Amanti Island Overview
An island even further away from Puno than Isla Taquile is Isla Amantani, one of the loveliest in Lake Titicaca. This peaceful village used to be part of the Inca Empire, with the ruins of Pachaman and Pachatata left behind as evidence. Amantani is included in many itineraries because of the amazing views atop the Inca temples and because of the opportunity to experience the well-preserved indigenous culture.
Before the Spanish invaded the island Amantani served as a prison of the Incan Empire. When the Spanish came those who weren't slaughtered were taken as slaves. Even after Peru's independence from Spain, the Spanish descendants still maintained control of the land. Eventually the Indians fought back and the island was split into communally held fields.
It is hard to believe such a beautiful and peaceful place is marred with such a bloody past. One of the best highlights of the island is a visit to the ruins of the Pachatata temples that rest atop the highest point on the island. There is also a small museum and a temple that is still used for ritual offerings. At the ruins of Pachamama there is a small ancient tower and another temple. The views from both ruins are amazing, with 360 panoramas of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding mountains.
If you can manage a night or two without modern conveniences, an overnight stay is definitely worthwhile. For a night you can experience life as an islander, which means you'll be sleeping on beds made of reeds and potatoes in every meal. There is no running water or electricity, but interacting with the people and experiencing this ancient agricultural community is a rare opportunity for travelers.
The best way to win over the locals is to bring them fruit, as that is a scarce commodity on the island. The locals are very welcome to visitors and every night they throw a party for newcomers. Islanders are even known to let you borrow their colorful outfits and teach you legendary dances.
To get there you can catch a boat leaving from Puno around 8:30am. The trip takes about four hours with a few stops to pick up more passengers. On the return trip there are boats that go directly back to Puno without stops, but there is also the option of stopping by Isla Taquile on the way back.
Map of Lake Titicaca
Get the most from your Peru Vacation.
Let the travel professionals at AR Tourism arrange the perfect vacation for you, while saving you money and eliminating the inconvenience of handling overseas arrangements.
AR Tourism Peru - Peru Vacation Travel Agency
Visit Peru
Enjoy the best hotels, tours and activities when you visit Peru on a vacation organized by AR Tourism Peru.
> More
