The Uros Islands in brief
The Uros islands are artificial islands made of totora reeds on Lake Titicaca. Uro-Aymara families have traditionally lived on them, and the families also make boats and handicrafts from totora. These are inhabited communities, not an uninhabited site and not a stage set. Families explain how the reed is cut, layered and replaced as the lower layers rot.
The crossing from Puno takes about 20 minutes on the national tourism board's attraction page and 40 minutes on its community tourism page. The two figures differ, and the right one depends on the boat and the community you visit. Ask your operator for the time on your route.
Tours to the Uros compared
Three published examples from single operators, 2026 prices per person. Products differ in length, boat type and what is included.
| Option | Price | Length | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uros half day | $12 | Departures 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. | Hotel transfer in the center, regular boat, island fees, English and Spanish guide, life jackets |
| Uros and Taquile | From $50 | 9 hours, pickup about 7:00 a.m., back before 4:00 p.m. | Lunch described; the fast boat from Uros to Taquile takes about 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Uros, Amantani and Taquile | $48 | 2 days, 1 night, harbor at 8:00 a.m., back about 3:30 p.m. the next day | All island fees, regular boat, guide, simple family lodging and meals |
The half-day operator lists group departures from the harbor at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., with returns at 12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. depending on the program. These are one operator's times, not opening hours for the islands. More on how the options differ is on the tours page.
Our picks: Uros tours
A half day to the islands, a full day that adds Taquile, or a sunset kayak with Uros entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunset kayak on Lake Titicaca
Hotel transfer to the kayak harbour and back, kayak equipment, Uros entry and a group guide in English or Spanish.
Check availability →
Uros and Taquile full day by speedboat
Hotel transfer in central Puno, speedboat, guide in Spanish or English, island entries and lunch. The traditional reed boat ride is not included.
Check availability →Uros floating islands in half a day
Boat transfer, Uros entry and an English or Spanish guide are included; the hotel pickup applies only if you choose that option. Food, drinks and the reed boat ride (15 PEN per person on site) are extra.
Check availability →Uros and Lake Titicaca tours from Puno
Half-day Uros trips, island combinations and overnight stays from Puno, with live prices and availability.
Being a considerate guest
Visits to the Uros are most welcome when they respect the people who live there. The following points are common courtesy rather than local rules, but they help.
- Ask before you photograph people. Ask for consent before a portrait, especially of children, and accept a no.
- Enter private rooms only if invited. A home is a home.
- Agree on prices first. If you want an optional boat ride, clarify the price before you start.
- Buy what you value. Handicrafts are part of how families earn from visitors. Buying is your choice, and a polite no is fine.
- Take your trash with you. Reeds and water are the base of the community.
For professional or organized photo shoots and filming, the national film portal says the responsible producer must apply to the municipality of the Uros-Chulluni settlement. This does not apply to ordinary holiday photos.
Reed boats and the standard stop
A regular motor boat and a totora boat are different things.
The regular boat takes you to the island. A ride in a traditional totora boat is a separate experience, listed among the community activities by the national tourism board. Ask whether it is included in your tour or offered on the island for an extra price.
The short standard stop is not the only way to visit. The national tourism board also describes community tourism with overnight stays, craft demonstrations and some shared meals, and recommends operators who work directly with communities. Overnight options on the Uros and in rural homes at Luquina Chico, on the Chucuito peninsula, are described the same way. Landing points and boat transfers should be settled when you book. See where to stay for the lodging types.
Fees are not the same as tour prices. The official inventory lists S/ 8 for the Uros, and lake access itself as free. A tour price covers the boat and more, and it may already include the fee. Do not assume the S/ 8 applies in every Uros community.
Combine the Uros with other places
The Uros are one stop on a wider lake.
Uros Islands: frequently asked questions
Do people really live on the Uros islands?
Yes. Uro-Aymara families have traditionally lived on the islands, and they are inhabited communities. Treat them as homes, not as an attraction without residents.
How long does the boat from Puno take?
The national tourism board lists about 20 minutes on one page and 40 minutes on another. The time depends on the boat and the community, so ask your operator.
How much does it cost to visit the Uros?
The official inventory lists an island fee of S/ 8. One operator lists a half-day tour for $12 per person in 2026, with island fees and a hotel transfer in the center. A tour with Taquile starts from $50 in the example above.
Do I have to buy handicrafts?
No. Buying is a personal choice. Families sell crafts as part of their income, so a polite refusal is fine, and buying something you like is welcome.
Can I stay overnight on the Uros?
The national tourism board describes overnight stays on the Uros and in rural homes at Luquina Chico. Ask a community-based operator and clarify the landing point and boat transfers before you book.
Is it a good idea to go without a tour?
Individual boat fares from the harbor vary, and a tour makes the price and the stops clear. If you go on your own, agree on the price and the return time before you leave.