Lake Titicaca 1 Day: Meeting with the Water Peoples

7:00 am – Pick up at hotel (Puno)

Our local guide will pick you up from your hotel in Puno and escort you to the main port, where we’ll board a tourist boat equipped to navigate the waters of Lake Titicaca.

7:30 am – Boarding and sailing to the Uros Islands

We begin our voyage to the Uros Islands archipelago, a group of floating islands handcrafted from totora reeds, an aquatic plant that grows in the lake’s waters. During the journey, your guide will tell you about the history, geography, and culture of Lake Titicaca.

8:00 am – Visit to the Uros Islands

We’ll arrive at one or two floating islands, where you’ll be welcomed by the Uros, a community that has lived on the water for centuries. Here you’ll learn:

• How islands are built: the traditional process of cutting, drying, and weaving totora reeds
• How the Uros live: houses, schools, community centers, all made of totora reeds
• Their language and customs: oral traditions, music, and crafts
• Totora boat demonstration: optional ride on traditional boats (not included)
• The Uros are a resilient culture that has adapted their lives to the lake. Their ancestral knowledge of the totora reed is key to their survival.

9:30 am – Sailing to Taquile Island

We continue the journey to Taquile Island, a natural rocky island home to a Quechua community with one of Peru’s richest textile traditions. The cruise lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, during which time you can enjoy the scenery, take photos, and relax.

Upon arriving in Taquile, we’ll take a gentle 30- to 40-minute hike to the main village. The trail is scenic, with panoramic views of the lake and the Altiplano mountains. Along the way, you’ll see farm terraces, stone houses, and textiles hanging in the sun.

11:45 am – Welcome and cultural presentation

The Taquile community will welcome you with a brief welcome ceremony and demonstrate their ancestral textile art, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You will learn:

• Loom weaving techniques: performed by men and women from childhood
• Symbolism of fabrics: each figure and color has a meaning
• Traditional clothing: men wear the “chullo”, a woven hat that indicates their marital status

12:30 pm – Traditional lunch

You’ll enjoy a typical lunch prepared with local ingredients. Options include:

2:00 pm – Free time

You will have free time to:

• Explore the town at your own pace
• Take panoramic photos of the lake
• Buy crafts directly from the weavers
• Relax by the lake and enjoy the sacred silence of the plateau.

2:45 pm – Return to Puno

We begin the return trip by boat to the port of Puno. The journey is relaxing and allows you to reflect on the experience, rest, and enjoy the scenery.

5:00 pm – Arrival at the hotel

Arrival at your hotel in Puno and end of the tour. You’ll bid farewell with your heart filled with culture, tradition, and human connection.