Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and Isla del Sol

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We flew into La Paz from Sao Paulo, joining up the Brazilian coast with the Bolivian Andes and, after a few days adjusting to the altitude in La Paz, we took the bus to Copacabana and Lake Titicaca. Copacabana town was friendly enough but it was on Isla del Sol we found something special. Quiet and picturesque, with Titicaca and the snow capped Andes as the backdrop, you can walk along cobbled pathways where the only other traffic is passing donkeys or cows, encouraged along by their friendly owners. Vegetable gardens either side of the paths, small fields of crops, the odd grunting pig, blossoming flowers, it has a country garden feel. You have to stop every so often to catch your breath with the altitude, but then it´s a chance to take in the view that, with the undulation of the countryside, is ever changing. We spent 2 nights, we could´ve stayed a lot longer. A lovely little getaway of a place and all the better for being low season. We went to Copacabana with the idea of visiting Isla del Sol, but came away thinking there could be no other reason.

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Photos

Isla del Sol llamas
view back to main land

Isla del Sol north
and the view back to Yampupata

Copacabana beach
not quite a match for it´s namesake in Brazil but pleasant nonetheless

Getting a good view
From the top of Isla del Sol on the 3 hour walk from north to south.

Crossing the Tiquina straights
our bus in the background (we took a separate launch)

Isla del Sol Challapampa
view of Challapampa where we stayed the first night from the "long trek" south to north.

Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
and my lady of Leeds

Taking a rest on Isla del Sol
at around 3500 metres above sea level we needed a few of those!

Cerro Calvario Copacabana
Isla del Sol in the distance

Cerro Calvario Copacabana
View of Copacabana

Isla del Sol donkey
and Isla de la Luna in the background

Cerro Calvario Copacabana
view to Yampupata in the background

Isla del Sol north
looking back to the south end of the island

Isla del Sol Challapampa
the little girls from the school insisted on a photo (for cash, only 50 centavos each)

Isla del Sol Yumani
a glass of Bolivian wine on the balcony outside our second night´s accommodation

Isla del Sol Chinkana
Inca ruins at the south end of the island

Isla del Sol piedra sacrada
(sacred stone)

Comments

[Sandra]

Pure Envy!
Hi guys, love this site...you look like you're having an awesome time and I can't believe nearly 6 months have gone by....simply amazing!! Have fun and keep updating this website for us suckers stuck in offices in the UK wishing we were with you....:)