They say that when the Spanish Armada reached Lake Titicaca — between Peru and Bolivia — locals hid their gold deep beneath its blue waters. The treasure has never been found. But after visiting, I believe the real treasures of this land aren’t made of gold at all — they’re hidden in the smiles of its people and the warmth of their hearts.
A Home Among Cornfields
On Taquile Island, I stayed with Dina’s family, who welcomed me as one of their own. Their home stands in the middle of cornfields, halfway between the quiet main square and the shining lake. While preparing dinner, Dina told me proudly that their house had been built in less than a month. The family even dug a small hole in the field to make an outdoor bathroom.
That evening, we cooked sopa de papas — the traditional potato soup with vegetables — and shared stories and laughter. My slow way of peeling potatoes quickly became the evening’s entertainment. The others joked about it in Quechua, their local language, and though I didn’t understand every word, laughter became our bridge.
A Photographer in the Making
While cooking together the usual supa de papas with vegetables, we used to share some good memories. My slow way of peeling the potatoes got some attention among the guests, who were commenting in quechua, their local language. I understood and we all had laugh, breaking every linguistic barrier. That’s when I decided to lend my camera to little Natalia, 12 years old, whose attention was caught by the LCD camera screen. After a brief explanation regarding the principles of photography, the little girl was completely in charge of the camera, shooting with care for every detail and appreciating every shot. Coming from the “quick shutter speed society”, this behaviour caught my attention.
The Rhythm of Island Life
After a cup of mugna, an herb used to cope with altitude sickness, we blew off the candles. We went to sleep at 9 pm. Dina would have waken up the day after at 5 am, to work in the land and cook at the restaurant. Natalia, saddened, returned my camera, wrapped her little brother with a cloth and got him on her shoulders, ready to go to sleep in a house behind the hill.
The night was falling down, and the stars where lighting up the cornfields as street lamps in one of my neighbourhoods, making into familiar that place ten hours away from home. At the horizon the Titikaka Lake was shining as usual, since the day when the first Inca was born there from the marriage between Moon and Sun.
Useful information
About Lake Titicaca: Lake Titicaca lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia. It is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,856 meters above sea level, stretching 200 kilometers long and reaching depths of up to 280 meters.
How to get there: From Puno there are daily ferries to Uros Island, Amantani Island, Taquile and Isla del Sol. Get at the port contact to arrange your hosting with a local family.
Suggestions: It is a kind habit to bring to the family some food not available on the islands, such as fruit, vegetables, rice, oil or spices. Cover your head with a hat, use strong sun protection and drink a lot of water.
Final Thoughts
My stay on Taquile Island reminded me that travel isn’t just about discovering places — it’s about connecting with people. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen far from Wi-Fi and comfort, in a kitchen full of laughter, under a sky full of stars.
Where is Taquile?
Born in Perugia (Italy) I live in London since 5 years and I work for a digital advertisement agency. I love travelling and getting in touch with different cultures, as well as photography, design, video making, telling and listening to stories.
