Floating islands. It’s hard to conjure up an image of what that means, until you’re on Lake Titicaca in Peru and pull up alongside islands made of reeds where Peruvian women in colorful dress wait waving to the incoming boats.
These are the floating islands of Uros; about 80 in all. They are located 30 minutes by boat from Puno in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca. Once we disembarked, we sat on rolled up bundles of reed to learn more about this fascinating culture of people and the way they live.
Our guide translated for Antonia, the president of the island we visited. Tour boats rotate which island they visit so that the community can share in the prosperity of island visits. The locals sell their handicrafts there, too, as a means of income. Their textiles are intricately detailed and reflect the values of their culture: everyone must work. No laziness allowed. But I’ll get to that later.
First, the islands themselves. They are created by gathering 2-meter thick blocks of peat moss from the lake. Then the blocks are staked with eucalyptus sticks and secured together with nylon rope. Antonia demonstrated as our guide shared the details. Antonia deftly tied four blocks together and then spread three bundles of reed across the top, crisscrossing the layers to provide more stability.
President Antonia demonstrates how islands are made.
New reeds are periodically strewn across the island. Remember – no laziness. They need to maintain their islands, which usually last 15-18 years before they need to create new islands altogether because of the erosion.
One of the reed boats they tourists on. The boats are made of reeds and recycled plastic water bottles.
The islands are anchored with ropes and stones because they could otherwise float away like the reed boats they made to take tourists out on the lake. They have their own, more practical boats, too, that they must row for about 5 minutes to get to the “latrines” set away from their islands.
The huts are made of reeds. Their crafts are largely made of reeds. They eat the root of the reeds… in other words, they’re reliant on reeds. They also collect duck eggs and fish for their food. It’s a very isolated culture. Most islands are the homes to 8-10 families, with a leader/president on each island.
But here’s my favorite part. Remember that I told you that they do not condone laziness? Well, guess what they do with those members of their community that don’t pull their weight of the work? They cut them off! They literally use a saw to cut through the reeds and soil and let the lazy people drift off to live on their own islands. Oh, how I wish it were that easy for us! I can imagine certain family members who’d wake up to find themselves floating alone on the lake. Better yet, I’d probably cut myself off from the group and float around the lake unanchored like a woman set adrift on an ice floe.
We look Peruvian, right?
It was an incredible experience visiting these islands, meeting these gracious, friendly people who let us try on their shirts and shirts and let us peek inside their reed hut homes. I don’t know if I could actually live on these floating Uros islands, but I definitely loved the concept. Long may they prosper and continue their unique way of life.
What sectors of our population would you like to see set apart to drift on their own?
Browsing The Atlas 
Mmmm, I could think of one or two, but they are fairly high placed. 🙂 Looks like you are having lots of fun Juliann, and the floating islands are fascinating. I’d probably be like you, cutting off my own small island and drifting off. I had another thought: “that they must row for about 5 minutes to get to the “latrines” set away from their islands.” This would be trouble if you had to go! I bet they have a back up plan. I really enjoyed the post. Thanks. –Curt
Thanks, Curt! I forgot to include the fact that they also have another type of boat. A “romantic” boat that dating couples can go out on to get away from the rest of the people on their tiny islands. Antonia joked that 2 people go out, but 3 come back.
I like it! 🙂 Not sure I would want to bring back a pregnant wife each time I used the boat, however… –Curt
This is fascinating! I love that even though each island only houses a few families, they still thought to elect a leader/president for each one. It’s kind of a reassuring in a way since it makes you realize that no matter where or how people live, having a leader is still necessary for society to function smoothly. Or in this case, each micro-community within the island. Thanks for the fun post!
What impressed me even more was how matriarchal many of the communities in Peru are! It will come up again when I post about the homestays on Amantani.
Oh, if only we could be so content with so little!
Beautiful pictures and a fascinating look at something I’m sure not many of us knew anything about. I guess the “lazy people” know and accept that they will be literally cut off from their island home and they accept it as their fate and don’t retaliate! Amazing.
It’s funny to think that there’s so much to do when when you’re sitting on a pile of reeds floating on a lake. But they must gather duck eggs and fish. And they make such intricate textiles. Funny — we’d probably find those activities “lazy” in our world.
Fascinating. How long before the modern world does away with their way of life though? I can’t imagine the young people sticking around.
Over this way Scotland keep agitating for independence, Some of us would help give them a push further into the North Sea 🙂
I wonder how long they’ll last, too, Roy. Though the simple way of life was very appealing and the closest city to them (Puno) is pretty poor. Still… modern conveniences could destroy them.
I think the Scottish are trying to float off on their own island. 😉
Beautiful photos! I’ve been to Lima but nowhere else in Peru so really enjoyed seeing these.
Funny. I didn’t get to see Lima. Maybe next time. It’s such a beautiful country!
Yes, and the food is delicious!
Fascinating Julie. You have such interesting trips and always learn so many new things!
Thanks, Nancy! That’s what I love the most: learning about a new culture.
I learn so much by blog posts such as yours. These locals look colorfully serene. I don’t think it would be the life for me. ;-0
I’m not sure I could live in such isolation, either. But the Uros people seemed friendly and happy with their way of life.
When you think about it, a bit more isolation from this crazy world doesn’t sound so bad. ;-0
You know they do not actually live there, right? That they live in Puno instead? That they dress up like that for tourists only? That their colourful boats have nothing to do with their culture but were created by the tourism industry? In other words that present ‘Uros’ are just a sad parody of a culture that died long ago?
Yes, of course, Cris. But I don’t find it a sad parody. I find it an interesting way to preserve their cultural heritage, as most tourist attractions do.