We will never sell your information or send SPAM. Walk on the Inca´s Stairway and drink water directly from the Fountain of Eternal Youth, then, night stay at local hostel on top of Sun Island where both parts of the lake will be seen. Having said that, as long as you’re acclimatized and in a relatively fit condition, you won’t have any problems. Don’t forget to subscribe in order to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your e-mail!

Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island with many eucalyptus trees.

Much more interesting from a distance seemed to be a nearby island with only trees. Back in 2013 I left my old 9 to 5 life behind and I haven't looked back ever since. In fact, the entire Yumani village, where about 1,200 people live, in the south of Isla del Sol is lovely with simple, tidy homes, well-kept fields and gardens, roaming livestock, and lots of new construction since all tourists come to the south now with the ban in the north still in effect. Just an hour’s boat ride from Copacabana, today travelers can visit the island to explore Inca ruins, learn ancient weaving techniques, and take in some of Lake Titicaca’s best views. Bolivia may well be rough round the edges, but it enchanted us nonetheless. That is certainly available, but the hotels we saw were comfortable, stylish and inviting (much more so than anything in Copacabana) and we immediately wished we’d planned to spend a night or two on the island instead of returning to town.

We spent the one-hour return boat ride to Copacabana in a pleasant food coma. We're not traveling during the pandemic. Isla del Sol was the first land that appeared after the flood waters began to recede and the Sun emerged from Titi Qala to illuminate the sky once again. Our guide told us that the real name of the lake is Lake Titicarcar (which means silver puma), but the Spanish heard “titikaka” and made it so.

The Isla del Sol is probably the most visited island in the entire Titicaca Lake region thanks to its convenient location and natural beauty. After waiting in vain for the island dispute to work itself out, we gave in and booked a trip to the southern half of Isla del Sol and to Isla de la Luna with Turismo Bolivia-Peru travel agency. We wrote an article on Isla del Sol, so have a look. If you’re staying the night, your hostel may be located even further up the hill and, as there are no cars on the island, you won’t have much choice but to walk it. The island is considered a sacred site in Bolivia and has around 3500 full-time inhabitants.

Make sure to seat on top for the best views. Fast boat takes about 1.5 hours. Its main claim to tourist fame is the chance to visit Lake Titikaka, which the Incas considered sacred as the birthplace of their god, and the temples on Isla del Sol in the lake. Copacabana is a very charming town that becomes virtually empty after all day trippers go to La Paz, Puno or to Isla del Sol. A Day In Isla Del Sol: Exploring Lake Titicaca’s Famous Island; Top 6 Things to See and Do in Copacabana Bolivia The town of Copacabana, Bolivia sits on the shore of Lake Titikaka (spelled Titicaca in Latin America). Data from Ch'uxuqullu therefore indicates that the lake shore cultures were using well-developed watercraft technology during the Archaic period.[5]. Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country Club is nestled between the southern tip of St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach, just north of Tierra Verde. The chronicler Bernabé Cobo documented two versions of an Inca origin myth that took place on the northern part of this island. Isla del Sol, Bolivia’s “Island of the Sun,” was one of the most unexpected surprises during a four-month adventure across the Andes. Isla del Sol in Bolivia is the perfect daytrip to take from Copacabana, the Bolivian town next to the Peruvian border. Communication with the tour company was good (even after office hours) and we felt like we were in good hands based on a commitment to flexibility, teamwork, knowledge of the history and customs of the area, years of experience, and native guides and drivers. It’s also full of mysteries. Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. Got the 8.30am boat across and 3pm boat back - be careful, my phone changed to Peruvian time while there and we almost missed the boat back! The Tiwanaku people were actually in this area before the Incas and many of their structures and treasures are now submerged in the lake. If you suffer from motion sickness, best to take some tablets before you board. Lake Titikaka is up to 992 feet (281 meters) deep and, at 12,507 feet (3,812 meters), is the highest navigable lake in the world.

(function(d, sc, u) { Hotels near Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Copacabana, Historical & Heritage Tours in Copacabana, Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Copacabana, From snorkel to surfing—no expertise necessary, Take to the skies for one-of-a-kind views, Your ship’s come in for waterside trips and more, Flexible itineraries and personal experiences. A rotating cast of about a dozen virgins lived in an ornate temple and housing complex on Isla de la Luna (10 bs or about US$1.50) along with four older women who were their caretakers and teachers. Part of the Temple of the Sun on Isla del Sol. If you can, please support our travel reporting on Patreon. The result is that the northern half of Isla del Sol is currently completely off-limits to tourism. Ornate edifices, featuring the distinctive Andean cross motif, at the Temple of the Virgins on Isla de la Luna.

The weather changes quickly. During the pandemic we‘re publishing even more inspiring posts about travel in the Americas. The main economic activity of the approximately 800 families on the island is farming, with fishing and tourism augmenting the subsistence economy. Here are the most interesting facts about Bolivia we picked up on our journey through its wilds. In terms of “ticking off” all the tourist attractions (particularly now that the north side is off limits), you could definitely do it all within a day. A short boat trip from the lakeside town of Copacabana, Isla del Sol is a beautiful place teeming with archaeological marvels. Despite growing tourism, life on Isla del Sol is still very much as it was hundreds of years ago, meaning no Wi-Fi, limited electricity and hot water, and certainly no soaking jacuzzi bath. Copacabana is 2 hours from Puno in Peru, which is the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca (floating islands). The presence of Chivay obsidian is clear evidence that inhabitants of the island were participating in a wider network of exchange. So why not take advantage of it and stay overnight in Copacabana itself? High elevation bring a big hat and long sleeve shirt if sunny. Our exploration of Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol ended with a bountiful and delicious lunch on the shore of Lake Titikaka. A temple was built at this rock and later expanded by the 10th Inca Tupac Inca Yupanqui. The Inca considered Lake Titikaka sacred and believed the original Incan King emerged from the lake. The only way to access the Isla del Sol is via Copacabana in Bolivia. You can make a booking for this and more properties via our Booking.com Affiliate Link of Wonders! Birthplace of the sun and the Incan dynasty, Bolivia’s Isla del Sol is the embodiment of peace and serenity. It is part of Bolivia, and specifically part of the La Paz Department. Culture Trip stands with Black Lives Matter. You don’t wanna faint and be eaten alive by wild llamas with hats, right? Subscribe to our mailing list and receive occasional newsletters from the road straight to your inbox. Either way, be sure to ask their permission before taking the shot.

And the lake’s water is said to be 10 degrees Celsius pretty much constantly. The site of Chucaripupata was a major Tiwanaku ritual site located above the Titi Qala, that the Incas made famous. In fact, if you take a hike along one of the island’s cobblestones paths, you’ll likely see women at work using the backstrap loom, one of the oldest weaving techniques on the planet. That first mound of land in Lake Titikaka is Isla del Sol with the snowy Cordillera Real in the distance. On Isla del Sol they grow three main crops : la haba?, quinoa and wheat el trigo.