So here we are: Peru!! Different country, 1 hour difference, yet similar border culture and traditional clothing. Once arrived in Puno we hop on a tour to visit the famous floating island Uros on the Lago Titikaka. Coming from the native language Aimará (another ancient language other than Quechua), "titi" means puma and "kaka" stone/rock. When turning a map of the lake upside down one can realise it represents a puma chasing a rabbit. Hence the name of the lake (what's the correlation between the rabbit and the rock you'd ask? Well don't because they didn't explain it either...!). The lake is divided into 3 parts: the puno bay, the Lago menor (Bolivia, 40%) and Lago mayor (Peru except puno's bay, 60%). The specificity of this lake is that it is the highest in the world being at 3'810. It has a depth that varies from 50m to 300m and measure 165km of length and 105km wide. |
|
Located 4-5km ashore, the Uros community is formed by families leaving on 80-85 different island. The specifics of this community is that they live on floating islands where everything is made out of a type of bambou branches.
Each island has a different name and its own president. Up to 4 to 5 families (15-20 people) can live on the island; 4000 people in total form the community. Kids only go go primary school on the island, then they have to go to Puno to continue their studies.
The tour allows us to visit one island on which they first explain us how they live and build and island before letting us time to visit it and buy souvenirs. The island are made from Kili (roots of the Totora plant) which forms the base of the island with its earth block - 15 to 20 blocks are needed for and island which has a depth of 5 to 6 meters.
Here's how the build an island
These people live off fishing, barter and tourism. The latter is what I believe destroys the experience. Everything was turned around tourism, around buying them souvenirs and giving them money. It was too much and didn't feel like a special experience at all. We even came to wonder if they really live on the island or are just there for the tourists. All of this kind of ruined the tour for us; when the guide is too focused on making you consume than explaining further details of these islands (like how do they do with sanitaires, how do they renovate every 15 days etc...)
Each island has a different name and its own president. Up to 4 to 5 families (15-20 people) can live on the island; 4000 people in total form the community. Kids only go go primary school on the island, then they have to go to Puno to continue their studies.
The tour allows us to visit one island on which they first explain us how they live and build and island before letting us time to visit it and buy souvenirs. The island are made from Kili (roots of the Totora plant) which forms the base of the island with its earth block - 15 to 20 blocks are needed for and island which has a depth of 5 to 6 meters.
Here's how the build an island
- Over these blocks they stack up sticks of eucalyptus and unit them in order to form a tighten and slid floor. They have to change these studies very 10-15 days to renovate.
- They build the houses with the same material. Once done they add it to the island.
- They build the cooking area with rocks to protect themselves from starting a fire with all these branches
- They start living
These people live off fishing, barter and tourism. The latter is what I believe destroys the experience. Everything was turned around tourism, around buying them souvenirs and giving them money. It was too much and didn't feel like a special experience at all. We even came to wonder if they really live on the island or are just there for the tourists. All of this kind of ruined the tour for us; when the guide is too focused on making you consume than explaining further details of these islands (like how do they do with sanitaires, how do they renovate every 15 days etc...)
Transport: bus from Copacabana to Puno, 3 hours ride including the time at the border. About 30-40 Bs
Activity: 60Bs (9€) in Copacabana, 20-25( 6-7€) soles in Puno for the Uros visit including transport way back, guide and island entrance
F&b: good and cheap food at the bus terminal's restaurant - 40 soles (12€) for two main dishes, two deserts and a drink.
Activity: 60Bs (9€) in Copacabana, 20-25( 6-7€) soles in Puno for the Uros visit including transport way back, guide and island entrance
F&b: good and cheap food at the bus terminal's restaurant - 40 soles (12€) for two main dishes, two deserts and a drink.