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Published: April 18th 2015
Copacabana, Bolivia
A stall vendor with beautiful plaited hair at Lake Titicaca, CopacabanaWe leave La Paz and drive approx 200km to Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, the highest navigable lake in the world. We board a small foot ferry to Tiquina while Gus is taken across the lake separately. On our arrival to the port at Tiquina we take photos of Gus coming across the lake. It’s a small port with a few stalls; in the back ground workers attend to gardens in the centre with music playing in the background. After checking into our hotel which is beside the lake I take a walk through this delightful town. I visit the local cathedral which is whitewashed and in Moorish style surrounded by a wall. There are simple local fish restaurants and colourful stalls sending beautiful handicrafts.
The next day we visit the Isla de Sol in Lake Titicaca, which is the birthplace of the Inca Empire. It is quite a chilly morning so we all are wrapped up in fleeces, hats and scarves!
First we visit some early Inca ruins before starting our 14 km trek across the island. After some climbing we then trek along an undulating
Copacabana, Bolivia
Gus crossing Lake Titicaca, Copacabana path. Lunch is taken sitting amongst some ruins overlooking the lake. The afternoon we continue with the trek. The fast walkers ahead, but Lori and I are feeling the effects of the high altitude, so have to stop frequently to get our breath back. Lori’s husband Mike stays back with us, for which we are thankful.
The views are spectacular and along the way we see a few local people including a little boy who allows us to take is photo with a llama for a few bobs.
At the end of the trek we have a long descent down to the port, some of it steps and some just stones in earth. Lori and I take it slowly being that we are not so clever on steep uneven hills. On the way down we encounter locals bringing their donkeys / mules up the hill, so have to manoeuvre out of the animals’ way!
Eventually we get safely to the bottom and meet up with the rest of the group for our eventful boat ride back to the port. Once we got into the open lake the boat hit a storm. It was a covered small boat
Copacabana, Bolivia
The port at Lake Titicaca, Copacabana with seats two x two like that of a bus. The waves tossed us side to side and up and down, it was really scary and everyone were deadly silent. Nobody wanted to admit they were worried, however the crew were making several phone calls, which later we learnt was with the lake coast guards to see which port we should head to. At this time I really wished my Mike was here to reassure me; I was quite scared; However, after a while I thought to myself ‘don’t be so silly’ the crew are not panicking, the boat has not capsized so everything will be fine. I knew exactly where to find the life jackets should they be required, on this note I feel calmer. We arrived back to Tiquina in the dark safe and sound after an enjoyable if somewhat eventful day.
Tomorrow we leave Bolivia and enter Peru.
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taracloud
Tara Cloud
Excellent adventure!
Good for you for traversing the Isla del Sol. I just discovered your blog and have been delighted with your journey. I've been traveling South America for the last 4.5 years and am now lingering in Arequipa, Peru, a beautiful while, colonial city. If you happen to pass this way, I'd be delighted to show you around my town. I also decided to become a traveler at age 11, inspired by an image of explorers at the pyramids. You can send me a message where it says "message" on my page. Even if we don't connect, I so admire your journey and wish you Buen Viaje!