2 days / 1 nightDuration

Up to 15 peopleGroup

3,817 mMax. altitude

ModerateDifficulty

Uros Chimu Floating Islands Homestay 2 Days / 1 Night

Spend 2 days and 1 night on the Chimu floating islands, in the middle of Lake Titicaca, sharing daily life with the Uros-Aymara families who still build their islands with totora reed. This is not a photo stop: it is a living-culture experience where you sleep, eat, work and celebrate with your hosts.

You will learn how a floating island is built and maintained, sail on an ancestral totora raft, fish with local techniques, spot endemic birds of the Titicaca National Reserve, take part in craft workshops and share an Andean bonfire with stories and legends. Lodging and all meals are provided by the host families at the Chimu Island Lodge.

Puno, the folkloric capital of Peru, invites you to discover the imposing Lake Titicaca, the Uros floating islands and the hospitality of its people in a unique living-culture experience.

Why travel with ViajaXmundo

Authorised travel agency in Peru — Authorisation N° 326-2022-GR/GERCETUR-SGFC
Specialised bilingual guide throughout the programme
Direct community tourism: your payment stays with the host families
Small groups and a genuinely participative itinerary

Tour Details

Sleep on a floating island

Spend the night on Chimu island, a floating platform of totora reed built and maintained by hand by the Uros-Aymara families. Lodging is at the community lodge, with the sounds of Lake Titicaca as your only soundtrack.

Sail on an ancestral totora raft

Board a traditional reed raft for a guided ride through the totora beds, learning how the plant is sustainably harvested and why it sustains life, transport and housing on the lake.

Start: 10:00 a.m. · End: 9:00 p.m. (overnight on the island)
Keywords: Uros floating islands · Lake Titicaca · Aymara people
Difficulty: Moderate · Maximum altitude: 3,817 m / 12,522.9 ft

Hotel pick-up and ViajaXmundo transfer from your hotel to Puerto Titicaca, where you board for the Chimu islands with your specialised bilingual guide.

10:00 a.m. — Arrival at the Chimu Islands. Reception and welcome by the host families, introduction of the visitors and an explanation of daily life on the floating islands. Interpretation of how the islands are built and maintained using totora reed from Lake Titicaca, an ancestral process passed down through generations.

1:00 p.m. — Traditional lunch with typical dishes prepared by the local families at the family restaurant. Afterwards, a demonstration workshop of totora craftwork — rope and "quesana" making with ancestral techniques — followed by a hands-on contemporary craft workshop where you make keyrings and necklaces inspired by the sun and the totora reed boats. As night falls, a bonfire with Andean tales: stories, legends and local traditions shared with your hosts. Traditional dinner.

8:00 p.m. — Overnight at the Chimu Island Lodge.

Included today: hotel pick-up · bilingual guide · hotel–Puerto Titicaca transfer · entrance tickets for the activities · lodging at the Chimu Island Lodge · lunch and dinner.

Tourist boat crossing Lake Titicaca from Puerto Titicaca towards the Uros Chimu floating islands in Puno

Uros host family showing visitors how a totora reed floating island is built on Lake Titicaca

Traditional Puno dishes served at the family restaurant on the Chimu floating island of Lake Titicaca

Start: 8:00 a.m. · End: 2:00 p.m.
Keywords: cultural interpretation · Lake Titicaca · Aymara people
Difficulty: Moderate · Maximum altitude: 3,817 m / 12,522.9 ft

8:00 a.m. — Traditional breakfast prepared by the host families.

10:00 a.m. — Interpretive ride on an ancestral totora raft (maximum capacity 15 passengers). Along the way you will learn about the totora bed ecosystem, the sustainable management of the reed and its role in everyday life. You will see the lake's fish species — carachi, pejerrey, trout, ispi and mauri — and take part in artisanal fishing alongside local residents. The ride also includes observation of endemic Lake Titicaca birds such as the keñola, as well as ducks, choca and tiqui.

11:00 a.m. — Free time to explore the Chimu floating islands and enjoy the natural scenery at your own pace.

12:30 p.m. — Traditional lunch at the family restaurant with typical dishes of the area.

2:00 p.m. — Farewell to the host family and end of the living-culture experience. Transfer back to Puno.

Included today: bilingual guide · hot drinks (infusions) · breakfast and lunch · craft workshop souvenir · return transfer to Puno.
Optional: totora kayak ride (USD 5 p.p.) · Titicaca frog observation (USD 5 p.p., min. 4 passengers).

