After Uyuni, we went via La Paz up to Lake Titicaca which is not only the largest lake in South America, on the border between Bolivia and Peru, but it is also the highest navigable (commercially) lake at ~3,800 meters (~12,500 ft) in the world. The 4 hour bus ride from La Paz was very beautiful and contained a water crossing where we had to dismount the bus and watch the
Bolivian navy in action transporting the bus across the lake. Fun fact: even thought Bolivia is a land locked country, they still have a navy which patrols Lake Titicaca, and the few naval officers we saw by the lake were all wearing life vests.
As an aside, we must mention the 4-hour bus ride between La Paz and Lake Titicaca is only 96 miles, which amounts to a whopping average speed of 24 miles per hour. We heard from others, as well as read online, that Bolivia's infrastructure has problems. Needless to say, it is shocking how in South America, especially Bolivia, distances can be so short yet take SO long. This theme of long travel (on buses) for short distances will continue throughout our Bolivia posts.
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Our bus crossing the lake. |
We got to Copacabana where we (thanks Max) had booked an amazing hostal, La Cupula, and enjoyed a beautiful room and AMAZING showers! After many cold days and nights in Uyuni with mediocre showers if they were available, it felt like heaven to have a shower with great pressure and an endless supply of actually hot water! After 4 months on the road, we have learned to appreciate great showers when we have them. Copacabana as a city was small and touristy but our views from our room were amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the sunset with glasses of good (Chilean) wine before going to the delicious on-site restaurant!
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No need to ever leave La Cupula, great shower + this view... |
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Looking down on Copacabana from La Cupula, photo credit Kylie Mcintyre |
One day we took a taxi to Yampupata and walked all the way back (~17km or 10.5 miles). The views were amazing of the lake and after a few relaxing days it felt good to put our legs to work! Frustratingly enough, Yampupata is <10 km from Isla del Sol (our next stop) but we had to take a 2.5 hour ferry the following day from Copacabana instead.
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On the road back from Yampupata |
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The blues of Lake Titicaca |
After Copacabana, we took a ferry to Isla del Sol. The original plan was to stay for a few days so we could walk from the South end to the North end (~2-3hr hike) but unfortunately, the two sides of the island are in a
war over tourism and so the whole North side is closed off. We still decided to stay 2 nights on Isla del Sol, which were beautiful but if we were to do it again, we probably would have done the trip in 1 day. Isla del Sol, is considered to be the birthplace of the Incan sun god.
To get to the hostal we had to walk up the "Incan path" (read: LOTS OF UNEVEN STAIRS) with all of our gear at an altitude of ~3,800 m (12,500 ft) to ~ 4,100 m (13,500 ft). The hostal was lovely and the views from our room again did not make us want to venture too far.
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Pack mules going back down the stairs |
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Sunset from Isla del Sol |
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Bye bye Isla del Sol |
Gambling hall at the Gambling Hall at the Gambling Hall - Mapy
ReplyDeleteFind parking costs, opening 파주 출장안마 hours and a 순천 출장샵 parking map of Gambling 계룡 출장샵 Hall at the Gambling Hall at the Gambling Hall at 태백 출장안마 Stateline. 수원 출장안마