Erica in Peru: Lake Titicaca: Los Uros, Amantani and Taquile

Lake Titicaca! I arrived in Puno from Arequipa, about a 6 hour bus ride, and found a nice hostel where I had my own bathroom and bedroom, complete with hot water, for just 20 soles (less than 8 dollars). Puno is not a very attractive city, so I didn´t take any photos, but it is Peru´s gateway to Lake Titicaca, which is located at 3,811 m above sea level. It is both the largest lake in South America, with a maximum length of 118 miles, an the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. The lake is shared between Peru and Bolivia. The name Titicaca is thought to mean ¨Rock Puma¨or ¨Gray Puma,¨ coming from words in both the Quechua and Aymara languages. I took a 2 day tour of the lake and 3 of its 41 islands, sleeping on the island of Amantani at a family´s home.

Entering the Uros Islands, which are actually floating and constructed
and reconstructed by the inhabitants of the island

A stopping point to visit the Uros

The first islands we visited were the famous floating islands, Los Uros, which are made of the floating tortora reeds

which grow in the lake. The Uros have been living on some 42 small, self-made islands since Pre-Inca times. The islands that we visited were quite touristy, though there are some islands which tourists are not allowed to visit.

This is the chief of the island that we visited. He showed us using a model how they
construct the islands, starting with the dirt and roots from the floating reeds. Next the actual reeds a cross stacked upon eachother. The ground is very soft once you set foot on the islands for this reason!

The finished model of the island, complete with people, a stove, their house and their boats!

This is our guide, Neo, with some of the women, showing off the handicrafts that they make for tourists.
The men construct beautiful mobiles with hanging boats made of reeds, and the women knit and embroider.

This is the chief´s wife, from whom I bought a beautiful
embroidered pillow case showing a scene from the island.

I took a boat ride on one of the local made boats

Fish farm in the middle of the island

Island women bidding us farewell with songs in Quechua and Aymara

Boat ride with Chief and his wife paddling

This is the type of boat they make for tourist rides

Amantani, the island 4 hours from Puno where we spent the night with a family. I was also with
a British couple who needed my help communicating with the family as they didnt speak Spanish!

My room in Herme y Eduvije´s house in Amantani

Herme spinning wool thread which would later become part of a blanket.

We arrived on Amantani and were greeted by our host families. I went with Eduvijes and a British couple, Barry and Chris, to the home of Eduvijes and her husband Herme. I was very impressed by the house, for having electricity (through solar panels) and comfortable rooms.