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Titicaca
Located in Northern Bolivia on the high plateau or ‘Altiplano’ is Lake Titicaca. The Altiplano has an average altitude of 4,000 metres, which makes the lake, at a size of 8,300 sq km, the highest navigable lake in the world. The small town of Copacabana is full of Bolivian character, with narrow dusty streets and a colourful market.
Lake Titicaca is the main attraction, once the cradle of the most important pre-Hispanic cultures in the Andes, the Tiawanaco, who flourished between 100 and 700 AD. Even when it was eventually incorporated into the Inca Empire the area continued to be held in high esteem, as according to Inca creation mythology, Manco Capac, their founder and his sister-wife emerged from the lakes dark waters to found their nation.
The islands within Lake Titicaca are, fascinating and welcoming. Isla del Sol is the largest island on Lake Titicaca and contains few small villages, that are home to about 5,000 mostly indigenous people who farm the lands, fish or raise alpaca. The island's landscape consists of steep, rocky hillsides with green, scrubby bushes. Many hills on the island are farmed on the steep terraces. There are numerous sandy, isolated bays and coves. The island offers amazing sights over the lake and the distant Andean Mountain range. THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Below is a list of things to see and do around lake Titicaca, though we are able to create any itinerary depending on your interests.
Isla de Sol. The island is a 90 minute boat ride from Copacabana and arrives at the small settlement of Yumani in the southern part. In Yumani, you'll find some of the islands famous ruins, such as the 200 Inca steps the climb up the steep terrain. These steps are the original Inca construction and they lead to a sacred spring fountain. On the north end of Isla del Sol is the village of Challapampa, famous for the Chicana ruins, which is a maze of interlinking rooms and passageways built around a sacred rock. Just a few hundred feet from the Chinaka ruins you'll find the sacred "Rock of Puma", which according to Inca legend is where the Inca civilization was born.
Isla de la Luna (Moon Island). This is another island in Lake Titicaca that contains a few Inca ruins. It is believed during the Inca times, this island housed "chosen" women, who lived a nun-like lifestyle and would perform ceremonies for the sun god.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Lake Titicaca
Traversing Lake Titicaca by catamaran is one of the best ways to see the lake and the surrounding Andes. Being able to visit the small islands of Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna
Lake Titicaca
Suasi is a solar-powered eco-lodge on the remote and uniquely beautiful Isla Suasi—the only private island on Lake Titicaca. Suasi has panoramic lake views from every room, which are also surrounded by terraced gardens
Lake Titicaca
Titilaka lodge is probably the best place to stay around the lake. Its large windows which overlook the lake as well as the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes means you are always aware of your surroundings
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