Place: Bolivia - La Paz

Information:

One of the highest navigable lakes of the world located at 3,800 meters above sea level. The lake is divided into two parts, the big lake (Chucuto) in the north and the small lake (Huiñamarca) in the south. Lake Titicaca is considered a magical, sacred and spiritual place, with an overwhelmingly beautiful landscape and spectacular views of the Andes mountains and part of its history through different archeological ruins.

Traditionally considered the highest navigable water extension in the world (though Chile and Peru have lakes at greater altitudes), Lake Titikaka is immense: 233 Km from the northwest to the southeast and 97 Km from the northeast to the southwest. The shore is rugged and the lake has 36 islands scattered in its clear, sapphire blue water. The indigenous people living around the Lake revere it and according to Inca mythology, the origins of the Lake can be found in the legendary Island of the Sun and Island of the Moon. The most important city on the lake shore is Copacabana, with its Moorish styled dazzling white cathedral where the Feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria is celebrated. The Island of Suriki is known in the entire world for its reed boats; the Island of Kalahuta for its stone tombs. According to a legend, the Island of Incas is the starting point of a network of underground passages to the ancient Inca capital city of Cuzco in Peru. Travelers should protect themselves in the Lake region since the lack of oxygen in the air is equivalent to very high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Half of Lake Titikaka is within the Peruvian border. Puno is the most important town and the main departure point for excursions along the Peruvian lake shore.

At 158 Km from the city of La Paz, the beautiful town of Copacabana is located at 3,841 masl. The town is home to the famous sanctuary of the Black Virgin, an image carved in 1592 in maguey wood by Francisco Tito Yupanqui, a native artist and descendent from the Incas. The church dates from the 16th century and has rich ornaments and different kinds of carvings. The magnificence of the legendary Lake Titikaka and religious devotion bring thousands of pilgrims and tourists to this sanctuary. Built in 1610 and 1619 by Francisco de Sigenza, the most interesting feature of the monument is the atrium, which is surrounded by a low wall with battlements and a chapel in each of the four corners; inside, the sanctuary has retained the great altarpiece of the 17th century and the primitive mannerist altarpiece of 1618, a work of Sebastián Acosta Inca. The Copacabana Peninsula shares its important cultural and religious elements with visitors, particularly the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana. The indigenous, mestizo and criollo cultural elements combined with the history of the Virgin are complemented with a series of historical facts and legends that have turned this sanctuary into one of the principal tourist attractions of the Copacabana Peninsula. Calvary: This stone path takes you up a small hill which pilgrims climb in honor of the Virgin and as a penance for their sins. At the end of the path, a beautiful view of the Lake awaits you.

Besides the Sanctuary itself, Copacabana has Pre-Columbian ruins and even some Pre-Inca ruins in or very near the town and of considerable archeological interest. These sites should be included in your visit. Some examples are the Inca tribunal or Intikala, just outside Copacabana on the road to La Paz, which is a site with seats carved out of the rocks; the place which the first Spaniards mistakenly called the Inca gallows, and which is rather an astronomical observatory which the ancient population used to control the seasons by observing the sun, moon and stars. This site is just behind the village, up a rocky hill of 300 meters high, which at the same time offers a beautiful view of the lake. Another Inca site is the Inca bath at around 2 kilometers from the town. Even though a colonial hacienda was built on top of this site, a bath carved in stone of more than 1 meter high and a diameter of approximately 80 centimeters was preserved, which gave its name to the place. Around the fountain, there are terraces and water is obtained from a mountain source. This site also houses a small museum. There are still other interesting archeological and anthropological sites near the city of Copacabana. The third element why this place is so charming is Lake Titikaka, which in itself is a natural attraction because of its size and beauty. Lake Titikaka (an aymara word meaning “the puma’s rock”) covers around 8,300 Km2 at an altitude of 3,839 masl.

The lake is divided into the small lake, called Wiñay Marca (meaning “eternal city” in aymara) and the big lake, called Chucuito. The two parts are united by the Tiquina strait. The deepest part of the big lake is 275 meters deep. The lake has many islands; the Island of the Sun and the Island of the Moon (Koati) are the ones you should absolutely visit, particularly the Island of the Sun in view of its archeological value as a pilgrim center of the Incas and even older cultures. On the Island, the most remarkable sites are the Pilkokaina palace built by Inca Tupac Yupanqui; the 202 Yumani stairway leading up to a source with three taps; the sun temple, which relates myths of the creation of Andean man; and Chincana, an Inca construction with surprisingly chaotic passageways resembling a maze. Very near the Island of the Sun is the Island of the Moon, which is probably the place where young virgins dedicated to the worship of the Sun and the Inca were educated. A road from La Paz will bring you to this place in less than three hours or approximately four hours if you combine the road trip with a lake trip. At Tiquina, you have to cross the strait of around 800 meters long in private boats; a picturesque adventure. Because of its proximity to the city of Puno in Peru, many tourists visiting Peru come to visit this region and often also the city of La Paz. All this by road.