Uros Aruma Uro | Islas Flotantes de los Uros, Peru
Today we met up with about 20 other people and headed out on Lake Titicaca to visit Uros, a floating village and later Amantani Island where we would stay for the night.
The Uros are a unique indigenous race who migrated to Lake Titicaca an estimated 3,700 years ago. Over time, they mixed with the nearby Aymara and eventually abandoned their language and many of their traditions. Due to political uncertainty in the region, particularly with the arrival of the Incas, the Uros built a mobile floating city in order to evade their enemies.
It was absolutely amazing, visiting the Uros Islands. Our small vessel of 20 passengers, rafted to one small island where we were greeted by several older ladies and one gentleman. These individuals represented three or four families which inhabited a single island which in turn, was part of the larger community of floating islands.
The islands are an extraordinary feat of engineering, especially considering how long ago the originals were constructed. Workers collect totora reed, which are found along many parts of Lake Titicaca.
Locals weave the totora’s dense roots together to form a sturdy layer. Considering the base of each island is up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) thick, this takes a great deal of time and effort. Together, then local men and women demonstrated how the reeds are held in place and how individual islands are moored to the lake bed using long sharp sticks and plenty of rope.
It was really interesting, wandering around the tiny islands with the spongy reed bedding giving way under our feet as we explored. There were tiny alleyways between neighbouring islands where small fishing boats were tied up. Each island housed a community toilet which had raised seating similar to an outhouse, however the outfall instead of a earth basin, was a plastic tub that could be removed and dumped.
Women welcomed us into their single room dwellings to share with us their simple way of life. Inside each dwelling there was a lonely double bed weighted down with various hand woven blankets. Along the walls hung colourful skirts, pants and shirts of all shapes and sizes, a subtle indication of how many people lived in this house and whether or not there were children living here as well.
Behind each dwelling, pieces of clothing were stretched out to dry in the midday sun. A single hearth was erected in one corner of the small island, which was used as a communal cooking space. Carefully constructed to ensure that it did not lend itself to fire lest the entire island catch fire.
Despite the simplicity of the island and its people, there were small indications of technology being embraced. Solar panels stood proudly outside several dwellings, used as a means to offer light to homes when the sun fell beneath the water’s edge.
Standing on these islands, looking out toward the next, you could only barely sense the movement of the reeds on the water. Women moved about the islands effortlessly on scattered wooden planks that offered more support to weight, than the reeds.
Naturally, women were keen to share their handicrafts and sell their wares to visitors. Scattered in front of the threshold of their homes, there were hats, mittens, scarves, trinkets and more. Most interesting were the bright burlap embroidered images of Uros history and culture; each, painstakingly stitched by the women of the island. A unique treasure indeed.
Before leaving Uros, we visited another island specifically created to meet the “needs” of tourists. Here you could purchase food in a local resturant, enjoy a cold beer and even get your passport stamped if you are so inclined. It was both simple and impressive considering we were standing on a tiny, floating island.
With the better part of the day still ahead of us, we forged on to Amantani, where we were scheduled to meet a host family, hike to a mountaintop temple and enjoy a local party. The day was only getting started!
Aunt Madeline
2019-10-26
How beautiful these photos are? Love all the lovely colors. I was thinking as you talked about walking and feeling the movement of the reeds, it must feel similar to walking on peat moss. Hugs
Paul Meehan
2019-10-26
I so look forward to seeing these blogs and enjoy reading them very much. It sounds like you are enjoying your adventure and learning so much about different cultures.Enjoy and keep writing
Jenny
2019-10-26
Everything so picturesque. Exciting travels. Would so love to be right there with you guys.
Susan
2019-10-26
Such vibrant colors! What an incredible way to live. I'm assuming you did get your passport stamped.
Susan Sam PIERCEY
2019-10-26
Here with Sam showing her your adventures! Love ya!
Lee Anne
2019-10-27
Absolutely breathtaking....ohhhh the colours!
Patti
2019-10-28
So beautiful & colorful.. Happy adventures!
Jill
2019-11-03
Thanks for allowing us to share in your adventures.