Isla del Sol, Bolivia

How could we spend only one day at Lake Titicaca? No worries, I had foreseen this situation, and in part, wanting to linger at the Lake is why we are now setting our sights on Bolivia. Nearer the lakes southern border, its largest island is called Isla del Sol, or Island of the Sun. Dating back centuries to pre-Inca times, it was thought that this island was the birthplace of the Sun as it emerged from the water, and its sister island, Isla del la Luna, produced the moon. That definitely sounds special. On the Sun Island we could spend another few nights absorbing the local culture, hiking, exploring ancient ruins, and simply gazing at the water by day, and the stars at night. After all of those physical challenges experiencing Peru, maybe we were deserving of some rest on an island in the sun? But that means Bolivia. Okay then, lets go, we both agreed!

Isla del Sol and Isla del la LunaBut first, if you will remember from a few posts ago, we found ourselves in a very peculiar situation in Puno, Peru. It was a Sunday morning in this lakeside town, and we were just a bit melancholy at breakfast. This was our last meal with the Aventouras group. We had enjoyed each others company in the way that usually only develops from years of friendship. Within the span of eight days we had experienced a lot together, some of which included moments of terror, exhilaration, hilarity, shock, fatigue, joy, silliness, and feats of accomplishment. It was time for the group to disperse to distant lands, many homeward bound, with our many memories packed like keepsake souvenirs. On this same day, Peru was voting for its new president, a vote required from each and every citizen. That evening, now alone, in our comfy double twin bedroom, we fell asleep to firecrackers (or were they gunshots?), debates on loud speakers which lasted for hours, and plenty of honking horns. You and I were not sure if the locals were happy or not with the election results; we just wanted to be given safe passage to Bolivia in the morning. Roadblocks and demonstrations are common in this area, producing a significant disruption to all services in and out of the city. Large rocks in the road, enormous piles of soil in the road, or even chains of people blocking the roads were all common. Please, please, please let us through tomorrow was our bedtime prayer. Once in Bolivia all would be well, or so we thought.

New Australian friends, Isla del Sol

Early the next morning we waited for our Luxury Coach to take us to the port city of Copacabana, Bolivia (yes, just like the song), and we met a group of five Australians at the bus terminal. They were also going to the Island of the Sun for a few nights, as part of their large journey through South America. It is such a comfort to have others around that also speak English, plus they were super friendly, and had a local guide meeting them... SCORE! The roads stayed open that day, SCORE TWO, and by mid day we had traveled south roughly 65-70 miles along the shore of Lake Titicaca’s 100 mile length, crossed a very rudimentary border station, and arrived at Copacabana without incident. The Aussie group, plus guide, offered to share their private boat to the island with me (they had plenty of room) and we SCORED THREE!

At the Copa, Copacabana!

Once on the island, you and I hiked about an hour up-hill, with our luggage, huffing and puffing from the low oxygen at this high altitude, to the village of Yumani and our ecolodge for the next three blissful nights. How does someone describe Isla del Sol? You can’t. I’m not even going to try. It is one of those special places in this world that defies expression. The pictures, and our video in production, may help, but overall it is best seen and felt to fully appreciate.  Considering what we have experienced in this trip so far, it is indeed a tribute to this region of the world to acknowledge its multitude of unspoiled treasures.

Almost unbelievably beautiful