Titicaca Lodge Peru: Lux Homestay on the Uros Floating Islands
Lake Titicaca Views
Looking for an authentic & unique stay in Peru? Spend the night on the Uros Floating Islands at a homestay run by a local family on Lake Titicaca.
The majority of tourists normally take a day trip to the Uros Floating Island. But the best way to support the local Uros people and to learn about their culture is to spend time at family run homestays - unlike day tours, money goes directly to the families.
There are numerous homestays to choose from on the floating islands - from budget to mid range. But if you’re looking for “homestay luxury” that won’t break the bank, you’ll love Titicaca Lodge Peru. How many times can you say you had a holiday hosted by a local family on a floating island made of reeds? Only in Peru!
Uros Floating Islands
Mini Uros Islands
Uros is located in Lake Titicaca - the highest, navigable, fresh water lake in the world. There are about 2,500 inhabitants in the Uros Floating Islands but only 40% live there on a day to day basis. Many families still keep their traditions & live simply on the island while others have ventured out to the cities.
The Uros Floating islands are incredibly made using only 4 materials:
1) Reeds
2) Reed roots
3) Wood
4) Rope
Solar panels are their source of energy & the only way to get from island to island is by boat.
How to get to the
Uros Floating Islands?
Lake Titicaca from Copacabana, Bolivia
Closest City to Uros: Puno
Closest Airport to Uros: Juliaca AirportArranged Pick Up Prices:
+ From Bus or Train Station in Puno - $8
+ From Juliaca Airport - $40
BUS
From La Paz to Puno
I was traveling from La Paz to Uros and conveniently took the Bolivia Hop bus. Bolivia Hop is a hop on, hop off private bus system with routes from Bolivia to Peru. The ticket is super easy to use - just choose your route and schedule the day/time to use your ticket on their website. The bus will pick you up from your accommodations, and the ticket is valid for 1 year (so you can take your time exploring each stop on the route if you wanted). I booked the La Paz - Copacabana - Puno - Cusco Bolivia Hop route for my trip.
From Cusco to Puno
If you’re coming from Cusco here are some options for routes on Peru Hop (same company as Bolivia Hop):
+ Cusco - Puno - Copacabana - La Paz
+ (Full South) Cusco - Puno - Arequipa - Nazca - Huacachina - Paracas - Lima
Local buses can be scary in foreign countries but Bolivia Hop is safe, comfortable, and affordable. The company was founded by young Irish travelers so you’ll see a lot of millennial Westerners riding the bus.
Booking on the website is extremely easy - the website is user friendly and customer support is helpful. There are a few options for bus times each day so make sure to schedule in advance and be ready for pick up at your accommodations.
Bolivia Hop (La Paz - Copacabana - Puno - Cusco): $49
TRAIN
Another option is to take the PeruRail train but it’s more expensive. The train takes the same amount of time to get from Cusco to Puno by bus.
Once you arrive at the train station Julio (the owner) will arrange a private transfer for $8 per person.
PLANE
If you’re really crunched on time you can fly to the closest airport to Uros Floating Islands at Juliaca Airport. Once you arrive to the airport Julio can arrange a private transfer to Titicaca Lodge Peru for $40.
Transportation in Bolivia
Staying the Night at
Titicaca Lodge Peru
Dora (Julio’s Sister) the Amazing Cook!
Pitch black, stars gleaming, wildlife chirping - arriving on the Uros Floating Islands at night felt like boating into the unknown.
A delicious dinner prepared by Dora (Julio’s sister) alongside unlimited coca tea to ease my altitude sickness were waiting for me at the dining room. Although the darkness of Lake Titicaca was eerie there was something so relaxing about it.
After dinner I immediately went to warm up under my space heater in my room. In the Uros Islands, having a space heater is absolute luxury. After staying in hostel dorms the past few weeks this room was heaven - private bathroom with amenities, a fluffy bed with more than one pillow, and a huge space to spread out my things.
The most interesting part of my room was the toilet. Titicaca Lodge Peru came up with a really neat and eco friendly toilet for the rooms. As you can imagine infrastructure is very limited on the Uros Floating Islands.
The space heater isn’t on for the entire night. But they put makeshift heaters in the bed and it keeps you warm throughout the night. This was by far the best sleep I had on my trip so far and I slept like a baby!
Waking Up at Titicaca Lodge Peru
Felt like a dream when I opened my curtains in the morning. The sight of the reed homes scattered around Lake Titicaca with the backdrop of the Andes Mountains were more beautiful that I ever imagined.
After breakfast I relaxed on my terrace bed just starting into the lakeside abyss of Titicaca. Shoes off, sun in face with a gentle, cool breeze - this trip finally felt like a holiday.
Exploring the Uros Floating Islands
I could’ve chilled all day on the terrace bed but it was time to explore the Uros Floating Islands with Julio. Most travelers were crammed like sardines on big group tours while I had a private boat tour with an awesome local on his comfortable speedboat (I felt like royalty).
Julio took me on the off beaten path of the Uros Floating Islands. Really got to see the day to day lives of the Uros people. Julio was very knowledgeable about the history of the islands.
At the end of my private tour we stopped at a nearby island where Julio introduced me to some of his friends - a local family living on a smaller island. We sat on the reeds exchanging conversation in my broken Spanish and I attempted to help the guys catch some fish. They were such a lovely family and I even met the grandma who was 95. They made me promise to return when I have a family of my own (maybe one day).
After the tour we returned back to the lodge for lunch. While I ate lunch on the terrace I watched Julio and about 40 of his family and friends lift and move the lodge around. It’s quite the process but necessary to do every few months to maintain the lodge. Very interesting to witness.
What’s Included in the Room Rate at Titicaca Lodge Peru?
1. Boat Transfer from Harbor
2. Three Fixed Meals & Drinks
3. Boat Ride Around Uros Floating Islands
Additional Tours at
Titicaca Lodge Peru
Taquile Natural Island Tour
A UNESCO World Heritage site in Lake Titicaca. Known for its knit handicrafts and textiles by the men of the community. Boat transportation, entrance fee, guide, and lunch are included in the tour. ($32)
Silustani Highlands Tour
Silustanti is a pre-Incan cemetery filled with funeral towers or chullpas overlooking Lake Umayo. This impressive site combines archaeology, culture, and history with an incredible natural landscape. The tour also brings you to a traditional family home in Silustanti. ($25)
A.BROAD with Julio the amazing host!
Staying at Titicaca Lodge Peru was such a unique, cultural experience in Peru. If you really want to learn about the Peruvian culture I highly recommend spending time in a homestay in the Uros Floating Islands. One of the few places in Peru where indigenous cultures and customs are still preserved. Plus it’s an added bonus that Titicaca Lodge Peru is homestay luxury!
Have you been to Lake Titicaca? How did you like the Uros Floating Islands?
