QHAPAQ Lago Titicaca-Peru — Hotel in undefined

My father and I spent 2 nights in the fall with Willy and we had a wonderful time. Willy picked us up in his boat for free. REMEMBER TO BRING CASH. Verify the amount with Willy beforehand to bring enough to pay him and purchase extras (like beer) or souvenirs.

Willy's guest house is great. It gets very cold on Lake Titicaca, and the room's insulation isn't perfect, so it gets extremely cold. But there's a gas patio-style heater in the room and it was good enough for us. You go there to experience the life of the people of Uros, and that includes the weather and the way homes are built, so if you're looking for pure luxury, there are probably other accommodations that provide more comfortable, albeit less authentic, lodging. The beds are very comfortable, and I was able to take a nice hot relaxing bath while watching a big storm outside the floor-to-ceiling window. TIP: water is heated by the sun in large black cylinders above the building, so first heat up the room really well with the bathroom door open (to keep the tub water from cooling down too fast), and then open the faucet just enough to get a small stream; it gives more water enough time to heat up through the cylinders as you fill up the tub.

The large windows all around the room give unobstructed views of the lake and its magical serenity. There's a little mezzanine with a couch which was very comfy for enjoying a good book. You can hang out on your terrace with a beverage on a nice palapa-style bed (or just sitting on the edge) to enjoy the view of the water, the totora reeds, the water fowl, the occasional passing boat, and the wonderful, rejuvenating calm of it all. A rooftop deck across from the dining room also allows you to get a 360 view and take great photos.

The food was relatively simple but lovely; Sara is a wonderful cook. I don't remember everything we ate because it was 5 months ago, but I know we had trout, chicken, potatoes and veggies, and breakfast was plentiful, with eggs, pancakes, fruit salad, etc. My only slight disappointment was that it is not the actual food that they would typically eat - their diet is even simpler than what they serve their guests. I would have loved to eat the same thing they do because that's how I like to travel, but having gone on trips with a lot of people, I completely understand that Willy serves what he considers to be more "extravagant" dishes. Tourists tend to have standards that exceed what an authentic experience would provide, and they want to satisfy their customers to get good reviews. That is after all their main means of subsistence.

Some people in their reviews on other platforms are quite harsh about the family being "awkward" or "standoffish". Look, you get what you give. They are shy people (we only met Sara on the boat ride back), but I found that if you make an effort to engage with Willy, he is more than willing to answer your questions and accommodate you in whatever way he can, even though his demeanor seems reserved and tentative.

In terms of activities, I recommend staying at least 2 days so you can have time both to enjoy chillaxing on the property, and to do some exploring and learning with Willy (included in the price) without feeling that you're cramming a bunch of stuff in your schedule, in a place where you should really be relaxing. Willy took us on both his "regular" boat and on the traditional totora boat. We went to his parents' tiny island where he explained how the islands are built and maintained, and talked about the Aymara culture and language. It was super informative. He also took us to the totoras to demonstrate how they are harvested, and throughout the community where he answered my many questions about the societal structure, economy, etc. We visited a cute little museum with reed statuettes of all the lake birds. Also, kayaking on the world's highest navigable body of water? Check! It was one of my favorite things out of everything we did during our South American adventures.

All in all, we had an awesome time and I definitely recommend...

We spent (as a couple) three days with Willy and his Family and must admit - it was amazing! The location is wonderful, isolated, surrounded by wildlife and incredible view on Titicaca lake. We got an apartament with king-size bed (very comfortable and warm), with our own bathroom, terrace and ‚built-in altana’ including big sofa where we could rest and admire. We were also served with three full dishes during the day, which were delicious and variable. The hours of serving were suggested, but could be fully adjusted in case of such need. All the Family is adorable and very caring. Whatever we needed or asked for was always considered and provided in a best possible way (we just mentioned that we desire to lay down and have some sunbath and in 2 minutes (!) we found two couches waiting for us on the terrace :))

As Titicaca lake is the one with the highest altitude (almost 4000 m above sea level), there are changing conditions with rather cool nights, especially in wet season. Additionally, this is floating island, so you may rellocate only by boat. Be prepared to have some warm clothes with you as the full sun guarantees hot temperature, but wind and clouds may appear as well. If you are lucky with the weather, you may have an option to admire the most beautiful night sky, full of sparkling stars! We had such occassion :)

Spending time on Uros Family’s island is not just an ordinary stay. It is occassion to learn about their unique culture and very engaging everyday activities. We were offered with option to join the Family, including Mother and Grandmother (adorable Women!) and be told about their tradition and history. We were able to have a boat tour along the bay and set the fish net togheter (btw, we caught big one - a trout :)) We are amazed how hardworking, humble and good people the are. Willy is very nice and polite, may seem a bit shy, but he does his best to respect his guests’ privacy, so feel free to interact and laugh together :) Beside Spanish, Willy speaks also English (he learnt by himself!) and French.

We highly recommend staying with Willy and his Family, especially if you are truly curious how the real life on floating island looks like and what superpowers the Uros own as all they have is built with their own hands. Be open for different culture, go with the flow and do not hesitate to ask and engage on your own as well. It is all worth it! We will miss the...

Magical… what a wonderful experience we had at QHAPAQ Lago Titicaca. Franco is amazing – helpful, kind, friendly, knowledgeable, hard-working and reliable. He met us at the port and took us to the hotel. This initial trip by boat to the hotel was so memorable. I knew this was going to be a special trip from that initial moment - and QHAPAQ and Franco never disappointed. He sets the pace and helps you plan your day, whether exploring other islands, kayaking, visiting local residents and museums, star gazing, learning about culture, or simply relaxing and enjoying the amazing setting. Our room was beautiful, spacious, comfortable and uniquely decorated. It also had a lovely patio with a hanging basket chair and comfortable daybed. Big windows from floor to ceiling windows allowed you to view Lake Titicaca, as well as sunrise, sunset and the many birds in the area.||Food – breakfast, lunch and dinner were all delicious. We had previously been in Peru for six days, however, the food prepared here was some of the best we had. It was also served beautifully in a dining room with a view of the lake.||Franco helped arrange tours around the lake, but also added such personal stories and anecdotes, which made each activity more meaningful and memorable. It was such a wonderful, caring personal and relaxing experience. Franco takes a personal interest in you and cares about you enjoying your stay.||It was a joy to stay at QHAPAQ – a wonderful, memorable experience that I will always remember and hope to return. I definitely whole-heartedly recommend.||Thank you...