Puno Travel Forum

I have a few questions about visiting the islands of Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno.

1. What is the best rate I can get for the boat ride to these islands?
2. About how long is each boat ride?
3. Can, and should, the whole island tour be done in 1 day? (Are there boats going back to Puno from Isle Taquile in the evening?)
4. Is the overnight stay with a native family worth it?

I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

Gosh, I don't remember the price I paid, but it was really quite cheap. As I recall, the trip left in the morning and I got back in the afternoon- maybe I was gone for 6 hours. I thought the one day trip was fine. I met a number of people who spent the night and they said that they didn't get much "more" from the trip then they would have gotten by going just for the day (except, of course, that they could walk around the area a little and got to see just how rustic life is for the people who live there). Note that it is cold at night at that elevation and people do not have heat.

I think I paid under $10 for my trip to the Islands. I did the one day trip (roughly 8 hours)and enjoyed it but a lot of people I met said that it was worth doing the overnight stay with a local family.

The cost depends on what islands you want to see, what boat or tour you chose, and lastly a bit on how much you are willing to pay. If you go to Puno, you must visit several of the unique floating Uros islands. Only a few are open to visitors. The boat trip is less than an hour each way. A visit to Taquile can usually be done in a day if you just want to see the site. I think there are indeed boats returning each afternoon all year around but you will want to confirm this the day of your travel. An overnight stay is not for the luxury seeker but certainly beats an extra night in Puno. I chose to take the "tour" to the Uros, that continued on to Amantani with an overnight stay, on to Taquile the next morning, and then back to Puno in the afternoon. This was a great travel bargain costing less than $20. (It would still be a bargain at twice that cost.) This is not a hardship adventure, but I do not think you would ever forget the warmth of the people you meet. bob

I'm looking to spend a day and night on the islands. I'm wondering if there are any good options for storing extra baggage while we wander around. What do people usually do if they don't want to lug around a heavy pack all day long?

Dear Nahchivek:

Hint: (By posting your question at the tail end of an old post only the few people who originally responded to the old question will know of your new question. You might get a better response by posting it separately.)

My answer: The most obvious solution is to leave the bulk of your luggage at your hotel or hostel in Puno and just carry an overnight bag. If you are going on a package (and you probably should) you could leave you bag on the boat when walking on islands where you are not staying overnight. Have a good visit.