Uros Aruma Uro

The night spent on the straw floating island owned by Juan and his wife was really a highlight of my stay in Peru. Juan collected me on another island where collectivo dropped me off on his boat. The cabin... let me catch my breath... was stunning! Wonderfully decorated and with a big patio with bed to watch the Titicaca lake from outdoors (if you are able to bear cold you can even sleep outside). There is big glass wall however in the room, so you can have very similar experience even from the inside. There is fully equipped bathroom with both bath and shower (but water can be bit cold), and you get around 5 blankets (lake get cold during the night). Breakfast were served at the time preferred by me, were delicious and even filling. Juan is a very nice person, and speaks slowly, so even a person speaking only un poco spanish can have meaningful conversation with him (also about a lifestyle at floating islands). I was not hungry for a dinner, but later Juan stopped by and brought big thermos for me to make a tea. This was exactly what I needed and it made me very happy. This floating island was really a tranquil place, I spent around 2 hours just watching ducks and boats passing by. Juan even provided a transport for me in the morning to catch my early bus to Cusco and for a fraction of price offered by tour operators (who even were very reluctant to provide it in the first place if I did not take 2day trip). I advice to contact floating island hotel directly, since I think that overnight stay organized by group tours takes place on one of the non-floating islands further from the coast. (I did not take the tour, but explored floating island and Taquile island independently by collectivo, which I think is much better way).