Boat in Titicaca Lake leaving Uros Island
Taquile local welcoming travelers
Titicaca lake landscape from taquile
Local and travelers sharing culture un Amantani
Locals in a reeds boat
Totora crafting by the Uros
Titicaca Landscape from Taquile
Terrace agriculture in Taquile
Interior of Amantani Acommodation
Group of locals in Amantani
Taquile Island tour
Taquile Island landscape
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Cultural Amantani Island Tour – 2 Days from Puno

Live with a Quechua family and enjoy an authentic cultural experience on Lake Titicaca

(3 reviews)
Puno
2 days
Spanish / English
Starts: From your hotel in Puno at 7:45 a.m.
Ends: To your hotel in Puno at 4:30 p.m.
Free cancellation!

Briefing

Discover Lake Titicaca from within on this 2-day tour to the islands of Amantani and Taquile—an authentic experience far from mass tourism. Cruise across the highest navigable lake in the world and immerse yourself in Quechua communities, sharing their daily life, cuisine, and traditions.

Spend the night on Amantani in a local home, gaining firsthand insight into the Andean way of life through a unique cultural exchange. The journey is rounded out with visits to Taquile and the floating Uros Islands.

Do you want to know more? Keep on reading.

Tour details

Included

  • Transfers in van and boat
  • Bilingual professional guide
  • Tickets to the Uros
  • Amantani and Taquile Islands

Not included

  • Payment to the local family ($28 USD - includes food and accommodation)
  • Tips
  • Day 2 lunch (30 soles / 8 USD aproximately)
  • Cultural activities with local families (Between US$8 and US$15 depending on the chosen activity)

Important information

* We must keep in mind that the inhabitants of Taquile mainly speak Aymara and just a bit of spanish, but their warm and gracious personalities make this not a problem.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation!

If you cancel at least 8 days before the start of the tour, you will receive 100% of the amount paid.

If you cancel at least 7 days before the start of the tour, you will receive 50% of the amount paid.

After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be issued.

Tour itinerary

DAY 1 Puno -Uros - Amantani

8 : 00 AM

Floating Islands of the Uros

After hotel pick up and transfer to the port of Puno, we leave for Amantani. On the way we will stop first at the artificial islands of the Uros where their inhabitants will explain us their way of life. The Uros collect a reed called Totora, and every 20 days they add a new layer to their islands to keep them afloat.

Uros artificial island
1 : 30 PM

Lake Titicaca Amantani Island Homestay

Upon arrival, the people of Amantani will welcome us and guide us through the island to our respective houses. Later, you will eat at the home of your local family. After lunch, the family will invite us to participate in different daily activities on the island, and we will discover their culture and traditions.

Locals welcoming travelers
3 : 00 PM

Cultural Activities

In the afternoon, the experience flows with the rhythm of the community and the group. You can join a cooking workshop using local products and quinoa, where you'll learn to prepare traditional dishes; take part in an embroidery and weaving workshop to discover ancestral techniques passed down through generations; visit a stone carving workshop to explore the artisanal craft of working with stone; enjoy a boat ride with a local fisherman, sharing stories and knowledge connected to the lake (this activity takes place on the second day at 6:30 AM); or join an Andean music workshop, a participatory activity that closes the day with traditional rhythms and sounds in a warm, culturally enriching atmosphere.

Man weaving with a machine
8: 30 PM

Arrival Festival

We will have dinner at the home of our local family. Later, we can join the celebration that takes place on the occasion of our arrival on the island, with traditional music and dances, known as the "peña" night. After the celebration, it will be time to sleep in Amantani.

Locals and travelers with traditional clothes

DAY 2 Amantani - Taquile - Puno

8 : 00 AM

Taquile Island Tour

If you chose the boat ride with a local fisherman, you’ll be able to enjoy it at 6:30 AM.

After breakfast, we will go to the island of Taquile where we will follow an uphill path towards the main town there. During the short hike, you can enjoy beautiful views and agricultural terraces. Once we have arrived, they will teach us their sheep wool treatment technique and show us the art of weaving and spinning.

Traveler and sheep in Taquile
12 : 00 PM

Lunch and return to Puno

We will have lunch at a local community restaurant in Taquile. After lunch, we will return to Puno to arrive around 16:00 in the afternoon. To finish our Amantani and Taquile island Tour in Titicaca, a minibus will drop us off at our hotel.

Uros floating island

What to bring to Cultural Amantani Island – 2 Days from Puno tour

  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Moisturizer
  • Swimsuit
  • Hat or cap
  • Warm and comfortable clothes
  • Camera

Where does the tour Cultural Amantani Island – 2 Days from Puno start

If you plan to arrive from Arequipa, the most common option is to take the tour to the Colca Canyon and on the second day board a bus from Chivay directly to Puno, where you will arrive around 6:00 PM. If you plan to arrive from Cusco, you can do so in a tourist bus that has different, regular stops along the route at various archaeological sites and tourist attractions (10 hours ride). Alternatively, you can also board a direct bus on a route of roughly 6.5 hours that you can book with several companies, including Cruz del Sur. If you plan to arrive in Puno coming from Bolivia, you can opt for different companies that offer the route Copacabana - Puno or La Paz - Puno.

Questions & Answers

  • What does the extra fee paid to the local family include?

    The 28 dollars paid at the destination and in cash are intended to support the local community without any intermediary. It includes 3 meals and a bed to sleep in. Sheets will also be provided, however, we recommend that you use your sleeping bag.

  • What activities can I do with local families in Amantani?

    For this tour, you can choose two activities to enjoy:

    • Local produce exhibition and quinoa cooking workshop ($8 per person)
    • Embroidery and weaving demonstrations ($8 per person)
    • Visit a stonemason’s workshop ($9 per person)
    • Boat ride with a local fisherman ($12.5 per person)
    • Andean music workshop ($15 per person)

    Note: Payment is made directly to the local family. Children under 12 years old can join for free.

Cultural Amantani Island – 2 Days from Puno tour reviews with Howlanders

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