We had another amazing weekend visiting Titicaca Lake on Uros, Amantaní, and Tequile Islands! We started on one of the floating islands with the Uros people, and it was amazing to see how people survive by making everything out of these totora reeds...They even eat them! They also eat small fish and they hunt ducks. Their transportation is also made from the reeds, and kids even go to school in them! The Uros people are a pre-incan civilization, and people actually still live on the floating islands this way...Amazing!
After visiting for some time on the floating islands, we headed to Amataní Island, where we met our host, Don Víctor. He showed us his home and finca, and we put our stuff in our room for the night. Then we had a late lunch, which was delicious! We had some coca tea with muña, which helped us with the altitude. Then we met our group in the plaza to get ready for a hike up Pacha Mama & Pacha Tata hill temples. This was an amazing hike, and once we made it to the top (after about two hours), we had a beautiful view! Then we went back to our home to have dinner and get ready in our traditional outfits for traditional Amantaní music and dancing!
We woke up Sunday morning bright and early for a pancake breakfast, then said goodbye to Don Víctor, because we were off to spend the day at Tequile Island. Tequile Island was also beautiful, and we had lunch outside with an awesome view of Lake Titicaca and Bolivia. Then we walked down the 500+ steps to our boat, and took a much needed nap on the boat ride to Puno. We knew we'd need the energy, since it just happened to be the biggest celebration in Peru this week!
When we arrived in Puno, we noticed there were a ton of people, and lots of music and dancing people of all ages wearing intricate costumes! This was the Fiesta de la Candelaria in Puno, which is the biggest dancing/music and cultural celebration in Peru, and the third largest festival in South America after Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro and Carnaval in Bolivia. It was incredible! We were so fortunate to be in Puno this particular weekend! I have never seen anything like it! I will post a video of the parade as soon as it finishes uploading. :)
Uros floating island on Lake Titicaca & boat taxis...The kids use them to get to school too!
Las hermanas!
On the boat ride from Uros to Amantaní Island!
Everyone eats vegetarian on Amantaní Island because fish and meat is not easily accessible. These were our meals, including fried cheese which we thought was fish at first! With every meal we had fresh coca and muña tea.
Our room for the night on Amantaní Island...
Don Víctor, who hosted us for the night on Amantaní Island!
Some pictures from our hike up to the hill temples of Pacha Mama and Pacha Tata on Amantaní Island...
At the top...Pacha Mama temple.
Breathtaking view of Lake Titicaca at the top of Pacha Mama!
Three more photos from Pacha Mama on Amantaní Island...
After our hike up Pacha Mama, we got home just in time for dinner, then we got dressed up in traditional dance clothes, and went dancing!
On Sunday morning we got up early to say goodbye to Amantaní Island and hello to Tequile Island...We had trout for lunch on Tequile Island, and had this view, with Bolivia in the background!
Flying above Titicaca!
On our way down the 500+ steps down to our boat on Tequile Island...
Fiesta de la Candelaria Sunday afternoon/night in Puno!
So many people! So many amazing costumes and dresses!
Photos taken by Nicole!
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