<h1>Taquile Island, home of the friendly Taquile</h1>

Taquile or Intik (in Quechua) is a island located on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Peru, 45 km from the city of Puno. It has a population of approximately 1,700 inhabitants. The main villa is located at 3950 meters and its highest point of the island reaches 4050 meters. The inhabitants of this island are known as Taquile and are Quechua.


Intik part of the Inca Empire was so even today you can see some archaeological remains. This island was a late Peruvian locations capitulated against the Spanish in the sixteenth century. He was later taken on behalf of Emperor Charles V and finally went to the court of Pedro Gonzales de Taquile, whose surname is now clear his name. The Spanish banned traditional dress Inca, so that the islanders had to take the peasant dress to wear today.

Taquile is characterized by its friendly people, who maintain their customs, traditions and the old-fashioned dress. The locals are noted for their industrious and fine textiles with symmetrical decorations symbolic of strong colors that reflect their lifestyle, their customs and beliefs of the Andes. Those are among the finest Peruvian handicrafts. It should be noted that the spinning and weaving are made primarily by men.


Taquileños society is based on collective work and the Inca moral code "Ama Suwa llulla loves, loves qilla" (not steal, not lies and not be lazy.) Today its economy is based on fishing, farming potatoes in the platforms and tourism, annually receives 40.000 visitors.

Garments using retain much reminiscent of pre-Columbian times in both their quality, design and symbolism.

The woman is wearing a red blouse and many-colored skirts, covered with a large black skirt. The waist is belted with a thin belt cherry. The head and face are protected by a long black cloak that protects from the sun.

Men wear trousers fabric in black, his white shirt is covered with a short jacket, the shape and color determine its role within the community. Also takes a long strip embroidered fabric which describes itself as symbolic of the island, events that have marked the life of the couple. The chullo or finely woven hat, differentiating married men singles. The way you use the tail of chullo points if you are looking couple.


Taquile's history dates back to pre-Inca times. Indeed there are burial towers at that time in the top of the hill called "the island", built entirely in stone carvings. These have the form of small rectangular rooms, and entry, contrary to the tombs of Sillustani, is wide and allow the entry of a person standing.

The island has a maximum length of 5.5 km and a top width of 1.5 km, the second largest island of the Lake (5.72 km ²) in the Peruvian part (after Amantaní). The people of Taquile It is found at 140 m above the lake, 3950 m asl Thanks to the thermocouple effect of the lake in the island there is a microclimate favorable to agriculture.

Taquile also has a radio station that operates on generators, but the locals have decided not to use them and opt for solar panels. A curious fact is that within the island inhabits a dog.

To reach the island you have to take a boat in Puno, which takes three hours to reach the port rudimentary Taquile, where you have to climb over 500 steps to the village. There is the option of taking a full tour or travel on vessels that handle the islanders, which cost about 20 soles, including a visit to the floating islands of Uros.

On the island there are no hotels, roads, electricity, cars, even police bicicleta.Ni not there because they do not commit crimes.


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