Reed boats and local women on the Uros Islands
HALF DAY LAKE TITICACA

Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour from Puno

  • Half Day (3 hours)
  • Puno · Lake Titicaca, Peru
  • From $20 USD ≈ S/ 69
Reed houses and boat on the Uros Islands
Reed arch on the Uros floating islands
Uros woman with reed handicrafts on Lake Titicaca

Cruise across the Bay of Puno and visit the floating islands built from totora reeds by the Uros people, one of the oldest cultures on Lake Titicaca.

DURATION Half Day (3 hours)
MAX ALTITUDE 3,812 m (Lake Titicaca)
DIFFICULTY Easy
GROUP SIZE Shared group
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

Experience Overview

The Uros Floating Islands are Puno’s most visited attraction. They are a group of about 90 man-made islands built from layers of totora, an aquatic reed that grows in Lake Titicaca. Uros families live on them and keep their traditional way of life: they fish, hunt birds, weave handicrafts and build their homes and boats from the same totora reeds.

On this half-day tour you cruise for about 30 minutes from the port of Puno across the bay, inside the Titicaca National Reserve. Once there, islanders explain how they build and maintain the islands, you can step inside their homes and, optionally, ride a traditional totora reed boat.

Lake Titicaca facts

  • It is the highest navigable lake in the world, at 3,812 m above sea level.
  • It is shared by Peru and Bolivia and covers more than 8,300 km².
  • According to Andean tradition, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, founders of the Inca Empire, emerged from its waters.

Schedule and tips

  • Morning departures (approx. 08:00 – 09:00) or afternoon departures (approx. 14:00).
  • Approximate duration: 3 hours.
  • Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a jacket: the sun is strong and the wind is cold.
  • Cash in soles (S/) for handicrafts and the totora reed boat ride.

Signature Highlights

Boat ride across the Bay of Puno on Lake Titicaca.
Visit the floating islands built from totora reeds.
Learn about the culture and daily life of the Uros people.
Optional ride on a traditional totora reed boat.
Short tour, easy to combine with other activities in Puno.
STEP BY STEP

Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary

Each day has been carefully planned to optimize acclimatization and avoid peak tourist hours.

DAY 01

Puno – Uros Floating Islands – Puno

⛰ 3,812 m a.s.l. ⏱ approx. 3 hours ⛺ Return to Puno

We pick you up at your hotel and take you to the port of Puno, where we board the boat. We cruise for about 30 minutes through the reed beds to the Uros Islands. A local family welcomes us and explains how they build their islands, homes and boats; then we walk around the island and browse their handicrafts. Optionally, you can ride a totora reed boat to the main island. Return to the port and transfer to your hotel.

FULL TRANSPARENCY

What's Included in the Expedition

✓

Included Luxury Services

  • Pickup from your hotel in Puno and transfer to the port.
  • Round-trip tourist boat.
  • Official tour guide.
  • Entrance fee to the Uros Islands.
  • Return to your hotel.
✕

Not Included

  • Totora reed boat ride (optional, paid locally).
  • Food and drinks.
  • Tips.
WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions about Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour from Puno

Do the Uros Islands really float?

Yes. They are made of blocks of totora roots covered with layers of dried reeds that are constantly renewed, and they are anchored to the lake bed with stakes and ropes.

How long is the tour?

About 3 hours, including the transfer from your hotel, the boat ride and the visit.

Can I combine it with Taquile Island?

Yes. We recommend our full-day Uros and Taquile tour or our 2-day tour with an overnight homestay on Amantaní.