Peru Tours, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu

The Uros are a pre-Inca people who live on 42 self-fashioned floating islands in the Titicaca Lake, Puno-Peru and Bolivia. They form three main groups: Uru-Chipayas, Uru-Muratos & the Uru-Iruitos. The latter are still located on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca and Desaguadero River.

The larger islands house about ten families, while smaller ones, only about thirty meters wide, house only two or three. The islets are made of Totora Reeds which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop and interweave form a natural layer called Khili (about one to two meters thick) that support the islands. They are anchored with ropes attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake. The reeds at the bottom of the islands rot away fairly quickly, so new reeds are added to the top constantly, about every three months; this is what it makes exciting for tourists when walking on the island. This is especially important in the rainy season when the reeds rot much faster. The islands last about thirty years.

UROS FLOATING ISLAND TOURS ITINERARY:

09:00 h. Our clients are collected from their hotels and then transferred down to the harbor. At the harbor we will embark on a motorized boat that will take us to the tribes of the Uros people. The boat ride last roughly 30 minutes and offers fine views of Titicaca Lake, as well as from the surrounding mountains. Upon our arrival our group we will be welcomed by a group of islanders, who afterwards will show us around. Our guide will explain important aspects of the live of these people and afterwards you will go for a ride in a small reed boat made by the Uros people. The reed boat will take you from one island to another, so that you may meet other locals from another island. The distance from one island to another is not long. In Uros you will be able to purchase magnificent handicraft made by the Uros women. Their little souvenir shops are located outdoors and display an array of products elaborated mainly by hand.
12:00 h. We will return to the city of Puno. Upon your arrival at the harbor you will be picked up by a Mystery Peru representative and then transferred to your hotel.

End of our services.