These man-made floating islands are constructed out of a reed plant (the tarora reed) that grows in the shallow areas of Lake Titicaca. Reed strands are tied together into large bunches that float with enough buoyancy to support people and small hut shelters made of the same read material. These islands typically have small lookout towers for the islands to communicate with one another, and the largest of such islands has a school, post office and snack bar for tourists (these days the islands have been somewhat commercialized and the dwellers of such islands derive their income primarily through tourism). An island has a 15-18 year lifespan, as the read plant gradually breaks down allowing water into it's stems, requiring more and more new reeds layered on top of the sinking mound. Eventually, the sinking reed mound stirs up the bottom of the lake, releasing all sorts of trapped gas and other awful smelling stuff. At this point the Uros people will abandon the island and start anew.

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These floating islands are located just a few kilometers from shore just east of Puno. Tour agencies operating out of Puno offer boat trips to the islands.

Last edited on Apr 1, 10 2:24 PM.
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Eric M.

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Eric M.

Oct 2, 2007

This place may be a little disneylandish (the villagers here are definitely playing it up for the tourists), but it's still pretty cool to be walking on a man-made floating island constructed in the same style they would have been made hundreds of years ago. And that reed plant is increadibly versetile - the Uros use it to build their islands, their houses, the carfts they sell, and the stuff is even edible. I got the chance to try some - tasted like something between carrots and daikon but with a much nicer texture. There's a hilarious specific species of bird that likes to hang around trying to sneak up on people to take their food.

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Douglas B.

Sep 4, 2009

My youngest son and I visited the Uros Floating Islands in spring 2009. The Uros people were friendly and purposely entertaining. We enjoyed our visit and were amazed at how the people formed the islands, their boats, homes, and other items out of reeds – ingenious! Although, much of what we saw was for the tourist, it was a glimpse into what life was like for the Uros. I enjoyed my visit, as did my son. We both would highly recommend it. Good Journeys!

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Tibor H.

Mar 7, 2010

These artificial islands are made out of the totora reed by the uros tribe who use the totora for their boats, for their houses and for the islands itself. It is pretty surreal to walk on these creatures, and sometimes feels like a huge waterbed. The Uros need to continuously maintain the islands and put new layers of totora on the top as the staff rots. It is the main touristic attraction at Titicaca at the peruvian side, you can take boats from Puno.

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Corinne G.

Mar 23, 2009

The Islands are a must-see! You can spend a night there. It might be worth trying to get to a non-tourist island, because on the destination islands of the tourist boats you practically see postcards and souvenir shops, whereas the insight into local lifestyle is small.

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Sara K.

Feb 12, 2009

Interesting lifestyle, but it has been changed just for tourism it seems. The people sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and just try to make it all about tourism. Made me think the Uros were the tour agencies little puppets.

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