On Lake Titicaca

Our destination is Isla del Sol (Sun Island), which we will reach by small boat. For the Inca, the Sun Island was the origin of everything: The sun god Inti brought the first Inca to Earth here: Mama Ocllo and her husband Manco Cápac. However, there are also traces of the Tiwanaku culture, which existed even before.

We really like it here – especially after climbing the breathtaking Inca staircase from the boat dock! The island is very mountainous, and in the southern part there are many beautiful accommodations with views down to the lake. Our accommodation, "Casa de la Luna," is fantastic!

Life for the inhabitants is arduous. Everything, whether food and drink, clothing, furniture, or building materials: everything has to be brought by boat and hauled up the mountain on donkeys or on people's backs.

On the second day, we explore the island in more detail. We embark on an 8-hour hike to the northern part of the island and return along the shoreline. The atmosphere and the rugged scenery with breathtaking views of Lake Titicaca are absolutely worth it!

After two days, we docked back on the mainland. On the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, we then visited the floating islands of the Uros people! We spent two nights on one island – an absolute highlight! Our host, Felix, shared an incredible amount of knowledge about his culture with us.

In the vast bay off the city of Puno lies a sprawling reed landscape crisscrossed by waterways. The Uros people live there on self-made, floating islands of reeds. The fresh green parts of the reeds are even edible! The Uros also weave them into very sturdy objects, such as baskets, figures, and animal figures.

The community is spread out over a wide area and has its own schools, shops, and even small sports fields located on islands. Felix's island is further north from Puno; the water there is very clear, and we find the atmosphere very idyllic. In the evening, we take a trip in the hotel's canoe.

Online sources claim that it's all just a show and that the islands are only populated by tourists during the day. Certainly, there are islands that are operated as tourist attractions. Tourism is the main source of income for the Uros people.

Uro Felix, however, does indeed live on his own island with his wife and son, which must be regularly covered with new reeds to prevent it from sinking. When boats pass by, the island rocks gently back and forth with the waves.

These days, every family has their own solar panels on their island for electricity . The sun really beats down here, which is convenient 🌞 Life on Felix's island is much more comfortable than you might think: Tastefully furnished houses with terraces are available for visitors, offering electricity, running water, a private toilet, and a bit of internet access.

Each island is secured with several anchors to prevent it from drifting away! This also allows two islands to be connected if families join forces, or an island can simply be moved if there is a dispute with the neighbors.

Finally, we took a boat to Amantani Island. The people here live very simply and grow their own quinoa, potatoes, corn, etc.! The food is delicious! From the center of the island, we had a magnificent view – but it was quite windy 😁

We left Lake Titicaca and traveled on to the heart of the Inca Empire, to Cusco! Unfortunately, my daypack, including my passport, was stolen at a bus station along the way. Luckily, there's an honorary consulate in Cusco, so I was able to get a replacement relatively quickly.