When we reached the stop, of the steep mountain, I felt like I was on top of the world. In the middle of the Peruvian half of Lake Titicaca, the shores of Taquile are at 12,960 above sea level, while its highest point reaches almost 13,300 ft in elevation. Said another way, this place is literally breathtaking at this elevation. We have all heard the term food insecurity, well, at these levels you can definitely feel "Oxygen insecurity."
Our guide Salvador, who always gives us options, invited anyone who wanted to climb the hill to the top could join him, or we could go back down to the waters edge with our local guide Bross and wait there for the ferry to return us to Puno. I chose to follow him slowly up to the top of the village main square (or plaza) where to our surprise there was some unexpected flag-waiving and colorful religious festivities.
Situated on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, the island’s secluded location has allowed locals to continue their traditions without too much Western influence. Islanders numbering around 2,200, continued their generations-old-traditions of farming and fishing. This island was one of the last locations to fall to the Spanish during their conquest of Peru. Its stunning view of the lake, rich mountain landscapes, and colorful and stunning weaving traditions is a big draw for 40,000 plus tourists who visit annually. Even our guides love to come here to escape the busy streets of Lima city. It’s very common to see men knitting at breakneck speed, like our waiter (photo) who served us at the family-owned restaurant on the island before we made our ascent.
The tubular shape and bold read Cantutas (photo), in Taquile Island, is the national flower of Peru and nearby Bolivia. It is not only admired for its beauty but revered in the indigenous Andean cultures. During the Inca Empire, the Cantuta Flower was used as a symbol of identity and unification of the Inca people. The Incas planted this flower in their gardens and used it in their
religious ceremonies and festivals.
UNESCO recognized Taquile and its Textile Art as “Masterpieces of the Oral and intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2005.
