Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island - Non touristic
Description
Most visitors see the Uros floating islands from a tour boat and move on. This experience puts you on the islands themselves, working alongside the families who've built and rebuilt their homes on layers of totora reed for generations. You'll cut fresh reeds from the lake and help lay them down — the same maintenance routine the Uros follow every couple of weeks to keep their islands from sinking. There's also a chance to set up fishing nets along the shore using traditional methods, and if you'd like, you can try on traditional Uro clothing for a while. Between activities, the community opens up about their daily craft work. You'll watch them weave textiles and shape intricate jewelry, and they're happy to walk you through the process. Waterfowl come and go across the lake the whole time, so there's always something happening around you — part of what makes the islands feel less like a destination and more like someone's living, working home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour skips the usual tourist circuit and takes you straight into daily life on the Uros floating islands. You'll cut totora reeds right from the lake, help set up fishing nets along the shore, and even dress in traditional Uro clothing — the kind of things most visitors to Lake Titicaca never get to do. Between activities, keep an eye on the water: ibises, coots, and other waterfowl are constantly moving through the reeds around you. Your Uro hosts will walk you through how they craft everything from miniature boats to woven tapestries, explaining techniques passed down over generations. It's less of a show and more of a conversation — a chance to see how this community actually lives on the lake, not just how it's presented to tourists.
Your route crosses through the Titicaca National Reserve, where the landscape shifts between open water, dense totora marshes, and clusters of floating islands in the distance. Grebes, Andean gulls, and cormorants are a common sight here — your guide will point them out as the boat moves through the reserve. Once on the islands, you'll see firsthand how the Uros maintain their home: cutting fresh totora reeds and layering them over the island's surface to keep it firm and buoyant. You're welcome to grab a knife and join in. It's physical, a little muddy, and one of the clearest ways to understand how deeply this community's daily life is tied to the lake around them.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Wait us in the lobby of your Hotel, Hostel or AirBnb if it's located near plaza de Armas of Puno
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(16)
Really very incisive experience! I was able to get a very authentic insight into the life of Jose and his community. Always aiming to impart knowledge about the way of life of the Uros. With mutual respect for each other, for nature and culture. Something that is unfortunately missing from the tourist excursions with other providers! Thank you Jose! . So far my most beautiful trip ever!!!
Ana & José were so welcoming & appreciative for our visit. They taught us to fish, harvest the reed they use for the island, & what life is like on the islands. They brought us into their home where we got the opportunity to try on their traditional clothing and even buy some of Ana’s tapestry work. A must-do tour when visiting. Note: They offered us reed to eat, but please be careful because it can cause stomach issues for some.
Our guide Samuel was very nice, he gave us a lot of information that made our trip pleasant and enjoyable. I really recommend Samuel if you are planning to have a day tour at Uros Island and Sillustany..
This trip was GREAT! Very informative, very organized, very impactful! Drink the coca tea!! Elevation really messes with you but my tour guide was helpful and wonderful!
Excellent Tour. The guide is very friendly and knowledgeable about the place. He knew how to explain everything to us in great detail. We traveled to the islands by catamaran, we met a family on an island, we sailed on the famous rafts and we had lunch on an island. Everything beautiful.
It was a different and very emotional experience, where we were able to be close to these noble people of the Uros in the middle of Lake Titicaca. The guide was very attentive.
I enjoyed learning the history of the pre Inca. Our guide Samuel was awesome and very knowledgeable.
Thank you for sharing your positive experience of the Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island. It's great to hear that you enjoyed learning about the history of the pre-Inca culture. Having a knowledgeable guide like Samuel can greatly enhance the tour experience and provide valuable insights. I'm glad to hear that Samuel was awesome and was able to provide you with interesting information. Your review highlights the educational and engaging aspects of the tour, and it's clear that you had a wonderful time.
Samuel gave us a great experience. The day was beautiful and would definitely book again. The lunch was delicious. Samuel gave us a lot of information. We saw a dance and other cultural activities.
Thank you for taking the time to share your review of the Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island. It's fantastic to hear that Samuel provided you with a great experience. A knowledgeable and engaging guide can truly make a tour memorable. I'm glad to hear that you had beautiful weather during your visit, adding to the overall enjoyment of the day. It's also wonderful that you found the lunch delicious. Food can be an important part of the cultural experience, and it sounds like it added to your overall satisfaction. Furthermore, it's great to know that Samuel provided you with a lot of information, allowing you to learn and appreciate the local culture even more. The inclusion of a dance and other cultural activities must have made the tour even more immersive and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback, and we would be thrilled to welcome you back for another booking in the future.
Fantastic tour today (17/05/2023) to Uros floating islands. Smooth from start to finish with a pick up and drop off to our hotel.This was particularly appreciated as two female travelers. Our tour guide was brilliant and gave lots of great information about the Uros communities and answered every question with ease. We felt in very safe hands the whole time! Thanks Inca Lake!
Thank you for choosing our tour to the Uros floating islands and for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you had a fantastic experience on your tour! As two female travelers, we prioritize your safety and well-being, and we're delighted to know that you felt in very safe hands throughout the entire tour. Our dedicated local families are passionate about sharing their knowledge and providing an enriching experience for our guests. We're glad that your guide impressed you with their brilliant commentary and effortlessly answered all of your questions about the Uros communities. Thank you for choosing Inca Lake for your Uros floating islands tour. We greatly appreciate your support and recommendation.
My favorite part was the tour guide, Hugo- he was great and went above and beyond. It was also nice being out on the lake and seeing how they use reeds for their islands. It is a relaxing and relatively slow day, but a cultural experience.
Thank you for sharing your positive experience of the Uros and Lake Titicaca tour, especially highlighting the exceptional service provided by our guide, Hugo. We're delighted to hear that Hugo exceeded your expectations and made your day on the lake memorable. If you're looking for more captivating cultural experiences or exciting adventures in the future, we would love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to us to plan your next memorable journey.
