Uros - the floating islands of Lake Titicaca

Another amazing place I managed to visit: human-made islands, constructed from tall water grass and floating on the highest navigable lake of the world. They are usable for 25 to 30 years and then abandoned. Every 15 days or so the inhabitants of each "floater" lay a new layer of grass since the island is slowly absorbing water, but after about 25/30 years the island becomes to thick and they start a new one. What a way of life; unfortunately it's plagued by rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. And how did they find themselves on the lake? ..supposedly it was their way of escaping the inland tribal fighting and competition for the land.

I found that going to local agencies and looking for tours of surrounding areas is a good way of being introduced to the area not having too much time to explore it yourself, but most of all a great way to meet people, practically from all over the world.

When I arrived in Puno, and as it was to be expected, I was approached by people on the terminal asking me if I need a place to sleep. Already there you begin browsing prices and locations, and bargaining. So, I got my own room with a bathroom, not far from the center (plaza de armas), for only 15 soles. In the hotel itself they had offers on different tours, and after another discount, I bought a 2-day tour of three islands for only 60 soles, with accommodations and meals included.

We were all picked up in the morning from our hotels and taken to the port of Puno to board a tour-boat. When we took off from the port, along with other boat-tours, we begun navigating through a maze of canals in the sea of water grass, eventually (after about 40 minutes) landing at our first destination: Uros - Lake Titicaca's floating islands.