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CULTURAL AMANTANI ISLAND: SUPPORT LITERACY PROJECT

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 the island of Amantani 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 Amantani

The 3,800 inhabitants of Amantani are of Quechua origin and they are mainly
small farmers. The most important crops in Amantani are Andean potatoes,
barley and green beans. The "Amantaneos" have not been as successful in
their entrepreneurial tourism initiatives as their neighbors from Taquile.
However, they are very friendly and warm hosts and offer a great homestay
experience to travelers.

A visit to Amantani necessarily implies to stay one night on the island. The
houses are very 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
revelation of the reality of Andean people at such altitude. This cultural
exchange experience in Amantani is very touching and fascinating.

There a few little hostels in Amantani Island 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 to 40 US dollars (includes meals and lodgment) per
person.
Route: Uros floating islands-Amantani island-Taquile island

Duration: 2days/1night in shared basis (group tour)

Why Cultural Amantani tour?

This kind of tour is our answer to a plea that for years, the local people of
Amantani have been making to tour operators in Puno. In fact, indigenous local
communities in all touristy destinations are asking to get better treatment and
payment from national and international tour operators. Therefore, we have
designed a cultural tour that provides a chance to both, travelers and locals, to
benefit of a more meaningful interaction. Also, in this tour our travelers are in
charge of paying directly to their host families for lodging and meals provided
during the visit. This way, local people do not have to travel long distances to
be paid by the company.

We propose this kind of visit to tourists who enjoy travelling in small groups and
look for a more authentic experience. Sometimes, our travelers have some
artistic gift and they want to share it with their host families and more members
of the local community. Let us know if you are willing to organize some games
or educational activities in the community, we can help you prepare a little
program during your visit! Visit Literacy Project in Lake Titicaca if you are
interested in learning more about this initiative.

In summary, the main differences between classic and cultural tours


are the size of the travelers group (cultural tours being smaller) and
most importantly, the possibility to share more time with the local host
family. When you choose this tour you are contributing to our Lake
Titicaca Literacy Project that helps maintaining the 10 libraries that we
have implemented in each section of the island.

ITINERARY: (Suggested times might change according to weather conditions)

DAY 1

07:30: We start the transfers from hotels to the dock in Puno.


08:00: We embark on a boat journey towards Amantani island. On the way,
we stop by the floating Islands of Uros for a guided interpretation of the local
way of life of the Uro people.

13:30: We arrive in Amantani Island where a welcoming group of local


people is waiting for us. After we are assigned to our host families, we will
walk with them to the houses.

14:00: Lunch in local house.

15:00: We will spend time with the local family and share with them the
regular activities they do as farmers. This way, you will have a closer look
about life in a rural community in the Andes and experience the beauty of a
simple life. If there is time we can visit the little library of the community.

16:00: We will follow the stone


pathway fixed among the farmers
fields of the islands and walk towards
the highest point in Amantani Island.
This lookout point is called
Pachatata and it has been for many
centuries the sacred place of worship
for the people of this community.
From this site we will enjoy the view
of the magnificent Lake Titicaca and
its islands.

19:00: Dinner in local house.

20:00: In our local culture, there is always a reason to enjoy the folk music
and dance because that is an important part of life in the Andes. This is the
reason why after dinner, the community of Amantani organizes a gathering
of local families and guests in the salon communal. A local group of
musicians play Andean music with the traditional instruments and we are
invited to join in the dance and happy celebration. We are also given the
wonderful opportunity to try on the local
dresses, ponchos and costumes.

Lodgment in homestay

DAY 2

08:00: After breakfast, we will leave Amantani


Island and continue in direction to Taquile.
09:00: We arrive in Taquile Island and start a soft hike up to the community.
At some point during the visit we will enjoy a textile and cultural exhibition
and the tour guide will offer an interpretation of the traditional clothing and
textile designs from Taquile.

12:00: We will have a delicious lunch in a local restaurant of Taquile Island.


Right after lunch, we start a 45 minute hike down to the main dock.

13:00: We embark on the boat back to Puno.

16:00: We arrive in Puno and we will be transfer to our hotel.

Tour Price: $49 US dollars per person (minimum


04 people)
INCLUDED: EXCLUDED
Pick-up from/to hotels in Lodging and meals: $15
downtown Puno dollars per person for 3 meals
English-Spanish speaking guide and bed in home stay. The
for 2 days local family will provide you
Entrance fees to Uros, also with three or more clean
Amantani and Taquile islands blankets. However we suggest
Boat transportation round trip using your sleeping bag if you
Activities with host families have one with you. Toilets are
basic.
Lunch in Taquile
There is a supplemental charge
for pickups from hotels outside
the city of Puno: Libertador,
Eco Inn, Casa Andina Private
Collection, Posada del Inka,
Jose Antonio and hotels in the
village of Chucuito.

IMPORTANT INFO

WHAT ESSENTIALS SHOULD I BRING

It is recommended to bring your sunglasses, sunscreen with high SPF,


moisturizing cream, bathing suit (just in case water is cold in the lake!), a hat,
warm and comfortable clothes for night and dawn hours, cotton T-shirts during
daytime, hand sanitizer and camera.
WHAT IS A CULTURAL OR CULTURAL EXCHANGE TOUR?

Our cultural tours have been created to offer our travelers the opportunity to
have an authentic look into the lives of indigenous Aymara and Quechua
speaking Peruvians who continue thousands of years tradition. Most cultural
tours include a homestay overnight. A homestay is a unique and special
experience if well approached with a good tour guide and a responsible tour
operator. Many travelers are discourage to try it because of the dubious reviews
we can mostly read about homestays on travel forums but you will be positively
surprise by how much appreciation and better understanding of life in these
communities will these cultural experiences leave on you.

HOW ALTITUD WILL AFFECT ME?

Often altitude has an immediate effect on travelers. For many people the
symptoms are mild and the body adjusts within a few hours. Altitude manifests
in shortness of breath (mild to extreme) on even the most minimal action. Our
best advice to travelers is to rest as soon as they arrive in Puno, keep warm,
eat light and drink lots of fluids. Sweet drinks such as natural herbal tea, coca
tea or even coke are good help to gain energy. Sugar and some rest will
definitely help our bodies to adjust to altitude. In rare cases altitude sickness
symptoms do not get better but intensified. After 2 days with resilient altitude
sickness symptoms (such us vomiting, dizziness, unbearable headache) then
the best action is to continue to another lower destination.

HOW IS THE WEATHER IN LAKE TITICACA?

The weather is mostly sunny all year round during day time. The skies are
mostly clear blue and you have to be careful with the intense sunshine during
the day. It is highly recommended to use the strongest factor of sun protection.
Sun bathing is not a good idea at these latitude and altitude. Be aware that
temperature plummets in the evening, at night, and at dawn. We always need
to have a warm winter jacket at hand for the time when the sun goes down.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR ATTRACTION OF LAKE TITICACA?

The highest navigable lake in the world at over 3,800 m (12,000 feet) has been
a magnetic site since ancient times. Today, many travelers come to experience
this vast lake of sky blue water and graced with the snow-capped Andes
Mountains.
Besides the interest in the natural beauty of this region, travelers come to our
lake to know the living culture of our profound Peru. The lake is home of
various indigenous Quechua and Aymara villages who keep their traditional
ways in this modern 21st century. Many of the local people we visit understand,
respect and want to protect their culture. A visit to these rural and indigenous
communities of lake Titicaca is a step back in time.

HOW CAN I HELP?


READ ABOUT ALL WAYS TRAVEL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS

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