Lake Titicaca
We were proudly told that Lake Titicaca is the 2nd largest lake in south america and the highest lake with operating boats on. At 3900m high and 8500 squared Km’s, it’s massive!
The Incas came and conquered many civilisations around this lake so their legacy is visible but not as prevalent as in Arequipa or Cusco.
We stayed in Puno, the main city and gateway to the lake from the Peru side. It was an average looking place compared to Cusco, the highlight being some tasty ceviché and a pedal-powered taxi from the hotel to the lake! We felt sorry for out rider though- the 14 year old boy looked broken after pushing us for 10 minutes!
We visited an island called Taquile for an awesome trout lunch. The island is famed for its traditions of dressing and supreme skills of knitting (men only) and weaving (women only). UNESCO has protected this island for obvious reasons.
The highlight of our Titicaca trip was the home stay with a family on an island. There are only 200 houses and families on the island of Amantani. Most of them rotate putting up travellers so we can get a taste for how they live. With no electricity, water, sewage or shops, their lives are simple. Ambrosio and his wife put us up. The accommodation was very nice but quite literally freezing at night. They cooked us food mainly from the islands produce. It was simple but wholesome. In the evening we dressed in traditional clothes and had a kind of Peruvian barn dance. Really random but fun!
On the boat ride back to civilisation we visited one of many communities which live on man made floating island made entirely out of Tortoras (reeds). It’s a very remote, very simple and slightly incestuous lifestyle with around 10 families living on each island.
A man knitting on Taquile Island
Views across the lake
Boat ride across Lake Titicaca
Olly’s Amantani football team
In traditional dress before the dance
Sheep grazing
Our ‘mama’ cooking dinner
Soph helping mama pick beans
Reed boat
On the reed island
