Personalized Private Service, 2012

(Half Day ) Sea Kayaking Uros Floating 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.

These floating islands are the home of the Uros tribe, one which pre-dates the Incan civilization. According to their legends, they existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. They were impervious to drowning or being struck by lightning. They lost their status as super beings when they disobeyed universal order and mixed with humans, making them susceptible to contempt. They scattered, losing their identity, language, and customs. They became the Uros-Aymaras, and now speak Aymara... The Uros traded with the Aymara tribe on the mainland, interbreeding with them and eventually abandoning the Uros language for that of the Aymara. About 500 years ago they lost their original language. When this pre-Incan civilization was conquered by the Incans, they had to pay taxes to them, and often were made slaves... The islands are part of the TITICACA NATIONAL RESERVE, created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of marsh reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake Titicaca. The reserve is divided into two sections, RAMIS, in the provinces of Huancané and Ramis; and Puno, in the province of the same name. The reserve protects over 60 species of native birds, four families of fish and 18 native amphibians species. There are three islands in the lake, Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María.

The floating islands are protected within the Bay of Puno and are home to 2000 Uros people, who claim to have "black blood" are consequently immune to the cold. They call themselves be kotsuña, or people of the lake, and consider themselves the owners of the lake and its waters. They continue living by fishing, weaving and now, tourism. They catch fish for themselves and to sell on the mainland. They also catch shore birds and ducks for eggs and food. Occasionally, if the level of the lake decreases, they may plant potatoes in soil created by the decaying reeds, but as a norm, they are not agricultural. The reed boats quite often have an animal face or shape on the prow and are a favorite photographic subject... The purpose of the island settlements was originally defensive, and if a threat arose they could be moved. The largest island retains a watchtower almost entirely constructed of reeds... Around 2,000 descendants of the Uros were counted in the 1997 census, although only a few hundred still live on and maintain the islands; most have moved to the mainland. The Uros also bury their dead on the mainland in special cemeteries... The islands can be visited by a quick tour from Puno that take less than half an hour to reach the islands. Tour takes 3 hours. In alternative, you could take a longer tour, which includes also the natural islands of Amantaní and Taquile are located in the TITICACA NATIONAL RESERVE.

Departure: Everyday.

Minimum : 2 passengers

Note: No previous experience required.

Itinerary of tour :

Kayaking in the protected Puno bay will lead us to the small Titino Uros’ islands, three floating islands made from totora reeds just like this civilization’s ancestor used to. Leaving our base at the tip of the peninsula and after 2 hours to 3 hours paddling, we will discover these flotting islands and their inhabitants peculiar traditions. in the route you can see: a variety of birds, flora and fauna, the landscape of the lake titikaka also the island of rock formation, then we arrive to uros island the families organizations present:

Why not trade boats and try paddling on those totora reed rafts as was done in the time of the pre-Inca civilizations. We return on a boat to our base and transfer from the hotel at 8:00am.  to the Esteves Island, paddling 45 minutes after we arrive to uros floating islands,

Different main activities of the residents of the Uros, ending all we  back to puno by kayak and we arrive approx. 12:30pm. At the hotel.

Includes:

• Instructor Guide (English / Spanish)
• Entrance fee to the islands
• Transfer: Hotel / Port / Hotel
• All equipment Adventure + Sea Kayak
• Support boat
• Plenty of Snack
• First aid kit.

Not Included:

1. Breakfast on the first day
2. 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 tripl

Terms and Conditions of trip, 2012