Puno: Uros Floating Islands tour with local guide

Summary

Meet the families & traditions of Lake Titicaca’s floating islands

You’ll step onto the Uros Floating Islands near Puno with a local guide who shares daily life and traditions. Try an optional totora raft ride between islands, meet families, see native plants and animals, and enjoy hotel pickup included—plus time for snacks or souvenirs. It’s an experience you’ll remember long after leaving Lake Titicaca.

What’s the experience like?

We stepped off the boat onto something that felt like a cross between a trampoline and a thick doormat — turns out, that’s what living on reeds is like. The Uros Floating Islands near Puno are real, but also kind of surreal. Our guide, Maribel, waved us over right away and started explaining how her family layers the totora reeds to keep everything afloat. She had this way of laughing at her own stories, which made it easier to ask questions (even the silly ones). I kept glancing down at my shoes, half-worried I’d sink through, but everyone else seemed totally relaxed.

The air smelled faintly sweet — maybe from the sun warming all those reeds? Kids ran past us with a little dog chasing after them, and I heard someone singing in Aymara somewhere behind one of the huts. Maribel pointed out some birds nesting nearby and showed us how they use different plants for weaving baskets or even building their homes. There was an option to take a totora raft to another island (costs 10 soles extra), so we did it — sitting low in the water while two brothers paddled us across. It was quieter than I expected out there, just the sound of water slapping against reeds and someone laughing at my attempt to say “thank you” in their language.

On the second island, we could buy water or snacks if we wanted (I grabbed a bottle — sun hits hard up here). People were selling little crafts too; I bought a tiny reed boat that’s now squished somewhere in my backpack. We took some photos with Maribel’s family before heading back to Puno by boat. The whole thing felt both welcoming and slightly strange — like being let into someone’s living room for an hour before drifting away again. I still think about that feeling sometimes when I see photos of Lake Titicaca online.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Uros Floating Islands

• Guided tour of Uros Floating Islands
• Learn about local animals and plants
• Optional totora raft ride to another island
• Buy snacks and take photos
• Return boat trip to Puno city

Top questions

How do you get to the Uros Floating Islands from Puno?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel or Plaza de Armas in Puno and transport by boat to the Uros Floating Islands.

Is there an extra cost for the totora raft ride?

Yes, riding on a traditional totora raft between islands is optional and costs 10 soles per person.

Are guides available in English?

Yes, professional guides speak both English and Spanish during the tour.

Can you buy food or drinks on the islands?

You can buy water or snacks on one of the floating islands during your visit.

Is this day trip suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel or central Puno plaza, entrance fees to visit the Uros Floating Islands with a bilingual local guide sharing stories along the way, plus time to explore two islands—one with options for snacks or souvenirs—and an optional totora raft ride if you want to try it out before returning by boat.