The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca – Puno, Peru

From Cuzco, we decided to take a tourist bus to Puno. Along the way we visited a few ruin sites, a market, a scenic overlook and stopped for a nice buffet lunch. It seemed like a good idea initially, but it wound up taking all day and we didn’t really have much time at each stop. If we had to do it over again, we’d just take a normal bus.

Remnants of an Inca temple at Raqchi View at Picasa Remnants of an Inca temple at Raqchi27-Nov-2010 10:30

We were only in the small town of Puno for one night, but managed to find decent pizza and a cozy bar playing good 80′s music videos all night. The hostelowner at Inca’s Rest was so sweet and helped book us on an early morning tour of the town’s main attraction – Las Islas Flotantes (The Floating Islands).

Boats in the port of Puno, ready to depart to the floating islands and other places around Lake Tititcaca View at Picasa Boats in the port of Puno, ready to depart to the floating islands and other places around Lake Tititcaca28-Nov-2010 09:11

We took a boat out to these unique islands that are made of reeds and mud. They were originally built by the Uros people to escape the Incan invasion and preserve their culture. Now, a community of Amayran people inhabit the islands.

One of the floating islands of Uros View at Picasa One of the floating islands of Uros28-Nov-2010 10:03

It was interesting to see them and a challenge to walk on them. But, it was very apparent that they are almost solely a tourist attraction. We found them to be quite artificial and couldn’t really enjoy them because they’ve become so commercialized.

Some of the islands inhabitants, demonstrating how the islands are constructed View at Picasa Some of the islands inhabitants, demonstrating how the islands are constructed28-Nov-2010 10:09

After the tour, we jumped on a bus to head around the lake and into our 10th country – Bolivia!