Celebrating the riders who keep their small Peruvian island on the map and on the move

“The idea came to me while travelling to Amantani [an island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca] for a job,” says photographer Diego Bendezu. “As I spent time there, I noticed the young bikers navigating the island’s paths.” These riders are working to making tourism and transport more accessible, he explains. “What struck me was how they were quietly pushing the islands into a new era... despite initial resistance from some locals.”

This was the origin of the Peruvian artist’s new photography series, Island Bikers. “Their story felt important, yet unlikely to be told by anyone outside their community,” Diego continues, explaining that he wanted to reflect both the island’s progress and the bikers’ deep affection for it. This adoration and sense of dedication is apparent in Diego’s photographs. Contrast is rife – whether it’s between the accelerating sense of movement clashing with soft hues and warm lines, or the inorganic forms of the biker’s vehicle bouncing off Peru’s beautifully scattered, undulated lanscape. As a result, the characters, settings and scenes feel ultimately timeless.

“The hope was for the images to feel lasting,” Diego says, “something that could be looked at years from now and still feel important,” whilst equally capturing the island’s magical, distinctive atmosphere. “Being in a place with almost no signal, completely disconnected, felt like stepping into a dreamlike escape from reality,” a sensation that heightened his awareness of both the islands’ beauty and the biker’s beneficial business. “I wanted to visually translate that feeling into the series,” he adds, “something ethereal yet grounded in the everyday lives of these young bikers.” In doing so, he captures the connection they have with their island, and creates a space for audiences to observe, be curious, and listen. “I hope the series reminds people of the importance of everyday stories,” he adds, “the kind that often go unnoticed but shape communities in meaningful ways”.

Diego’s intentions similarly mirror his practical approach to documenting the island bikers, capturing how they interacted with their environment. “I started by simply photographing the bikers as they rode by, observing how they moved through the island,” he says. “Over the next few days, I became more familiar with them.” He shares how he called on them to help with the job he was initially there to do, which required a large amount of transportation. “That experience gave me the chance to hear their stories firsthand,” Diego explains, “understand their role in the community, and capture them in a way that felt both natural and authentic.”

A particular standout image for Diego was taken on his first day in Taquile, when he noticed a number of people unloading goods that arrived on the boat. “As we made our way up the hill path, I suddenly heard the sound of a bike approaching from behind,” Diego recalls. Instinctively, he pulled out his camera and snapped the passing young man. “As he rode off, he glanced back, waved, and smiled,” Diego ends, “it was such a brief moment, but in that instant, I saw the beauty of what was unfolding on the island.”