Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The island has a fascinating tradition of handicrafts, and the creations are made accord-
ing to a system of deeply ingrained social customs. Men wear tightly woven woolen hats
that resemble floppy nightcaps, which they knit themselves. They wear red hats if they are
married and red and white hats if they are single; different colors can denote a man's cur-
rent or past social position.
Taquile women weave thick, colorful waistbands for their husbands, which are worn
with roughly spun white shirts and thick, calf-length black pants. Women wear eye-catch-
ing outfits comprising multilayered skirts and delicately embroidered blouses. These fine
garments are considered some of the best-made traditional clothes in Peru, and can be
bought in the cooperative store on the island's main plaza.
Sights & Activities
Visitors are free to wander around, explore the ruins and enjoy the tranquility. The island
is a wonderful place to catch a sunset and gaze at the moon, which looks twice as bright in
the crystalline air, rising over the breathtaking peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance.
Take in the lay of the land while it's still light - with no roads, streetlights or big buildings
to use as landmarks, travelers have been known to get lost in the dark.
A stairway of more than 500 steps leads from the dock to the center of the island. The
climb takes a breathless 20 minutes if you're acclimatized - more if you're not.
Festivals & Events
The
Fiesta de Santiago
(Feast of St James; July 25), Easter and New Year's Day are fest-
ive and rowdy.
Sleeping & Eating
Hospedajes
(small, family-owned inns) offer basic accommodations for around S20 a
night. Meals are additional (S10 to S15 for breakfast; S20 for lunch). Options range from
a room in a family house to small guesthouses. Most have indoor toilets and electric
showers. Lodgings can be booked with a tour operator or on your own once you arrive.
Since the community rotates visitors to lodgings, there is little room for choosing.
Restaurants all offer the same fare of
sopa de quinua
(quinoa soup) - absolutely deli-
cious everywhere on Lake Titicaca - and lake trout. Dishes start at S20. Consider eating
in the
Restaurante Comunál
, Taquile's only community-run food outlet.
