Taquile Island ↔ Luquina Community (2 days – 1 night)

Taquile Island ↔ Luquina (2 days – 1 night) Tour Overview

The Island of Taquile is located 36 Km (22 miles) away from the city of Puno. It takes a 2 and half hour boat ride to arrive in the island’s main dock. The island highest elevation is 4100 m (13451 feet); it has a length of 5 Km (3.10 miles) and a width of 1.5 Km (0.93 miles). To walk across the island takes about two hours.

In our tours in Taquile we follow enjoyable paths that gradually take us to the main village or to other more remote sectors of Taquile. These other paths of access to the main village allow you to catch spectacular views of Lake Titicaca. We avoid climbing up the 535 stairs that take the visitors to the main village but it is unavoidable to walk the stairs down to go back to the main dock.

Since the beginning of the tourism flow to the island, the “Taquileños” have been participating directly in the tourism business. They have become successful entrepreneurs running little hostels, restaurants and boat enterprises in the island. Nowadays, the island remains quiet with no cars, motorcycles or bicycles. There are no roads – just stone pathways carved into the steep hillside.

Taquile is home of a Quechua population of 2,000 people who are mainly farmers, fishermen and above all renowned weavers. A demonstration of traditional Andean weaving is the highlight of this visit. The textiles from Taquile are of extraordinary quality. Textile experts from around the world have recognized that “Taquileño” textiles are not only among the finest in the world but also extremely rich in natural colors and designs of fascinating symbolic culture.

By the age of seven, boys are proficient knitters. In fact, the entire family is involved in knitting or weaving. Children knit “chullos” (hats), gloves and finger puppets of condors and llamas, common animals of the Andes. Women hand-spin the soft fleece of the sheep and alpaca into fine yarn for sweaters and blankets. Men weave wide, colorful belts called “chumpis” on a handloom. Selling these handicrafts to tourists is the major source of income for many families.

In July, villagers observe the Feast of Santiago Apostol with music and dancing. Whether celebrating weddings or religious holidays, there is always a reason to enjoy the folk music and dance that is an important part of island life.

On this tour we also visit Luquina, a small and rarely visited rural community in the peninsula of Chucuito. It takes around 1 and a half hour’s boat ride from the town of Puno.

The local families from Luquina share with us their peaceful existence, each family lives on a small piece of land where they also keep their domestic animals. Sometimes they have donkeys, pigs, sheep and hens in a little barn next to the house.

Why choose the Cultural Taquile ↔ Luquina Tour?

Around 15 families in Luquina have been trained to provide tourism services such as cooking and housekeeping. Today, the best rural guestrooms in Lake Titicaca are found in this community. Their rooms are cozy, very comfortable and most have a pretty view of the lake. The rooms have also clean private bathrooms and hot showers. They also offer clean and comfortable beds with thick and warm blankets.

Tour Itinerary

ITINERARY: UROS > TAQUILE ISLAND > LUQUINA COMMUNITY > PUNO

All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules.