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Published: March 23rd 2013
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The Inca Creation site and the Birthplace of the Sun in Inca Mythology
On our way from Peru (Puno) to Bolivia (La Paz) we stopped just over the border at Copacabana - a small village on Lake Titicaca.
Copacabana is a tourist town, with market stalls and over priced restaurants as everyone who crosses from Peru to Bolivia has a stop over here for at least 2 hours at lunchtime - allowing the community to up the prices as they are guarenteed at least 5 bus loads of tourists a day.
The town itself, is small with lots of Hostels and Hotels - very basic and not the cheapest Bolivia has to offer! The lake was much nicer than Puno, but still little to be desired. We stayed one night in town and then early the next day headed to the Islands.
Isla Del Sol - A 2 hour ferry ride for 20 Bolivianos will take you to the island - departing at 8.30m or 1.30pm. Most people seem to just do a day tour out to the island which is known as the Inca creation site and the birthplace of the sun in Inca mythology (hence the islands name!). We opted for an overnight stay - and was so
happy we did!
We got off at Yumani, a small village built on a cliff face over looking the amazing lake and snow capped mountains of Bolivia in the distance. The weather was amazing - not a cloud! As soon as we got off the boat the cutest kids started asking us about accomodation they knew a small amount of English but lucky we finally know our basic spanish enough to book a room, order food etc and we were taken by this kid to what I think would be the best accomodation on the island.
We had our own private room, off a cliff with a balcony and ocean veiws for all of 60 Bolivianos a night $AUD8.30 for the 2 of us with a restaurat just below with huge rolls with cheese and ham, or cheese and tomato for $B7.00 ($AUD1.00). Theres a popular walk along the island - from one end where we were staying, to the other to see the Inca sights. As the weather was so perfect and we didnt want to risk the weather the next day we decided to do the 6 hour hike then. We walked up the path - to
which we thought would be a no brainer turns out it wasnt and we got lost! The path we took was definately the locals path we went through all the farming communitys, and saw so many animals about 2 hours in after not seeing another single tourist we did begin to wonder and yep - turns out we were not on the tourist trail but the locals which was much harder and longer!
Once we found the actual path (which was literally lined with rocks and smoothed) not like the paths we had been on at all - we ended up at the gates to the Inca Sites where they tried to get us to pay $B15.00. The inca sites where tempting - but as we had only a little bit of cash on us Brenden thought a beer one the balcony was more enticing and we headed back (o the tourist path this time) but we did learn - the locals path was so much better and getting lost was the best thing that could have happened!
When we got back to our room - the stock drop boat had just arrived and we had a beer
and watched the 100's of donkeys walk down the steps to get loaded with all sorts of things: cement, soft drink, slabs etc and walk back up the hill - at least from getting lost we knew where they were coming from and going! We did wonder why they did'nt us Llamas - as everywhere else we had been has Llamas as mules, then one came down and we found out why. It had taken about 1 - 2 people to load a donkey - the Llama took 4 at least and was not happy about it! One thing I have leart - Llamas are mean! They spit at you if you get to close (as the front person was experiencing over and over) and they run away at any chance they get - must say this was very entertaining though!
We loved Isla Del Sol, and wanted to stay another night but the next day we got up it was raining and decided to take the 11am ferry back to town to catch the 2pm buses to La Paz. But for anyone passing through Copacabana and the Islands - make sure you head to Yumani and take some
time to stay there and give something to the community!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Getting lost may be the real destination
I'm glad I found your blog today. Looks like you have a great plan and are having a great time.