The Uros floating islands are one of the main attractions in Lake Titicaca. The other one is the Lake Amantani and Taquile island tour. While researching the Uros floating islands, there were many reviews on TripAdvisor indicating that it seemed like an elaborate act for tourists.
But I had a free day here, and it seemed like I might as well visit the Uros floating islands.
The floating islands are only a thirty-minute boat ride from the port of Puno, which makes them highly accessible.
What are floating islands?
Before the Incas invaded, the Uros were the indigenous population in the area. To protect themselves from capture, they built floating islands using reeds from the lake. Unfortunately, in spite of their efforts, the Incas were able to find them and put most of the population into slavery.
Only about a thousand descendants still inhabit the islands, and tourism has become a big part of their income. Most of the people in the village are elderly; most of the youngsters have moved on to the mainland to live a modern life.
I did find a few young women around and tried to talk to them about their way of life.
Their lives seem so hard. These people make these islands out of a kind of reed (Totoro) that grows on the lake. These islands look like large lumps of hay floating on the lake. The weeds start rotting in about 20 years. When the island becomes inhabitable, they abandon their island and build a new one.
The island I visited was about 7 years old. Still, I could spot rotting Totoro in a few places, and in one place where I trod a little heavily, my foot went right through the island!
The tour of the islands itself is not too long – just about an hour. And most of that was hanging around the place. The local women were quite friendly. They showed me around the island, invited me to their homes, and even offered to have me dress up in their clothes! I declined the last offer, though. I knew those garments would look super-unflattering on me 😂.
The coolest thing was a floating football field, with people playing the beautiful game on a floating island of reeds!
Afterward, there was a boat ride to a second floating island, which was also pretty similar.
This is where the tour started to go slightly sour on me. I thought the boat ride was part of the (paid for) tour, as that was the impression they gave me.
However, as soon as I got out, they started asking for money (cash only). I was running low on forex, and it soon started to become quite embarrassing. I eventually borrowed some money from another tourist and handed it over. But, this experience (added to the pressure to buy their local products) made this tour feel a bit of a tourist trap.
I know the local people are poor, and the maintenance of these islands must be really time-consuming and expensive. However, I wish all costs had been a part of the tour package instead of making me pay in bits and pieces.
Putting these feelings aside, seeing man-made-floating-reed islands that have been around for hundreds of years was actually pretty cool. It’s definitely worth spending a half-day visiting this place.
WOW! When I saw this post I was stunned. Those photos look gorgeous, I would LOVE to visit a floating village, how cool isn’t that? It’s truly a bucket list item and a once-in-a lifetime experience. I am happy to hear that you got a friendly invite from the people you meet, it would make me feel a lot more at ease I think (I’ve had some bad experiences in the past) so I always love to hear of places where the locals are friendly towards visitors. I feel this is such a cool and unique destination that I would definitely love to visit.
This place looks amazing, what a great adventure you had! Also, how cool that locals invited you to their homes and that you stood on a floating floating football field! I really want to go there, will save this for my future trip 🙂
Wow I have never visited a floating village before. It would definitely be so interesting just watching their daily livelihood and learning about their culture and traditions in these villages. I was never aware of Lake Titicaca before, I will surely add this to my list of places to visit.Thanks for this.
Very unique place and lovely article on featuring these floating villages. I never knew about these floating villages in Lake Titicaca and how villagers protected themselves on floating islands from invaders. It must be interesting to know more about this civilization and old culture here. Good to know villagers are very friendly here and they invited you to their houses too. I would check out some of their dresses too, if they offer me. I love such offbeat and unique tours.
What an amazing experience! The culture here is amazing! I am so glad that you were able to capture this! I have never heard of the Uros floating villages. So this was a great discovery in reading about the history and culture. I probably would have declined wear their clothing too but, how lovely of them to offer haha!
Must have been quite the experience. Reading this takes me back to the time when i explored a floating village in Inle lake, Myanmar, and met the locals there, including the long necked tribe women. Those boats look so vibrant and Instagrammable 😏
This is very interesting, but a little sad. I have never heard of the Uros Floating islands. I admire their dedication to their way of life. It must be something to have to rebuild every 20 years or so and move everything, but it is very unique. I love that the locals were so friendly and invited you in, it makes for a much better experience.
So interesting to see the floating villages. They do look like floating hay barrels! Great that you actually got to get off on one of the islands on your tour. I probably would not have tried the costumes either. I understand the feeling of being pressured by everyone for money. I know they need the money. But it takes a little away from the experience.
Lovely post on this floating village, which I have never heard of. I do remember a friend talking to me about how beautiful the Lake Titicaca is.
It’s a small place. I think it’s well known in that part of the world.