SEE HOW IT IS

THE MOST OUTSTANDING:

• Explore Lake Titicaca during a guided tour that includes an overnight stay on Taquile Island
• Visit the floating islands of the Uros and learn about their construction entirely with the native reeds of the lake.
• Enjoy beautiful scenery, hikes, and locally prepared food on the island of Taquile
• Feel like a local as you spend the night in a traditional cabin on the island of Taquile
• Discover the textile, weaving and ceramic crafts of the locals on the island of Amantani.

Our Titicaca adventure begins at 7:30 a.m. when we pick you up from your hotel in Puno and head to the main port. Then we will take a comfortable motor boat to the floating islands of the Uros town. The artificial islands are located about 14 km from the port and it takes about 30 minutes to get there, but you won’t be in a rush as the scenery is spectacular.

When we get to the floating islands, you’ll probably be amazed at the scale of these floating reed constructions. The Uros originally built these islands for defensive reasons: if a threat appeared, they could move their island homes to a safer location. The islands are made from the reed reeds that grow around the lake, and each island is in a constant state of rebuilding as old reeds are replaced with new ones.

Entering the islands is quite an experience, as the resilient reed floor feels strange underfoot. We will explore the main island and see the houses, watchtowers and other structures, all built from reeds. Then one of the locals will give a short presentation on how the islands are made, and then you can meet one of the local families to see how they live.
Next, we will board the boat to the wonderful island of Taquile, which is approximately 1.5 hours away. We will arrive at a secluded and picturesque section of the island of Taquile, which also has a virgin sandy beach where we can stretch our legs for a while. From where we will depart to explore this incredibly beautiful island for at least four hours. We will go to the less touristy northern area, where we will have spectacular panoramic views of Lake Titicaca. After relaxing here for a while, we will hike a pre-Inca trail, visiting families of weavers to learn about their textile art and the rich symbolism that decorates their textiles. After a traditional lunch at a local restaurant, the quinoa soup and grilled trout are particularly popular,

Here, the friendly inhabitants will welcome us and put us up in a local family home. You’ll have plenty of time here to immerse yourself in the traditional culture, and in the afternoon there’s an optional hike to the top of a nearby hill for majestic sunset views over Lake Titicaca.

• MEALS: Lunch/dinner
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACCOMMODATION: Local house on Taquile Island

In the morning, you’ll have a traditional breakfast with your host family, and feel free to help cook if you’d like! After breakfast, you can participate in any of the daily activities, which may include growing crops, caring for animals, or even building a house or other structure in the traditional way. Your experienced guide will ensure that this part of the trip is a totally authentic experience.

After a morning of cultural immersion, it will be time for a family lunch around noon. Then, we will walk to the port, where we will say thank you and say goodbye to the family and have a small traditional farewell ceremony with coca leaves and wine. Around 1:00 p.m. it will be time to board the boat for the return trip to Puno, arriving at 3:30 p.m. Upon arrival, we will take you back to your hotel

• MEALS: Breakfast
• DIFFICULTY: Easy