A hilly island in the middle of Lake Titicaca, about 35 kilometres east of Puno and roughly three hours by boat. Taquile has no roads, no vehicles, and around 2,000 Quechua-speaking inhabitants who live on terraced farms scattered up the hillsides. The boat docks at the foot of a steep stone staircase; the walk up to the central village climbs about 200 metres above the lake — slow going at altitude.
The island is best known for its textile tradition, which is run cooperatively: the men knit, the women weave, and most of the production is sold from a single fair-trade shop in the central square. The hats and waistbands sold here are some of the finest in Peru. Day trips from Puno generally combine Taquile with a stop at Uros; you arrive in the late morning, walk up to the village, eat a lake-trout lunch on the central plaza, and walk down the other side of the island to a different bay before the boat returns. Spending a night on the island is far better than the day trip — homestay accommodation is basic but the silence after the tour boats leave is extraordinary.