Reed Islands in Lake Titicaca, Peru

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and sits on the border between Peru and Bolivia.

The Uros people live on reed islands that float on the lake, and welcome tourists to see their unique way of life. To build the islands they have lived on for hundreds of years, the Uros use totora reeds. As the reeds gradually disintegrate under water, more layers are added to the top so the islands are continually replenished.

The reeds are also used to make furniture and the boats the Uros use to get around. You can visit the islands from the Peruvian city of Puno, to see how the Uros make a living from fishing and tourism.

Sadly, Lake Titicaca is suffering from high levels of contamination that damaged its ecosystem. As the Uros find it more and more difficult to fish, tourism is becoming increasingly important to their survival.

Tourists can support the Uros by buying reed handicrafts and booking tours through responsible operators that work with the local community. Puno is around five hours by bus from the Bolivian capital of La Paz and 22 hours from the Peruvian capital of Lima. You can also fly from Lima to Puno with Avianca and LATAM.