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Copacabana / Lake Titicaca
After paying over the odds for a private mini bus from La Paz due to more Bolivian road strikes, we arrived in the town of Copacabana. Situated on the border of Bolivia and Peru the town overlooks the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca, the worlds highest lake. Copacabana was for centuries the site of religious pilgrimages and still today the most Catholic pilgrimage in Bolivia. It is also the stopping-off place to visit Titicaca's sacred islands. The Incas believed Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna was where the sun and moon were created and where the Inca dynasty began.
We had heard through the grapevine about a luxury hillside hotel, overlooking the lake and town with glorious views. We couldn't resist to treat ourselves for one night and splash out. It was well worth it as we lay in the garden hammocks all afternoon and took a dip in the outdoor heated jacuzzi overlooking the lake, watching the sunset.
Our second day we got the 3 hour boat ride over to the indigenous island named Isla del sol. The island is 9.5km long and 6.5km across, the largest of the 40 Islands in Lake Titicaca. We hiked 3 hours from the north to the south of the island, taking in the panoramic views of the lake and Inca ruins surrounding the island.
After an intense hike due to the altitude and steep terrain we stumbled across a restaurant on the edge of the southern tip. It was definitely a lunch with a view. Sat on a wooden picnic bench, taking in the views and soaking up the sun we enjoyed the speciality of the house which was wild trout marinated in wine washed down with some cold beers, yum!
That evening we spent the night on the island in very basic accomodation. That basic that when we arrived at the hostel the owners 4 year old son was taking a pee down the steps to the entrance!
We got the boat back to the mainland the next morning and enjoyed strolling around the tourist town of Copacabana. We also watched one of the most entertaining football matches in history, Germany thrashing Brazil 7-1 in the semi final of the World Cup.
Our final day in Bolivia after 1 month sadly came to an end and it was time for a night bus to the Peruvian town of Arequipa.
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