Uros Samaraã‘a Uta Lodge

The family was so warm and friendly, and contacted me ahead of time about transport and meals. I also appreciated that they never asked for tips. Around Uros, some places have 'upgraded' houses, but this one has traditional reed housing. It was an amazing, authentic stay.

The family and the lovely views are what I’ll remember. The beds were big and comfortable, and breakfast was nice. We’re vegetarian, and having fried cheese for 5 nights got to be a bit much, though they did try to accommodate us. I recommend staying here. Just don’t let the cat in: it sprayed my daughter’s clothes and suitcase, which still smell awful. We learned that the hard way.

For a night, it’s a great choice if you’re fine with a basic level of comfort. Everything has to be paid in cash, and you also need to pay the 8 soles Uros Island entrance fee to reach the lodge. Floating islands of the Uros + Taquile Island tours can be found for as little as 60 soles person. The sunset from the little patio was lovely, and the room was decorated nicely. They bring a hot-water bottle at night because it can get below 0 degrees and the rooms aren’t heated. On the downside, no water came from the shower head, so showering was pretty much impossible. There’s no wifi.

Communication can be difficult, and you sometimes feel like you’re being nickel-and-dimed. Still, the people are pretty nice, and I’ll treasure this interesting experience. They’ve come up with clever ways to deal with the obvious challenges of having a hotel on a floating island, including a heated water bottle under the sheets to keep you warm at night.