The Sun Shines Over Peru's Glorious Lake Titicaca. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2009

The lake, the largest in South America and one of the highest navigable bodies of water on Earth, plays a central role in the mythical traditions of ancient Andean civilization. The Inca based the legend of their very creation on this inland ocean. It was from these waters that Viracoca, the God of Creation, emerged to create the sun and the moon, as well as mankind, and it was from here that the Inca began their long conquest of the Andes.

Stepping into this ethereal, high altitude world, where even the sunlight seems to shine with an unreal glow, it’s easy to see why ancient civilizations attached such importance to the lake. Not only is Lake Titicaca overwhelmingly beautiful, it’s also an abundant cradle of life, an environment that has sustained numerous tides of civilization over its long history.

Lake Titicaca today is an enormously popular Peru travel destination, drawing a steady stream of visitors year round. Using the city of Puno as a convenient base, it’s easy to discover some of the enchanting islands that make the lake such a unique place:

Uros

The artificial islands of Uros are one of the most unusual and interesting aspects of the lake. For centuries the Uros people have lived on these man-made floating islands, built entirely from the Tortuga reeds which grow in Titicaca in such abundance.

Originally built as an ingenious solution to aggression from the neighboring Aymara tribes, the islands provide a self-contained refuge with everything the Uros need to survive. Youngsters search for bird’s eggs within the reed forests, the men hunt and fish, while the women use the reeds to construct virtually anything, from the islands and houses themselves to impressive double-story boats capable of holding a dozen people.

The islanders are hospitable and welcoming to visitors. During your tour you will be able to meet community members who are happy to describe their unique way of life and show you round their island. It’s even possible to stay overnight in a small hostel, although most travelers prefer to move on to more comfortable accommodations elsewhere.

The Floating Islands of Uros on Peru's Lake Titicaca. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010

Taquile

Compared to Uros, the island of Taquile is a metropolis, albeit one with no roads, cars and only intermittent electricity. All the same, the island is home to several thousand residents and is famed for its rich weaving and textile traditions. Islanders are famed for their extravagant clothing, with colorfully embroidered waistcoats, blouses and billowing skirts a common sight, as well as the ubiquitous wool hats. You can get to know this long history of expert weaving in the island’s small but interesting textile museum.

There are also a number of Inca-era ruins on the island, but the Taquile’s real attractions are the jaw-dropping vistas of vast expanses of shimmering water and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Travelers can enjoy the views during long walks along the many trails that snake along the island’s 3.5 mile length, or from the highpoint of the island which measures over 13,000 feet above sea level.

Suasi

After exploring the relatively large Taquile, the island of Suasi appears as a microscopic dot in the vastness of Lake Titicaca. Suasi is a beautifully tranquil place to relax and enjoy the serenity. There are no permanent residents living here – other than a small herd of camelids, and it’s possible to cross the entire breadth of the island in less than thirty minutes.

Suasi is also one of the few private islands on the lake, accessible only to guests of the island’s single lodge, making this perhaps the most serene place in all of Lake Titicaca. But despite its diminutive size, the island packs a great number of activities and adventures for the visitor, from hiking the trails to sailing the surrounding waters, or simply enjoying the lodge’s spa. But the biggest treat is saved for night time, when under the blackness of night, nature’s spectacular light show of countless stars illuminates the entire island.

Islands Further Afield

Some of the lake’s other islands are much less visited and can be reached by local boat services from Puno. Amantani is one such island, home to several interesting archeological sites, while the island of Anapia is hidden way off in the lake’s far southern waters.

Meanwhile, on the Bolivian side of the lake are a duo if incredibly important islands, the Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna. It is actually on these islands that the Inca creation legends emerged and the islands are home to a fascinating complex of ruins and small settlements.

It is possible to hike along the route of an ancient pilgrimage, formally only open to the highest ranking of the Inca nobility, a trail that curves along the highest point of the Isla del Sol and passes some of the island’s numerous ruins. Reaching the Bolivian islands is possible on trips directly from Puno.

The islands, constructed entirely from reeds, are home to a community of several hundred indigenous Peruvians who have lived in this high altitude world for many centuries.

Arriving at the floating reed islands of Uros, Peru. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2009

Conquests by other Aymara tribes, competing for the highly fertile lakeside land, caused the local people to take to the lake in reed-constructed boats in a bid to escape their more aggressive rivals.

As natural fishers and boatmen, the people of Uros found lake life to be entirely satisfactory, and they gradually expanded their boats until they became islands in their own right. It is on these islands that they remained, trading their abundant fish for other products with their land-based neighbors.

The people of Uros have become one many unique communities which can be easily visited during a Peru travel adventure.

Nearby Puno boasts many tour operators who can arrange short visits to the islands, while more convenient excursions are also offered by international providers of Peru tours.

A trip to the islands is highly recommended and is guaranteed to offer the visitor a new insight into indigenous Peruvian life. The communities are virtually self sufficient; they harvest the lake for fish and also produce a variety of meals and products from the reeds themselves.

They have become expert hunters, using homemade rifles to hunt the birds that live within the reed forests and taking eggs from bird nests, but only taking 5 out of 10 eggs, keen to emphasize their connection and sense of protection of the natural world that they depend upon.

A view from the floating islands of Uros, Peru. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2009

The islands themselves are a sight to behold. Constructed atop the harvested roots of reeds, they consist of a thick layer of freshly cut reeds which create a bizarre, spongy feel underfoot and mean that no child can ever injure themselves by falling over!

Each island has around a dozen homes, also made from reeds plus a small chapel and a communal area and shared kitchen.

Recent additions have included improved sanitary facilities and solar panels which have cut the risk of fires from open candles and wood burning ovens. These improvements have been possible thanks to proceeds from a well-managed and sensitive approach to tourism which ensures that incomes are evenly distributed and community life does not become unsettled.

At the center of this floating community is a central, communal island, where the local councils meet and organize the life of the community, and also where a small restaurant, shop and even a hostel caters for the needs of community members and visitors alike.

Most trips to the islands last for around three hours, including a tour by a bilingual guide and a chance to meet the islanders themselves. Also available for purchase is the impressive range of handicrafts that the islanders have to offer, including elaborately and colorfully decorated materials and textiles, and small models expertly made from the reeds.

If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to ride one of the impressive double-tiered reed boats that are hand-built on the islands according to ancient skills and traditions and which are much more sturdy and stable than they first appear.

A Uros family on a traditional reed boat, Peru. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2009

As with any trip to an indigenous area, it’s important to recognize that you’re visiting an ancient but potentially fragile community and that your impact can be a positive one if you take some simple considerations:

- Feel free to take gifts, but try to ensure they’re useful, healthy and culturally neutral. Sweets are a bad idea, as is anything that depends on batteries or produces a lot of waste. Colored pencils, crayons, coloring books and other educational toys for the kids are ideal.

- Indigenous societies are often conservative and hierarchical. Be guided by your tour leader when talking with community members and offer any gifts to the local chief who will distribute them to his community.

- If considering purchasing some local produce, bear in mind that tourist income is often the only additional source of cash so try not to barter too hard!

- Most of all, enjoy your trip and buen viaje!