Sunrise over the Chimu floating island with the traditional breakfast prepared by the host families

Channels among the totora beds of Lake Titicaca during the interpretive tour of the Chimu Islands

Uros host family waving goodbye to visitors from the Chimu floating island on Lake Titicaca

Includes

Hotel pick-up in Puno
Transfer from your hotel to Puerto Titicaca and back
Round-trip boat transport to the Chimu Islands
Specialised bilingual guide
Entrance tickets for all scheduled activities
1 night lodging at the Chimu Island Lodge
2 traditional lunches
1 traditional dinner
1 traditional breakfast
Hot drinks (infusions)
Totora craft demonstration workshop
Hands-on contemporary craft workshop
Ancestral totora raft ride
Artisanal fishing with local residents
Birdwatching in the Titicaca National Reserve
Andean bonfire with stories and legends
Craft workshop souvenir

Not included

Flights or intercity buses to Puno
Accommodation in the city of Puno
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Totora kayak ride (USD 5 per person)
Titicaca frog observation (USD 5 per person, min. 4 passengers)
Bottled drinks and alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance
Tips for the guide and the host families
Personal expenses and souvenirs

Paddle a totora reed kayak on the calm waters around the Chimu islands, accompanied by a local host. Approx. 30-40 minutes. Payable on site, no advance booking required.

Guided observation of the Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus), an endemic and endangered species of the lake. Requires a minimum of 4 passengers. Payable on site.

Any month of the year works for Puno, but the season changes the experience.

High season (May to October): drier, stable weather, sunny days and clear skies — ideal for Lake Titicaca. Higher demand means higher prices and less availability. The busiest dates are the last week of June, the last week of July and the first week of August.
Low season (November to April): fewer visitors and promotional prices, but frequent rain, cloudy skies and possible route disruptions.

Our team's pick: April and May, when the weather is pleasant, the landscape is still green and in bloom, and the tourist saturation of the following months has not arrived yet.

Puno sits at high altitude and Lake Titicaca reaches 3,817 m.a.s.l., which can cause altitude sickness or soroche.

What is altitude sickness? Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the body's difficulty adapting to the lower oxygen available at high altitude. It is common among travellers who are not used to it, it is not a cause for alarm, and it usually disappears once the body adapts.

How to prevent it: rest on your first day in Puno, keep activity light, avoid physical exertion, drink plenty of water and coca or muña infusions, and eat light meals. This will noticeably reduce the symptoms.

Puno has changeable weather at high altitude, so be ready for sudden shifts — and remember the night is spent on the lake, where temperatures drop sharply.

Rainy season: waterproof clothing, trekking shoes and warm layers for the cold nights.
Dry season: light but warm clothing — windbreaker, long-sleeved shirts, trekking shoes and a wide-brimmed hat for the sun.

Given climate change, you will probably need clothing for both seasons. Always check the forecast before your trip.

Peru is generally a calm country with friendly, hard-working people, but as anywhere, opportunists exist.

Do not stray far from the city's historic centre — it is the area monitored by security cameras and police patrols.
Book tourist services only with duly authorised travel agencies. Around the Plaza de Armas there are countless informal agencies offering discounts of up to 50%; cheap usually ends up being expensive.
ViajaXmundo Perú operates under authorisation N° 326-2022-GR/GERCETUR-SGFC.

Where are the Chimu floating islands?

On Lake Titicaca, within the Titicaca National Reserve, about 25–30 minutes by boat from Puerto Titicaca in the city of Puno. They belong to the Uros island group, at 3,817 m.a.s.l.

What altitude is the tour at and is it hard?

The maximum altitude is 3,817 m / 12,522.9 ft and the difficulty is moderate. There is no trekking involved: the activities are calm — walking on the island, boat rides and workshops. The main factor is the altitude, so we recommend acclimatising in Puno beforehand.

Where do I sleep and what are the conditions?

At the Chimu Island Lodge, run by the host families on the floating island itself. **[FALTA]** Confirm bathroom (private/shared), hot water, electricity and blankets so we can answer this properly.

Which meals are included?

Day 1: lunch and dinner. Day 2: breakfast and lunch. All are traditional dishes prepared by the host families, plus hot infusions.

Is the guide English-speaking?

Yes, the programme includes a specialised bilingual guide. **[FALTA]** Confirm which languages besides Spanish and English are available.

What optional activities are there and how much do they cost?

Totora kayak ride (USD 5 per person) and Titicaca water frog observation (USD 5 per person, minimum 4 passengers). Both are paid on site.

How do I book and how much do I pay up front?

You book with a 40% deposit of the total price; the balance is paid before the service starts.

What is the best time of year to do this tour?

It runs all year. The dry season (May to October) offers clear skies and stable weather; the rainy season (November to April) has fewer visitors and better prices. Our recommendation is April and May.

What should I bring?

Warm and waterproof clothing, trekking shoes, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen, torch, personal medication and cash in soles. See the full packing list above.

Can I go with children or older travellers?

Confirm minimum age, conditions for minors and restrictions for travellers with heart or respiratory conditions or reduced mobility.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The lake's conditions may force the schedule or the raft ride to be adjusted. The guide and the host families decide on site with safety as the priority.

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Uros Chimu Floating Islands Homestay 2 Days / 1 Night

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Uros Chimu Floating Islands Homestay 2 Days / 1 Night

Why travel with ViajaXmundo