Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

Went adventuring around Lake Titicaca as part of the first tour I did which is the highest Navigational Lake in the world. It is about 3,800 m.a.s.l. and is split between Peru and Bolivia and is therefore manned by the two countries Navy's. It takes up an area of something like 8,500km squared. Its bloody huge anyway. We stayed a night on one of the many islands on Lake Titicaca called the Amantani Island. It was a painful three hour boat ride out to the island on one of the slowest boats I have ever seen. Here we stayed with a local family in there house and helped them with there everyday chores which took far longer than usual due to there simple yet effective way of living. All of the locals on the island speak the native language of Peru, Quechua, so it made communicating very difficult but we had a heap of fun even having to dress up and go to a dance with them.
We also visited one other island, Taquile Island, on the lake along with the Floating Reed Islands which were amazing. The Floating Reed Islands are just that, floating reeds. The native people of peru built these islands completely out of reeds and they have been anchored with rocks to stay in one place. Everything on the island is also built out of reed using there weaving techniques. It was very impressive what they could achieve.


Here is a picture of the Floating Reed Island we visited as we are being welcomed by the family who own it. They still dress in the traditional costume and also speak Quechua. There island had several houses on it and even had an area where they kept fish for fattening up to eat.


All of the locals got around on these boats that were also made out of Reed and a bit of wood but as time has progressed they also use 5,000 old milk bottles to make sure it stays afloat. Had a ride on it across from one island to another.

This is where we spent a night on Amantani Island. Was an amazing experience but could not live my life like they do everyday. The door on our room that you can see was no more than a meter high.