Copacabana: 158 km (98 miles) from the city of La Paz by highway, at an altitude of 3841 meters (12600 ft). In this town we find the famous sanctuary of the Virgen Morena, image carved in wood in 1592 by Francisco Tito Yupanqui, native artist and descendent of the Incas. The magnificance of the legendary Lake Titicaca and the religious devotion attracts thousands of pilgrams and tourists here each year.
El Calvario: This stone path that climbs a small hill which religious pilgrims climb in honor of the Virgen and as penance for thier sins. A beautiful panorama of the lake comes into view as you arrive at the end of the path.
Lake Titicaca: This is the highest navegable lake in the world (3810 m / 12500 ft) and the largest lake in South America (8300 sq. km / 3205 sq. miles). The lake provides a number of natural resources: totora reeds, wild ducks, trees, and trout fish.
Isla del Sol - This island is currently rhe most well-known, located northeast of the peninsula of Copacabana. The legends of the origin of the Inca civilization, or "Chamapacaha" (Time of Darkness), tell that the sun and the moon were hiding in the KAKA O KARKA (Sacred Rock) and that this island is where they first appeared, the first live rays of the sun. It is also said that this is the place where the first Incas arose from the earth, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, children of the sun and founders of the Inca Empire.
Isla de la Luna - Koatí, better known as Island of the Moon, it is located 7 km (4.3 miles) from the Island of the Sun. The Inca ruins of Iñac Uyu are at its northern end, a temple dedicated to the religious sect of the Moon, also known as “Ajllawasi.” Among the structures in the ruins is a platform with a central patio, with roofs closed with stones using a technique called Bóveda falsa. Just below there are terraces with containing walls made of stones that were cut and assembled to precision.
07:30a.m. (Pickup from your Hotel) Tourist Bus. La Paz - Copacabana, arrival at aproximately 12:00 pm. And lunch. After lunch, we will begin our boat trip to the Isla del Sol at 1:30pm. We will visit the archeological ruins of PILCOCAINA, with the temple of the sun. If you choose, we can continue hiking the Pilcocaina Road about 30 minutes to the Fountain of Youth, where you can enjoy the beauty of this Inca garden. At 4:15pm we will return to the town of Copacabana, arriving at 6pm. From there we will take a local bus to La Paz. |