Uros Amantani Islands Trip: A Helpful Review and Guide

Planning a visit to Lake Titicaca and trying to pick between all those tour options? You might be looking at a full-day trip to the floating Uros Islands and the more-remote Amantani Island. I will share my experience, in this review, highlighting all the parts I found enjoyable, also areas that could have been improved. My goal is to equip you with enough info, that way you can choose if this tour works for you, alright?

What to Expect from the Uros and Amantani Islands Tour

Basically, the “Puno Full Day Floating Islands of Uros Amantani” tour aims to provide a window into two completely different cultures. First, you are going to stop at the Uros Islands. Those are human-made islands constructed entirely of reeds, also inhabited by the Uros people. Later, you will travel on to Amantani Island. Here, you get a taste of more traditional Andean life. The residents live by farming and textile production. It is very interesting stuff.

One thing I want to mention is that the order of activities and maybe some of the smaller details may change a little from tour to tour. But that day usually has these parts:

Early Morning Start: A driver will pick you up from your lodging early. Like, 7 a.m. early.
Uros Islands Visit: Here, a local guide shows you the floating islands, how they’re built, what living on them is like, as well as talking a bit about the history of the Uros people. You might have a chance to purchase some local handmade things.
Trip to Amantani: It is a boat ride that takes a couple of hours to get to Amantani. During the journey, you can relax, appreciate the sights around, and chat with other people from the tour.
Arrival at Amantani and Homestay: You will be welcomed by a host family on the island. Lunch is at their house. Usually it’s a tasty, simple, locally sourced meal.
Island Exploration: There is usually an afternoon hike to the top of the island to witness some old ruins. Views of Lake Titicaca at the very top are spectacular, really.
Cultural Immersion: You eat supper with the host family, as well as possibly get involved with some local activities, such as dancing or dressing in traditional clothing.
Return to Puno: The next morning you will bid farewell to your host family, also you will ride back to Puno, getting there around late afternoon.

The Uros Islands: Touristy, Very Interesting, Still Worth It?

The floating Uros Islands, yeah, they are definitely touristy. I mean, there is no getting away from it. At first, I was a little bit unsure about the authenticity of everything. That said, even with all the tourism, I still felt it was interesting. The feeling of walking on the soft, springy reed surface is unlike something else. And so is seeing how those people created a functional, even if unique, living place.

Our guide really walked us through the construction of the islands; it seems that layer after layer of totora reeds are added constantly to the top as well as the bottom to keep the islands afloat and sturdy. I think it is wild how communities maintain, as well as live on these artificial islands. In some respects, you do get a sales pitch for local crafts, I want to tell you. Yet, that’s understandable, it seems to me, because it gives income to these families. I was more than willing to get a souvenir, as a way of saying thanks for permitting us a look into their fascinating lifestyle. So, yeah, despite the tourists, I think visiting the Uros Islands is a memorable experience for any trip to Lake Titicaca, you know?

Amantani Island: Authentic Culture, Stunning Views

Amantani Island felt a bit different from Uros. It is way less touristy. Spending time there felt like actually stepping back in time. Life runs at a calmer pace there, you know, also revolves mostly around agriculture and traditions passed down through generations.

Having a homestay on Amantani was easily one of the best parts of the whole tour. Our host family was really welcoming, generous, and were really open to sharing parts of their life with us. We were talking about farming methods. We also learned some words in Quechua, as well as helped in the kitchen preparing supper. The food was straightforward. Made with local stuff, also absolutely delicious, just very genuine.

The hike up to the Pachatata temple gave some mind blowing views of Lake Titicaca. Going up, the sun setting over the calm waters, painting the whole place with golden light, that, it was just beautiful. Plus, it gave us a chance to connect with some old Andean history. In the evening, everyone got together in the community for music and dancing, very cool stuff, alright? Even though I’m not the best dancer, it was actually very fun being a part of it all. It is all about getting the hang of it.

English and Spanish Guidance: How Effective Was It?

The tour said that they would give guidance in English and Spanish, yet the quality was variable, so to speak. In the Uros Islands, our guide was reasonably good at speaking both languages. The info shared was understandable. I want to say though, when there were quite a lot of questions from people who were not native speakers, at times, he had a bit of a difficult time keeping up.

On Amantani, our host family spoke primarily Spanish and Quechua. It turns out communication was trickier for people that did not know Spanish. It’s almost as though our guide made an attempt to translate all through the stay. I found using a translation app on my phone helped bridge the gap, I will say. So, really, if you do not know any Spanish, make certain that you get enough translation from your main guide and maybe keep a translation app ready just in case.

What Could Be Better?

So, while the “Puno Full Day Floating Islands of Uros Amantani” tour had some great parts, here is what I feel like might use a little adjustment, you know?

More In-Depth Cultural Context: Giving some added background information regarding the histories of the Uros and Amantani people could totally improve the cultural immersion. It will provide some added depth to the experience.
Better Language Support on Amantani: Tour operators could coordinate to make sure those who speak English get enough translation during their homestay experience.
Reducing Tourist Traps: In the Uros Islands particularly, it would be cool if there was a way of keeping tourist-focused things down, like constant sales pitches, for instance, to keep a focus on the actual culture as well as the history.

Recommendations for Future Travelers

Alright, now, here are some of my recommendations if you are seriously planning to do this tour:

Pack Appropriately: Remember layers. The weather could change really fast on Lake Titicaca, yeah? And also wear sturdy walking shoes for the hike on Amantani.
Bring Essentials: Remember sunscreen, a hat, as well as sunglasses. The altitude mixed with sun will definitely get to you, just believe me!
Learn Basic Spanish: Even knowing some basic phrases can really make your connections with the host family much better.
Be Respectful: Treat those communities with the due respect. Bear in mind you are a visitor. Get involved in activities and appreciate that they are inviting you to see how they live.
Take Cash: There are some opportunities for getting souvenirs, so be certain to bring small change along to make payments easier.

When it comes down to it, so, my trip to Uros and Amantani Islands was an awesome mix of cultural learning, magnificent natural beauty, and meeting a bunch of hospitable people. While the Uros Islands were more touristy than I would have preferred, I have to tell you that the experience was quite exceptional. The time on Amantani made it a memorable, meaningful experience, you know?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this trip suitable for families with small kids?

Yeah, for the most part, but keep in mind there are lengthy boat rides plus some walking involved. So, if the young ones are prone to seasickness or do not like walking distances, that is something you should think about. Just make certain that your children stay hydrated, that way they can acclimate better to higher elevations.

What is the altitude of Lake Titicaca?

Lake Titicaca is really high up there. It is more than 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) above sea level, so you may well have altitude sickness. To keep altitude sickness away, get there early and chill, try to drink heaps of water, and take it easy on day one.

Is it OK to take photos of the local people?

Out of respect, just seek permission before you go clicking away with the camera. Most locals don’t usually mind so long as you show kindness and respect, and maybe offer a small tip sometimes.

What kind of food will I be eating?

I found that the food is usually basic, just like the food local families eat. Count on getting soups, quinoa, potatoes, and occasionally some meat like chicken or fish caught in Lake Titicaca. I thought that it was a good eating experience, like the organic freshness in everything made for real culinary delight. If you happen to have some food sensitivities or like something different to eat, you should probably inform your tour operator ahead, to give the host family the chance to make a few arrangements.

Do they have any bathrooms on the islands?

Uros Islands got simple bathroom amenities, usually there are ecological toilets which is a dry compost toilet. Amantani Island homestays have essential bathroom amenities, and they can be very simple. Remember to have along your own personal toiletries for convenience, OK?