05 Jun Lake Titicaca A Homestay on Amantani Island and
Lake Titicaca – A Homestay on Amantani Island and Visiting the Uros Floating Islands
If you are in Puno, Peru it is an absolute must that you visit Lake Titicaca. It is one of the highest lakes in the world located at an altitude of 3800 m surrounded with picturesque views. I booked an overnight stay on Amantani Island which included stops at the famous floating reed islands and the Island of Taquile with only a couple of nights in Puno I wanted to spend as much time enjoying the lake as possible.
Uros
After a 30 minute journey our ferry was directed to the island we would be visiting. We were greeted by several local families. They invited us to sit down and hear the history of the Uru people and how the men create this entire community of floating islands by using reeds. Each island is occupied by several families. My thought was, What do you do if you get into an argument with a family sharing the island with you? I was told they may cut the island in two if they are unable to find a resolution. After we toured the island and said our goodbyes we boarded our ferry for a quick stop to Santa Maria island.
This was my chance to grab a couple of snacks in preparation for the 2-3 hour slow cruise to Amantani.
Amantani
Several of the local people were waiting for our arrival. Once we disembarked we learned which family we were assigned to and were led to our guesthouse for the evening. We were told that some of the homes are more updated than others and may not have running water or a flushing toilet, lucky for me my guesthouse had both plus electricity. Once we were shown to our rooms and put away our belongings we were invited down for lunch. Our host prepared a fabulous lunch with food from her garden. The starter was a tasty quinoa soup with carrots and potatoes followed by a main dish of boiled potatoes, rice, fried cheese and salad. The Amantani people have a vegetarian diet. My hosts did not speak English but could speak Spanish and through hand gestures and my limited knowledge of the Spanish language they could somewhat understand me. I think 😊
In the afternoon, a hike was organized to the highest point of the island at 13600 feet (4150m). It was an intense climb but definitely worth it. The island has two peaks Pachata and Pachamama (father and mother earth). We climbed Pachamama and had wonderful views of Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Reel Mountain range. After the sunset we descended under the glow of the full moon.
Upon returning to the guesthouse it was time for dinner and I was ready to eat after that climb. A large bowl of vegetable soup with carrots and potatoes and a plateful of rice topped with a potato and tomato omelette was quickly devoured. I was impressed at how the women create so many different dishes using the same limited ingredients.
After dinner our host family surprised us announcing they would be escorting us to the town’s community building and throwing us a party. They also provided us with their traditional clothes to wear to the party. We were told that the beautiful embroidered blouses we were wearing are embroidered with flower motifs made by the men. On their wedding day the men gift their bride with an embroidered wardrobe.
There was a band performing and though it was a party for the tourists it was still a memorable experience, a night filled with dancing and laughter as we tried to learn some of the traditional dances.
In the morning we ate our breakfast and said goodbye. We were guided back to the dock and boarded the ferry for an hour long ride to the island of Taquile.
Taquile
Our last island visit was Taquile. The island has UNESCO status and is known for its handwoven textiles, particularly knitting, boys as young as eight years old possess this skill. The people of this island are considered the best weavers of Peru.
Taquile also involved a hike with a similar incline to the previous night’s climb. The town square and handicraft shops selling traditional weaving was our halfway stop but our reward was the beautiful 360 degree views and lunch once we reached the top. The catch was we had to descend 550 steps to get to the ferry for a 3 hour boat ride back to Puno.
Tips
- Check out a few tour companies before purchasing your tour to compare what is offered. The cost of this tour was around S/90 (38 CDN/28 USD) which is a great price for what you get but I did meet others who said they found a better bargain.
- It is a good idea to get a small gift for your hosts to show your appreciation. This can be purchased in Puno on the morning of your departure. For the gifts, the guides recommend bringing some staple foods such as fresh fruit. The children would also appreciate school supplies such as paper, pencils, and pens.
- Lunch on Taquile Island is usually not included in the package unless your tour company says so. The cost for it is 20 sols. It is good to have some extra cash in case you want to purchase a souvenir, snacks or participate in the wooden boat ride that is offered in Uros.
- You do not need to bring a sleeping bag. I think I was given 6-8 blankets to sleep with. However, you will need to bring gloves and a hat in addition to your warm clothes for the evening. It can get chilly.
- Bring your passport. After visiting the floating islands you will stop on the main Island, Santa Maria. There are a few souvenir shops, a café selling snacks and a counter where you can get a stamp for your passport.
Have Fun and I say Book the Tour! It is a must do in Puno.
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