Taquile: the island where men weave and the lake changes color
- elizabethcarlotto
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
There are places that don't need spectacular landscapes to move you — even though they have them. Taquile moves you through its people. The way they welcome you, include you and show you their world without pretense, with a generosity that only belongs to communities that are certain of who they are.
We left from Puno by boat, a full day that is worth every hour. The lake accompanies the entire journey, shifting color — from a deep blue to unexpected greens, depending on the hour and the light of the altiplano. When you arrive at Taquile, you understand that the journey was already part of the experience.
The men weave. The women sell.
The first thing that surprises you on Taquile is seeing the men weaving. It is not a performance for tourists — it is their daily life. They walk the stone paths with their hands busy, weaving chullos and sashes with a skill learned from childhood that UNESCO recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The women, meanwhile, have their space in the island market — an intimate and colorful place where they offer textiles and crafts made from alpaca and sheep wool. Every piece carries hours of work and a story woven into each thread.
Lunch: simple, flavorful, honest
Eating on Taquile is one of those pleasures that announce themselves quietly but stay with you. A quinoa and trout soup with vegetables — hot, nourishing, perfect for the altiplano cold. If you are vegetarian, the families prepare vegetable tortillas with native potatoes. Everything cooked at home, with ingredients from the lake and the land.
And to finish — muña tea. Non-negotiable. The Andean mint that grows above 3,000 meters, aromatic, digestive and carminative. A cup that warms you from the inside and makes peace with the altitude.
Dances and music from the altiplano
After lunch, the islanders open the doors of their culture in a way that few islands in the world can offer. They show you their traditional dances — circular, rhythmic, with costumes that carry the identity code of each family. They explain the process of dyeing wool with plants, leaves, stones and insects — an ancestral alchemy that produces colors no factory can replicate. And the men play local wind and percussion instruments, that altiplano music that sounds ancient and alive at the same time.
The sunset and the lake that never stops surprising
Before returning to Puno, the lake gives you its finest show. The water shifts from deep blue to green, following the light and the hour. And the sunset from Taquile is one of those that leaves you still — with no desire to reach for your phone. Just watching.
How to get there
By boat from Puno, as a full day trip. There are organized departures from Puno port that include the transfer, lunch and cultural activities with the island families.
What you need to know
Bring cash — there are no ATMs on the island
The sun at this altitude burns strong — sunscreen is essential
The paths have stairs and steep sections — wear comfortable shoes
Best time to visit: April to October, dry season