In 1960, the islands' economy had little use for banks, based as it was on tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture and exported labour.

Funds from the conservancy provide new schools and bursaries, better roads, clean water, health care, an orphanage and vital improvements to subsistence agriculture.

These communities were essentially survived on subsistence agriculture.

The main economic activities of the population are subsistence agriculture and cattle raising (lowlands) and alpaca and vicua husbandry (highlands).

Migration from the countryside to cities has reflected a transition from subsistence agriculture to factory labor.