Baby on Floating Island; Lake Titicaca, Peru

My favorite travel photos aren’t of landscapes, ancient ruins, monuments or architecture. They’re of people.

That’s why I love this picture I took on a trip to Peru. This youngster is a member of the Uros tribe living on the fabled Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca. These islands are made by stitching together the reeds of the totora plant, which the Uros also use to build their homes and fishing vessels.

As seen in the photo above, the reeds also make handy pacifiers for infants.

A woman prepares a meal on one of the Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca in Peru.  

About 2,000 Uros now live on Lake Titicaca, which straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia. These indigenous people, who predate the Inca civilization, make a living by fishing, weaving handicrafts and tourism. I reached the Floating Islands by taking a boat from the Peruvian city of Puno.

By far, Machu Picchu is Peru’s best-known tourist destination. And there’s no denying it’s a spectacular place to visit. But it was the Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca – and this adorable child — that left the most lasting impression on me.

Copyright © Dan Fellner 2012