Floating Islands in Peru
One of the highest commercially navigable lakes in the world, Lake Titicaca is situated between Peru and Bolivia. It has a surface area of about 3,200 square miles and is home to some 42 artificial “floating” islands where the Uros tribe has lived for countless generations.
These novel floating islands are made from tortora, floating reeds that are abundant in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The reeds are fastened to a floating base structure that can support a large amount of weight and are anchored to wooden poles driven into the bottom of the lake. The original reason for constructing the islands from natural floatable materials was so that they could be moved if a threat arose, with inhabitants literally paddling elsewhere to avoid trouble.
Most of the rest of the structures on the island, including homes, are created from the same reeds. As the reeds die, tribal members replace them with fresh materials they’ve gathered from the lake. The largest of the islands house some 10 or so families while the tinier islands are home to just two or three. The Uros people make a living by fishing and hunting but, lately, there are tourist dollars to be had as well.
The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca have, in the last few decades, become one of Peru’s main tourist attractions, with visitors catching boat rides from the Peru side of the lake to the islands. It takes about thirty minutes for travelers to reach the islands from the town of Puno. Once there, the visitors can explore the islands and often pay the islanders for allowing them to take their picture. Inhabitants can also make money by selling their handicrafts to the frequent groups of visitors, including woolen goods and other beautiful textiles. Residents of the islands also offer to tourists rides on their tiny reed boats and take visitors from island to island, where they can explore and learn more about this ancient culture.
Currently, 10 of the islands allow visitors, and walking on the islands comes as quite a shock to most guests, who are used to treading on solid ground. Lookout towers constructed of the same tortora reeds can be climbed, providing an excellent view of all the islands of Lake Titicaca and of the surrounding region. One of the islands even offers lodging in teepee-type structures and inhabitants have built a coffee shop/restaurant, mini market, and more. Most organized tours do not include an overnight stay on the islands.
Boat trips depart daily from the city of Puno on the
edge of the lake. Severe weather conditions, however, may result in the
cancellation of the tour. Be sure to book your tour as soon as you reach the
area as it’s one of the most popular activities available in this part of
Peru during the peak tourist season.
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