Uros (floating islands) and Isla de Taquile

Again an early wake-up, as we had to be ready ('breakfasted') at 6:30.

We took a motor boat to sail on the Titicaca lake to the Uros floating islands, and after visiting two of them we continued our journey onto Taquile (an 'ordinary' island).

The Titicaca lake is the highest lake of the world with reasonable size. It is about 150 km long. There are some 50 floating islands on that lake. These islands are artificial, build by men long time ago starting from floating reeds. the soil is about 2 meters thick and floats on the water. Do not confuse with the well known floating island (île flottante) dessert.

Amazing to see houses, church, school, chicken, pigs on a moving land. Each island belongs to one or more families. They told us they sometimes cut their islands into two or more pieces, or even move their islands to another place, depending on the relationship with their neighbors. Of course they also sell souvenirs.

Uros is a 2 hours sailing further into the lake. 2000 people live there, living in a community applying their own rules and regulations. For instance they have no dogs, their clothes reflect their status (most men wear father Christmas hats).

Their village is on the top of a mountain, a 500 steps staircase brings you in the town center. A hard climb...

Once in the town center you find... plenty of souvenir stalls.  The island is very nice and peaceful.

The weather was sunny again, and we really enjoyed this day.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we plan taking the bus into the Amazon Jungle, to Puerto Maldonado.

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