(2D/1N) Sea Kayaking Uros / Amantani Island)

 

A brief history of Uros.-The Uros Floating Islands are located just 5km west from Puno harbor, at 3810m and 30min in a boat ride from Puno, Peru... The Uros is the name of a group of pre-Incan people who live on 41 self-fashioned floating man made islets located in Lake Titicaca. The Uros use the Junko or Totora reeds to make boats (balsas mats) of bundled dried reeds as well as to make the islands themselves.

The Junko or Totora is a cattail type rush growing native in the lake. Its dense roots support the top layer, which rots and must be replaced regularly by stacking more reeds on top of the layer beneath. The islands change in size, and more are created as the need arises. The Uros residents of the islands create their homes from the reeds. The roofs are waterproof but not humidity resistant. Cooking fires are built on a layer of stones to protect the reeds. Residents wear layers of clothing, mostly woolen, to protect themselves from the cold, the wind, and the sun which at this altitude can burn fiercely. Many women still wear the distinctive derby type hat and full skirts. The larger and most visited islands appear many travelers as floating souvenirs, and to some extent these indeed are tourist-traps, their inhabitants having succeeded in living off tourism. However, most of the smaller islands remain isolated from visitors and still practice a traditional way of life that includes old-technique fishing, bird-trapping, and relying on Junko or Totora for housing and transportation.

A brief history of Amantani.-Ancient Inca legend tells how, at the beginning of time, the God Wiracocha  emerged  from  lake Titikaka and created the sun, the earth and mankind. Approaching the island, the old terraced fields (andénes) from pre-Columbian times can be seen from afar... On the  island  you can  explore sacred places and sights tracing back to the pre-Incan cultures of Pukara and Lupaka and the times of the Inca. .. Nowadays these sites are still used in ceremonies that survived almost 500 years of colonial rule. . Until    the   1950's  the  island   belonged to hacendados. Finally, after  several rebellions, the people of   Amantaní .  succeeded   in   expelling  the  landlords  and    acquired the land for themselves.

Today around 4000 people live on the island. Most of them are indigenous people who speak their native tongue Quechua and Spanish. Like their ancestors did, they live in houses made of loam-bricks (most of them without electrical power) and work with breeding of sheep and agricultureIn  countless andénes they grow potatoes, oca, barley and quinoa,  the famous "grain of the Incas".

Departure: Everyday // Minimum: 2 passengers // Note: No previous experience required.

Itinerary of Adventure Tour :

Day 1: Puno /Uros /Amantani: Pick up at 6:40am from hotel to the Esteves Island, paddling 45 min. Then we will arrive to Uros Floating Islands. In the route you can see: a variety of birds, flora, fauna and different main activities of the inhabitants of the uros.

After all the activities we will go Llachón Peninsula (1 hour and 30min. In motor boat), then continue paddling 2 hours 30 min. To Amantan island, along the route you can see: crystal clear waters of Titicaca, the amantani, Taquile islands and the Cordillera Real in Bolivia, reaching Amantani Island, the guide fits the group in family houses, where we have lunch.

Afternoon we take a walk toward the temple of Pachatata, then return to the family home for dinner and at night a SHOW PEÑA, overnight at a family home.

Day 2: Amantani / Taquile: After breakfast, continue paddling 2 hours 30 min. To Taquile island, to take a walk to get to the town where you can watch the famous fabrics and traditional clothes, after we have the lunch and activity Cultural, then we return to Puno by motor boat, arriving in Puno approx. at 4:20 pm.

Includes:

• Instructor Guide (english / spanish)
• Entrance fee to the islands
• Transfer: Hotel / Port / Hotel
• All equipment Adventure + Sea Kayak
• Support boat
• All meals and overnights at rural lodge + Cultural Activity
• Plenty of Snack
• First aid kit.

Our tour NOT Included:

1. Alcoholic drinks
2. Sleeping Bag; only if you like to feel more comfortable (can be hired in our office $10 15ºC)
3. Headlamp will be necessary to walk out of the family home or to walk to the party place
4. Breakfast on the first day
5. Extra drinking water (water can be buy from local families in each island)
6. Tips for guide and camp staff

What you need to Bring / Carry:

1. Rain jacket or poncho
2. Strong comfortable and waterproof footwear
3. Sweater and jacket (something warm)
4. Water bottle
5. Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
6. Sun block (sun protection cream)
7. Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc,
8. Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
9. Sunglasses
10. You also need to bring your original passport on the trip

 

Terms and Conditions of trip, 2012