Lake Titicaca full-day tour: Uros Floating Islands & Taquile

Step onto reed islands that float and meet the artisans of Taquile’s living culture

A full-day guided tour from Puno to Lake Titicaca's Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island, with hotel pickup, bilingual guide, entrance fees and lunch. You travel by boat to the reed-built islands of Uros, meet the inhabitants and watch how they construct their homes from totora plants. Then hike uphill on Taquile to see textile weaving that dates to Incan times and visit the main square before returning to Puno by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Uros Floating Islands1h · entry included
2. Taquile Island3h · entry included

Visit Uros and Taquile Islands

• Pickup from hotel at 06:45 AM
• Transfer to boat pier
• Boat ride to Uros Floating Islands (25 mins)
• Guided tour of Uros Islands and customs
• Optional totora reed boat ride
• Boat ride to Taquile Island
• Hike uphill to Taquile main square (45 mins)
• Learn about Taquile local culture and textiles
• Visit touristic spots on Taquile Island
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Boat ride back to Puno at 2:30 PM
• Arrive Puno boat pier at 5:30 PM
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

Hotel pickup at 6:45 AM gets you to the boat pier, then a 25-minute sail reaches the Uros Floating Islands. The islands themselves are built entirely from totora reeds (a native bulrush that grows in the lake), and have existed since pre-Incan times. Your bilingual guide walks you through how the islanders constructed their homes and community on water, and the island chief demonstrates the building technique. An optional reed boat ride is available for an extra cost if you want to experience the water from a totora vessel itself.

The afternoon moves to Taquile Island, where a 45-minute uphill walk brings you to the main square. The guide explains daily life on the island and you'll have the chance to watch locals weave textiles: a craft declared "intangible cultural heritage of mankind" by UNESCO and rooted in Incan tradition. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks the day around midday. You board the return boat at 2:30 PM and dock back in Puno around 5:30 PM, where a transfer takes you to your hotel.

The full day runs roughly 12 hours from pickup to drop-off. Moderate fitness helps with the uphill hike on Taquile, though the pace is gradual. Children from age 1 are welcome on the tour.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transfer in Puno.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• boat transport to both islands.
• entrance fees to Uros and Taquile.
• lunch at a local restaurant on Taquile Island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Lake Titicaca Trips

Is this one for you?Book this shared group tour if you want to see both Uros and Taquile in one day with a bilingual guide leading the pace: the early start and moderate uphill walk on Taquile work best for travelers comfortable with several hours of hiking.

Traveler reviews

4.67★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

How long does the boat ride to the Uros Floating Islands take?

The journey from the Puno pier to Uros takes 25 minutes by boat.

What are the Uros Floating Islands actually made of?

Uros Floating Islands are built entirely from totora reeds, a native bulrush plant that grows in Lake Titicaca. The islanders use the same reeds to construct their homes and boats, and a technique demonstrated by the island chief shows how the islands stay afloat.

Will I have time to see textile weaving on Taquile?

Yes, you'll have the option to watch locals weave textiles on Taquile Island. The craft dates back to Incan times and is part of everyday life for the islanders.

What time does the tour return to Puno?

The boat departs Taquile at 2:30 PM and docks in Puno around 5:30 PM, after which you're transferred back to your hotel.

Is breakfast included, or should I eat before the 6:45 AM pickup?

Breakfast is not included in the tour. Lunch at a local restaurant on Taquile is included, but you'll want to eat before the early morning pickup.