Lake Titicaca tour from Puno: Uros and Taquile Islands

Men knit and women spin wool on Taquile Island, where clothing marks whether someone is married.

A full-day tour from Puno to the floating islands of Uros and Taquile on Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3,812 metres. You travel by boat to Uros first, where locals demonstrate how they build islands from totora reed and teach you words in Aymara. Then sail for two hours to Taquile, climb to the summit for views across the lake, watch villagers dye wool with vegetables and see the handicrafts that sustain the community. A bilingual guide, lunch at a local restaurant, and hotel pickup within central Puno are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Uros Floating Islands4h · entry included
2. Taquile Island5h · entry included

Visit Uros and Taquile Islands

• Transfer to boat pier
• Boat ride to Uros floating islands
• Meet locals and learn island history
• Optional totora reed boat ride
• Free time to explore Uros island
• Boat journey to Taquile Island
• Walk to Taquile summit
• Learn about local handicrafts and customs
• Watch wool dyeing demonstration
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Hike back to pier
• Boat return to Puno
• Transfer to hotel in Puno

The experience

Uros Floating Islands come first, a 25-minute boat ride from the pier in Puno. The community head shows you how these islands are constructed entirely from totora reed (the same material that makes up the boats), and explains the history of how families have lived here for generations. Your guide translates words in Aymara so you can greet locals in their language. If you want, you can pay separately for a short ride on a totora reed boat to the main island, where you have free time to walk around and buy souvenirs before the group moves on.

The journey to Taquile takes roughly two hours by boat. Once you arrive, it's a steep 45-minute walk uphill to reach the summit, where the views open across the lake toward the Andean peaks. Taquile is known for its weaving: men do the knitting while women spin the wool, and the patterns and colours of what people wear signal their marital status. A village chief demonstrates how they dye the wool using only vegetables. After this introduction, you stop for lunch at a local restaurant run by islanders, then hike back down to the pier for the return journey to Puno: 36 kilometres covered in roughly two and a half hours. You arrive back in the city by 5 p.m., and your representative meets you for the transfer to your hotel in central Puno.

The tour runs nine hours total and suits anyone comfortable with boat travel and a steep uphill walk. Children from age one are welcome, though infants sit on an adult's lap during the boat rides. The bilingual guide speaks English and Spanish throughout, and all boat taxes are covered in the price.

What’s included

• Entrance to both Uros and Taquile Islands.
• lunch at a local restaurant on Taquile.
• a bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• all boat embarkation taxes.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within central Puno.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Lake Titicaca

Is this one for you?Book this if you're prepared for steep terrain and a full day of boat travel. Choose Uros-only or Amantani instead if you prefer easier walking.

Traveler reviews

4.81★★★★★★★★★★

93 verified traveler reviews

5 ★82

4 ★6

3 ★4

2 ★0

1 ★1

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 (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

How long is the boat ride to Uros Floating Islands from Puno?

The boat ride to Uros takes 25 minutes from the pier in Puno, giving you views of the snow-capped Andean peaks as you sail out across the lake.

What do I do on Taquile Island besides hiking?

On Taquile, a village chief demonstrates how locals dye wool using vegetables, and your guide explains the weaving traditions and what the clothing patterns mean. You also have lunch at a local restaurant before hiking back down to the boat.

Is the walk on Taquile Island difficult?

The walk from the shore to the summit is steep and takes roughly 45 minutes uphill, then you hike back down after lunch. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What happens if my hotel is outside central Puno?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within the centre of Puno are included. If your hotel is outside the centre, pickup or drop-off costs 25 soles per way and can be arranged at checkout.