Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake at 3,812 meters (12,507 feet), is a massive, sparkling body of water straddling the Peru-Bolivia border. It’s fabled as the birthplace of the Inca and it is globally celebrated for its deep blue waters, rich indigenous culture, and unique artificial floating islands.
Our original plan was to visit the island of Taquile, on the Peruvian side of the border, to gain insight into traditional Andean culture. However, as you read here about the unrest in La Paz, our plans changed, and our time was cut short, so we headed to the Uros islands.
The floating Uros Islands are entirely hand-woven from buoyant totora reeds; these artificial islands are home to the Uros people, who maintain a centuries-old way of life on the water.
The lake is protected by Peruvian law, ensuring that only sustainable areas are harvested for reeds, which the indigenous people place on the islands every 15 days to keep them afloat.
A toll is paid to enter the Uros islands, and the community president decides which island we will visit to ensure fairness.
Across the lake, we could see communities and their homes. There was wildlife, too, as we passed through the channels towards our chosen Uros island.
When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the inhabitants of this floating reed island. Its very existence is remarkable.
Our guide told us about their way of life, how they look after their island, and how they renew the reeds. This very fact alone is incredible, because the reeds eventually rot and the island would sink. But by adding fresh layers and raising their living quarters to accommodate the new reeds, life can continue to function.
Clearly, nowadays their way of life is supported by tourism, the making and sale of souvenirs.
We asked what happens when there is a dispute between a few families living on one island. Our guide told us that they simply cut the island in half!
The islands have anchors attached to the floating structures to prevent them from moving.
All too quickly, our visit to the Uros islands was over, and we returned to Puno, then to the hotel, and finally to Juliaca International Airport for our flights back to Cusco via Lima.
