Lake Titicaca
Trip Start
Aug 12, 2010
1
17
37
Trip End
Aug 11, 2011
Where I stayed
Isla del Sol, Bolivia
Sunday, September 26, 2010
As we only had 3 days to play with (our schedule is tight!) and we wanted to see as much as possible we decided to go with an organized tour of the lake and its islands over 3 days. The tour covered all the main attractions and included 2 nights accommodation. The tour started on Sunday afternoon when we reached Huatajata (wot a hata) where we stayed at the Inca Utama hotel which was very nice (our first hotel in 7 weeks!). We got a tour of the Andean roots eco village and the museum, telling us of the Tiwanakans who lived around the lake (pre Inca) and the Kallawaya witch doctors who use herbal medicine and read the coca leaves. There are still modern day Aymara people (Inca descendants in Bolivia) who practice the witch doctor stuff. Maureen had a coca reading with one of these witch doctors who said our trip would go well but emphasized not to argue and have patience (Note: it was Maureen who had the reading not Conor!!). Very interesting. On the Monday we headed to Copacabana (the original Copacabana, Rio just copied it) right on the lake. Here we went to the Cathedral to see the famous gold Virgin statue adored by the Bolivians who come to get their new (mainly secondhand) cars blessed. They also pray for houses and other material things and even melt candles to draw their requests onto the walls….funny given it contradicts a little with the Catholic teaching. I drew two houses and a Ferrari on the wall though!!
From here we headed to Moon Island (named by the Incas) to see the Temple of Virgins and the Royal Andean Range…very picturesque! Next stop was Sun Island where we spent the night. It is home to the Inca fountain promising eternal youth (I had a good long shower here!!..Maureen said she didn't need one!). The Inca legend goes that Sun Island is the birth place of the Inca people where Mama Ollca and Manco Kapac (sister and brother) were the first Incas (incest is best!). We stayed in the Posada del Inca owned by Crillon Tours which was lovely. That evening we watched the sunset over Lake Titicaca. The people lead very simple lives, mainly agriculture and tourism. They were quite friendly. There is no police on the island as they follow the 3 commandments of the Incas: don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t be lazy. It was a very picturesque spot and really nice place to chill out. The following day we headed for the border to cross into Peru. Definitely recommend visiting Bolivia, the place is hugely diverse and has some great stuff to see. Not too expensive either which also helps!
