate thread work. The craftwork is divided between weaving and knitting; women do the weaving, while the knitting is man’s work. The tradition begins when they are young as boys on the island begin learning their trade at the tender age of 8. Chief among these crafts are the iconic chuyo hats that many of the locals wear. Women can also be found making yarn and other tasks surrounding the creation of the items. The 2,000-some residents of the island are well aware of the tourist appeal of their lovely island and its traditional Spanish garments. They have gone so far as to create a rather unique model for their visitor industry where the villagers act as a community to manage the comings and goings of tourists as well as the attractions they offer. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant (not included and costs 20 Soles). After lunch you will be boarding the boat back to Puno. We will meet you upon your arrival and will transfer you back to your hotel within the historic centre of Puno.