PUNO - TITICACA LAKE

Lake Titicaca, is undeniably an impressive sight. A National Reserve since 1978, it has over sixty varieties of birds, fourteen species of native fish and eighteen types of amphibians. At 3820m (12,530ft), is the highest navigable lake in the world. At over 170km (105mi) long, it is also the largest lake in South America. Its altitude means the air is unusually clear and the azure waters particularly striking. Interesting boat trips to outlying islands can be made from Puno, the major port on the lake. The area is also known for its folk dances and huge herds of alpacas and llamas.

Curious Inca-built Chullpa burial tombs circle the lake and man-made Uros Floating Islands are fascinating. These islands have been inhabited for centuries since their construction by retreating Uros Indians. More powerful and self-determined are the communities who live on the fixed islands of Taquile and Amantani, often described as the closest one can get to heaven by the few travelers who make it out this far into the lake. There are in fact more than seventy islands in the lake, the largest and most sacred being the Island of the Sun which is at the Bolivian side of the Lake.

UROS AND TAQUILE FULL DAY TOUR

ITINERARY:

Pick up from your Hotel around 7:00 am to visit the flouting Island of the Uros located 10 km from Puno, the travel is around 2 hours.The residents of the Uros use the cattail, a type of rush, which grows in the lake, to create the conditions that ensure the islands stay afloat, and they also are excellent craftsman.

Taquile, is located to 35 and 42 km from Puno, in this place we will enjoy of the landscape and the attention of the residents because they are the ones who receive the foreign people with it’s colorful clothes and typical music that it is know by the people around the world.

In this part of the tour you will also have the opportunity to visit some of the local ruins , in the afternoon return to Puno your Hotel and overnight

UROS-AMANTANI- TAQUILE ISLANDS

2 DAYS /1 NIGHT

DAY 1: UROS FLOTING ISLAND - AMANTANI ISLAND
transport by motor boat stopping at the Uros Islands for 30 minute where you can see  how the familys used the totora (Plant that grows in the lake) and they used this for built treir houses  and other mores. before departing to the island of Amantani. There are no hotels on Amantani Islands but on arrival the group is split into smaller groups for overnight stays with local families. It is very beautiful and peaceful, and in many ways less spoiled than Taquile. There are six villages and ruins on both of the island's peaks, Pacha Tata and Pacha Mama, from which there are excellent views. There are also temples and on the shore there is a throne carved out of stone. The residents make beautiful textiles and sell them quite cheaply at the Artensania Cooperative after this we return  to the house for sleep. The people are Quechua speakers, but understand Spanish. Electricity supply 6-11pm. The tour price  includes accommodation, lunch and evening meal on the first day and breakfast the following morning. Groups typically leave Amantani at 8am in the morning for the 1 hr 45 min boat ride to Taquile where you will visit the main village and ruins.

DAY 2 : AMANTANI ISLAND - TAQUILE ISLAND
After we have  our breakfast,  we go of Amantani island to Taquile Island   for  one hour aproximately. when we arrived we visited the tow of Taquile are numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins and Inca terracing. The island is narrow, only about 1 km wide, and 6-7 km long. There is a cooperative shop on the island that sells exceptional woolen goods which are not cheap but of very fine quality.  you will have the opportunity to buy beautiful handmade weavings and collages depicting the life on the islands. The inhabitants on some islands have built small 'museums' with stuffed birds inside, or lookout towers to get a better view. For a dollar or so you can usually take a 10 minutes ride on the lake in a traditional reed boat. All in all it makes for an interesting visit since there's nowhere else quite like it in the world.