Amantani Island Cultural

Amantani Island & Tour Overview

Amantani island is located 40 Km (25 miles) away from the city of Puno (3 hours of navigation in normal boat). Because of its more distant location, tourism on Amantani Island has not developed in the same way as on Taquile. The main difference is that home-stays have remained a more authentic cultural experience in Amantaní.

The 3,800 inhabitants of Amantani Island are of Quechua origin and they are mainly small farmers. The most important crops on Amantani Island are Andean potatoes, barley and green beans. The “Amantaneños” have not been as successful in their entrepreneurial tourism initiatives as their neighbours from Taquile Island for example. However, they are very warm hosts and they offer a great homestay experience.

A visit to Amantani Island means a one night stay on the island. The houses are simple and services are basic. There is no running water in many of the houses and toilets are basic. There are no showers. For many people, this home-stay experience and the encounter with the host family is a rare insight into the reality of Andean people who live at these altitudes.

This cultural exchange experience in Amantaní is very touching and fascinating.

There are two little hostels in Amantani Island and a luxury villa run by local native families, if you need some more comfort you can ask for more information about these hostels which prices range from $35,00 to $40,00 (US dollars- includes meals and lodgment) per person. The luxury villa is more expensive and you need to reserve ahead of time.

Why choose the Cultural Amantani Island Tour.

This kind of tour is our answer to a plea that for years, the local people of Amantani Island have been making to tour operators in Puno requesting for more fair treatment and payment from tour operators. At the same time, it is the answer to many travellers wondering if the money they pay truly benefits the local people. In this tour you will pay directly for the services you will be provided by your local hosts and we will help so that it can be an easy and gratifying experience.

There is a fixed fee to be paid to us. This payment includes the trip organization boat transportation, entrance fees, transfers from and to hotels and a certified bilingual tour guide. Then, you have a list of services that are going to be provided by the local families and you can choose beforehand what you desire to do and we will calculate the amount to be paid to them. Check out the list of all available cultural immersion activities here. If you stay one night in Amantani you can do two to three activities. If you stay two nights on the island you can do all the activities on the list.

Additionally, if you have an artistic gift and want to share it with your host families, we will help you organize games or educational activities in the community. We have had travellers who have given moments of laughter to the children of the island by showing their skills as clowns or puppeteers. What memories we have of moments like that! We have even managed to put on a theatre play!

Last but not least, for 15 years our company has carried out an educational project for motivating reading on Amantani Island. We have implemented 10 small libraries throughout the island and we work hard to motivate the locals to use them as self-educational centres.  Since 2019, we host the mother library in our main office premises in the city of Puno. We collaborate with a grassroots organization called Luz Verde. From our library, Luz Verde members plan many educational workshops that are brought to parks in different neighbourhoods and remote villages in the highlands.

Possible Cultural Activities on Amantani Island

ACTIVITY 1 

LOCAL PRODUCE SHOWING AND QUINOA COOKING WORKSHOP 

Through this experience, we will learn about the island’s native crops such as quinoa, corn, and different sort of potatoes including the dehydrated potatoes.  We will taste the local “snacks” such as corn, wheat, barley or roasted fava beans. Local people will explain how they follow the cycles of nature and how important it is to show gratitude to mother earth (Pachamama) for its fertility. We will finish the activity discovering the traditional way of preparing the precious quinoa for daily consumption, its collection, washing and preparation until it is edible. We will also get to see the handmade instruments that are still used to process food. We will end the activity tasting delicious quinoa pancakes!

Adults:  25 soles per person (6.50 USD per person approximately),

Children: 12 and less free.

ACTIVITY 2

EMBROIDERY AND WEAVING DEMONSTRATIONS:

In this experience, we will discover how some men and women of Amantani strive to keep alive the tradition of spinning and weaving their own sheep wool. Women still use rudimentary instruments to weave thick blankets with sheep wool and some men of the island have mastered the art of embroidery. They will explain to us about the threads they use, the types of blouses they make and how functional are some clothing pieces such as the “chuj’u” a sort of headscarf that women use for carrying a baby, or firewood or food, or used as a coat if it is cold.

We will end the activity weaving bracelets with using some Andean patterns.

Adults: 25 soles per person (6.50 USD per person approximately),

Children: 12 and less free.

ACTIVITY 3: 

VISIT A STONEMASON WORKSHOP  

This is a family from Amantani that strives to preserve the art of stone carving. The artist of the family uses the stone that the lake shores generously offers to its people. In this activity, the stone crafter will take us to his stone quarry and we will help him transport the material to his home. We will try the basic tools he uses to carve the stones. It sounds like a simple activity but this man does this following his family tradition and tirelessly tries not to forget how we can use the local resources to create art and embellish their own houses.

Adults: 30 soles per person (8.00 USD per person approximately),

Children: 12 and less free.

ACTIVITY 4

GETTING ON A BOAT WITH A LOCAL FISHERMAN

In the past fishing was as important as agriculture as a food source for the people of Lake Titicaca. Unfortunately, in 1940 extraneous fish species such as trout and catfish were introduced. These large fish have taken over the smaller native species. Today, overfishing has dramatically reduced the number of fish and the few fishermen who still dare to go out to the lake now use fishing nets. They leave at sunset to throw nets and return in the early morning to pick them up. Going out with these fishermen is a beautiful adventure to appreciate the evening light on a magnificent lake and connect with the magic that emanates from it.

This activity is carried out in two parts. The first outing is at sunset when you leave in a rowing boat to throw the nets and the second is an outing at dawn to collect the nets. Nowhere in the world is a fisherman’s life easy. This activity is ideal for travellers who love adventure and can withstand the cold of the Andes at 3800 meters above sea level. We suggest you wear thick winter jackets!

Adults: 40 soles per person (10.50 USD per person approximately),

Children: 14 years old  and less not allowed.

ACTIVITY 5 

VISIT OF THE LIBRARY AND STORYTELLING

Children in rural villages do not have many opportunities to participate in cultural events. Depending on the group, we can just share time playing volleyball, soccer or other outdoor games or we can also partake in a storytelling circle.

It was brought to our attention how willing the local children are to recite poems or sing songs in public, especially using their native Quechua language.  We have carefully evaluated the impact of this activity and have noticed that children reinforce their self-esteem when they receive applause and admiration from visitors. The objective of this activity is to ensure that the population of the island and, above all, children identify libraries as a space where fun and positive activities happen.

Free of charge and organized by the Travel Agency Staff.

ACTIVITY 6 

ANDEAN MUSIC WORKSHOP

This is an activity run by a young musician named Hugo Mamani, an artist who has returned home in Amantani with a mission to teach children the value of continuing playing the Andean local instruments. Hugo teaches Zampoñas, Quenas and Charangos. We will join him in an intimate workshop to try these instruments and get to know its secrets and sounds!

Many indigenous people from the islands, like Hugo, have gone to Lima to look for a better future just to realize that life in the big city is also very difficult. As such, locals are very happy when they receive visitors on their island because tourism brings much needed economic benefits and an interesting cultural dynamic to their community. Tourism is also bringing younger people back home because they can improve their living conditions without having to suffer the loneliness and stress of trying to make it alone in the big city.

Adults: 40 soles per person (10.5 USD per person approximately),

Children: 12 and less free

Tour Itinerary

ITINERARY: PUNO > UROS > AMANTANÍ ISLAND > TAQUILE ISLAND > PUNO

All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules.