Smithsonian Journeys Dispatches

Los Uros of Peru


The hand-built island of Los Uros, floating on Lake Titicaca, in Peru.

One of the more interesting features of the Peruvian landscape are tiny islets floating on Lake Titicaca, fashioned from reeds by Los Uros, people who lived in the area even before the Incas arrived. Most of the Los Uros people have moved off the islets, but a community of 200 remains today, still practicing their traditional methods of construction while adapting some aspects of modern technology; Uros use motorboats, watch TV, and have their own radio station.

Travel to see the Uros for yourself on our Legendary Peru tour.

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