Uros and Amantani
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From Puno I took a two day boat excursion over the lake and visited some of the islands. Lake Titicaca is described as the highest navigable lake in the world. I think it's more accurate to say that it's the highest navigated lake in the world - plenty of others as high or higher are able to be navigated but Titicaca is massive and has populated islands within it and settlements along the shores with regular transport between them across the lake.
Lake Titicaca
We set off across the lake on our boat "Calaya"
Uros
Our first stop was one of the floating islands of the Uros. The islands are fashioned out of layers of reeds by the Uros people - there are over 1,000 of the Uros still living on the islands today. This lifestyle goes back as far as the 13th century although today they also make full use of modern technology e.g. using solar panels to produce electricity and tourism must be a substantial part of their lives.
We were given a sort of presentation on how the islands are made with thick spongy root blocks underneath and layers of reeds on top and then anchored using poles driven into the lake bed. Reed huts are then built on top of the islands.
Huts range from tourist coffee shops to basic living quarters
I also took a trip on one of the traditionally styled boats to a second floating island
Although the introduction was quite touristy, the islands aren't just museum pieces - a variety of structures are built to support the activities of daily life and modern boats are also used.
We got back on Calaya and continued across the lake.
A variety of birds live on and around the lake
Amantani
Our next destination was the natural island of Amantani.
We were greeted by a group of the Amantaneños people, who provide homestay to tourists. Unlike the Uros the Amantaneños are a subgroup of the Quechua.
There were four of us staying with my hosts Oswaldo and Matilde.
My room was clean and comfortable
Although accomodation is in the hosts' homes they have to be individually registered to provide the service and meet appropriate standards.
Amantani rises to two peaks each with a temple atop it, one to Pachamama ("Mother Earth") and one to Pachatata ("Father Earth"). After a meal we did an evening trek to the Pachamama temple.
Culminating in watching the sunset at the peak.
After the trek back to the village I was provided with traditional costume to attend the last event of the day, a local (touristy) music event.
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