Speedboat tour Lake Titicaca: Uros and Taquile islands from Puno

Ride across the lake to islands where men weave from childhood and houses float on reeds

A speedboat day trip from Puno across Lake Titicaca to the Uros floating islands and Taquile island, with a bilingual guide, entrance tickets, and lunch included. You visit two of the 90-plus Uros islands to learn about their reed architecture and economy, then climb to Taquile's upper reaches for views of the lake and a performance of traditional dances and live music by residents. The tour runs nine hours with hotel pickup and return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Uros Floating Islands2h · entry included
2. Taquile Island3h · entry included

Visit Uros and Taquile Islands

• Pick up from hotels in Puno
• Travel by speedboat to Uros Islands
• Visit two Uros floating islands
• Learn about Uros culture and history
• Optional typical boat ride in Uros
• Explore Uros islands independently
• Travel by speedboat to Taquile Island
• Walk to upper part of Taquile Island
• Learn about Taquile textiles and customs
• Enjoy local lunch with lake view
• Watch traditional dances and live music
• Free time to explore Taquile Island

The experience

The boat leaves from the port after hotel pickup and crosses open water to the Uros floating islands, where you step onto islands built entirely from totora reeds: the same material that forms the houses, boats and walkways. A guide and a resident explain how the islands are constructed and maintained, the history of the Uros people, and how the economy works on water with no solid ground beneath. You can explore on your own or pay extra for a ride in a typical reed boat to see how they handle on the lake.

After roughly two and a half hours on the Uros, the speedboat continues to Taquile, a natural island in the middle of the lake. A short walk of about thirty minutes climbs to the upper part of the island, where the view opens across the water in all directions. Here the guide talks about Taquile's textiles and the men who make them: a craft that begins at age eight and carries meaning in every color and pattern, signaling whether a man is married, single or widowed through the clothes he wears. You also watch residents perform traditional dances and live music.

Lunch happens at a restaurant with a view of the lake: quinoa soup to start, fried trout with rice, fries and salad, and hot infusions to drink. After eating, you have free time to walk around Taquile on your own before the speedboat returns you to Puno and your hotel. The whole day takes nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Professional bilingual guide in Spanish and English.
• speedboat transport.
• entrance tickets to both islands.
• hotel pickup and return.
• lunch with quinoa soup, fried trout, rice, fries and salad plus hot infusions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Puno Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks both Spanish and English throughout the day, so you follow the commentary on culture and textiles without a language barrier: useful if you're traveling with people who don't speak Spanish fluently.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

132 verified traveler reviews

5 ★112

4 ★15

3 ★1

2 ★4

1 ★0

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 (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How long does the boat ride take between Puno and the islands?

The speedboat covers the distance to the Uros floating islands and then to Taquile in roughly two and a half hours of navigation combined, with the rest of the nine-hour day spent on the islands and at lunch.

What exactly are the Uros floating islands made of?

The Uros islands are built from totora reeds: the same material used to construct the houses, boats and walkways, so the entire island floats on water with no solid ground underneath.

Can I try a traditional reed boat on the Uros?

Yes, a typical boat trip in the Uros is available as an optional add-on for approximately S/15.00 per person, allowing you to experience how the reed boats handle on the lake.

What's included in the lunch on Taquile?

Lunch at a lakeside restaurant includes quinoa soup as a starter, fried trout with rice, fries and salad, plus hot infusions: all served with views across Lake Titicaca.

Is there time to explore Taquile on my own?

Yes, after the performance and lunch, you have free time to walk around Taquile island before the speedboat returns you to Puno.