A Day of Boating

Puno/Lake Titicaca

August 17th-19th 

After looking over a few details, we realized we could either spend more days in Cuzco before the trek to acclimate, and then also have days after the Machu Pichu trek, or, for the same amount of money, take a quick side trip to Lake Titicaca. While we were cowering at the 11,500ft of Cuzco that we were about to start a 4 day trek at, Lake Titicaca, or Puno as the town on the Peru side is called, is located at 12,500 ft above sea level. We figured going 1,000 ft higher and then coming down might just trick our bodies into thinking we were still at a relatively sane altitude. 

On the 17th, we took an evening bus to Puno and one scary back road taxi drive later, ended up at our hostel around midnight. With our hostel, we booked our tour for 6:45 the next morning. Our roommate taught us a card game and then we went straight to bed. 

The next morning, we had some delicious fresh pancakes and headed to boat launch. Lake Titicaca is the highest navegable lake in the world and also the largest lake in South America. An english steamship from the 1860's still sits in the Puno Bay. Our boat tour first went to Uros Island, one of the famed Floating Islands

The Floating Islands are about 44 in number and constructed by a reed that..floats. The islands were first constructed by Aymara people escaping Inca and then Spanish control. They use the soil under the reeds for stabilization and then add more and more reeds on top. Their houses and boats are made of the reed as well.

eating the reed, Totura..tasted like sweet iceburg lettuce

On the left- women working

On the right- ancient gods

With one of the women of the islands

The second island we went to was called Isla Taquile, which is located out in the main lake. The lake is split in two by the Peruvian and Bolivian borders. Obviously, we stuck to the Peru side since we didn't have visas to enter Bolivia. At this island, we walked up to the summit, admiring the terraces of agriculture and the simplicity of life. We had lunch, watched two traditional dances (one of the cycle of farming and the other on the wooing of a partner), and learned about the island's main crafts, hat making! (Once I find the information I took on it I will include it.) 

At Isla Taquile

Overall, a nice trip out in the sun. The next morning we got up early, again, and headed to Cuzco!