Lake Titicaca Family Homestay

Day 1  - Puno / Uros / Amantaní

This morning a 45-minute boat ride will take you to the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from the Colla and Inca tribes. Sadly, the Uros language has died out, and today the islanders speak Aymara due to intermarriage with Aymara-speaking clans. Today about 300 families live on the islands. Continue on to the island of Taquile. The Island’s unique culture, style of dress and lifestyle make for a memorable visit. The men of the community do all the knitting, as this is strictly a male domain, while the women do the spinning. High quality, locally knitted goods are available for purchase at various cooperatives on the island. Next you will visit the island of Amantaní. Despite the short distance that separates the two islands, Amantaní is quite distinct. Its soil is a rich terra cotta red, due to the high iron deposits, and the color contrasts brightly with the deep azure blue of the lake, the sky, and the greenery of the local crops. Your guide will give you an orientation and introduce you to the native family that will host you this evening. Amantaní is a quiet island with a human population of approximately 4,000. There are eight village communities on the island, each hosting a cluster of adobe dwellings. The islanders speak Quechua, but their culture is more heavily influenced by the Aymaras.