BT – Lake Titicaca – The Floating Islands of the Uros

The rain was still coming down at our next stop and so I got somewhat damp as we walked up to a small hall where we were served lunch. We had a nice quinoa soup, and then the main meal — beans, potatoes, trout, chicken and banana — had all been cooked in paper on hot rocks. It was really tasty and filling as well.

By the time we were finished the sun was out and so we could finish drying out on the way back to the boat (not the one pictured below 🙂 ).

Our final stop on our Lake Titicaca trip was on one of the floating reed islands of the Aymara-speaking Uro people (S 15°48.7′ W 69°55.7′ — maybe!). Each of the 90 or so of these small islands — not much bigger than one or two house blocks — is home to three or four families who fish and do handcrafts.

We got to see inside one of their huts and learn how the islands are made, as well as have the obligatory opportunity to buy some more textile handcrafts.

We also did a circuit of the island on a reed boat, where my sister Cath was very popular with the cute kids.

We arrive back in Puno at around 4pm and when we got back to the hotel I was very glad and relieved to see my suitcase. Cath and I then did a bit of a wander around the smelly narrow streets of Puno, and had ice cream in the main plaza before heading back to the hotel for a quiet evening.