Going To Isla Del Sol
Going To Isla Del Sol

I think it is safe to say Copacabana has changed quite a bit since our first visit in 2002. New hotels, high-rise buildings by the lake, tour operators and casa de cambio everywhere confirmed my first impression.

The world has discovered Lake Titicaca.

The scenery is beautiful. The huge lake, 3,800 metres above sea level. The clouds, so low, us, so high that we feel we can touch the sky. The burning hot sun during the day and the chilly nights. The local dish, trout, cooked with lemon and tomatoes.

But Copacabana also has a darker side. Money, money, money. Convenience stores tore Pringles and US chocolates instead of selling local delicacies. No ATM, but every resident can change US dollars, Euro, yen, at whatever rate they feel like setting—it’s not like we have a choice. Locals aren’t exactly friendly either, they take the money and run. Of course, this is Bolivia and everything is still pretty cheap for us. It’s mostly the attitude I dislike.

Never mind.

On our second day, we took a boat to Isla Del Sol, one of the islands of the lake. We left early in the morning and there was a beautiful deep blue sky, the lake was clear and the sun was hot. The boat was full so we sat on the roof and enjoyed the ride.

There isn’t much to do in Isla Del Sol except for a big climbing exercise to the top of the island for a better view of Lake Titicaca. But climbing at such a high altitude isn’t easy. I felt like I was 100 years old, out of breath every five minutes, sweaty and light-headed. It took us over an hour to reach the top, but boy, the view!

We took the boat back with a bunch of Argentinian backpackers, who played guitar and drank mate de coca during the journey. The clouds behind us, heading to the shore as fast as the boat would allow it (packed, once again), passing floating villages and bare land.

Worth the altitude sickness.

At The Market
At The Market
Playing Foot Table On The Beach
Playing Footsball on The Beach
Bolivian Teeshirts
Bolivian Teeshirts
Colorful Bus
Colorful Bus
Little Restaurants On The Shore
Little Restaurants On The Shore
Going Fishing In Isla Del Sol
Going Fishing In Isla Del Sol
Boats On The Lake
Boats On The Lake
Climbing Isla Del Sol...
Climbing Isla Del Sol…
Little Girl In Isla Del Sol
Little Girl In Isla Del Sol
Waving...
Waving…
Floating Village
Floating Village
From Isla Del Sol
From Isla Del Sol
Finally On Top Of The Island!
Finally On Top Of The Island!
Sunset On The Lake
Sunset On The Lake

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20 Comments

  1. Linguist-in-Waiting January 17, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Wow. The view is simply amazing up there, eh?

    Reply
  2. Bluefish January 17, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    There was already a lot of snow when I arrived, but I hope there won’t be any snowstorm soon.

    This crazy weather has bad effects on my body.

    Reply
  3. RennyBA January 18, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Thanks for your great travel reports – its so exciting to read and follow you!

    Btw: Sorry I haven’t been around that much, but my back still hurt and its hard to type (but I do follow and read!).

    Reply
  4. Jennie January 18, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    I wish I had the courage and guts to travel around so much. I suppose it’s much easier for you since you speak Spanish though. But the thought of being away from my home and things for a long time makes me sad. I like being able to come home and sleep in my bed. Every time I travel, even if it is just for a few days, I miss home so much. Yet there are so many places in the world I want to see…

    Reply
  5. Sidney January 18, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    Wow…sweet memories… I was there more than 30 years ago… I don’t think I want to see it now… maybe it is better to keep it in my memory as an unspoiled place…
    At that time it was remote…almost no hotels… I remember I was sleeping in a bare room…
    Doesn’t make me feel any younger… 🙁

    Gorgeous pictures… take care !

    Reply
  6. Seraphine January 18, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    ohh i am so jeaous of your picture-taking! the photo of the lake with the boat and the clouds is stunning. you could sell that to a magazine.
    it’s sad when beautiful places become touristy. they either become tacky or they become so expensive that locals get squeezed out. the best reason to visit such places- the people and the culture- changes.
    it’s like that in jaco, costa rica. You see condominiums and malls and a certain amount of sleaze forming.
    it’s sad to think that lake titicaca might eventually look like any other lake with hotels, fences and tourist buses. i hope not.
    i’m glad you’re having a wonderful time. be safe.

    Reply
  7. Khengsiong January 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    I won’t be surprised if a 5-star hotel is opened near the lake. Every country wants to court the ‘quality tourists’, i.e. tourists who spend lots of money.

    What they do not understand is that the quality tourists, staying in 5-star hotels, probably cause more harm to the fragile environment.

    Reply
  8. Brenda January 18, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Love the photos, and wow, Peru! You’re missing such cold weather here, so enjoy that heat! 🙂

    Reply
  9. shionge January 19, 2009 at 12:43 am

    Hey there Buddy thanks for the wonderful post and yes it seems as if I could literally touch the sky there.

    When are you heading home not that I am reminding 😉

    Reply
  10. kyh January 19, 2009 at 3:33 am

    Splendid scenery! Ah yes the floating villages on the lake… It’s quite a legend before one gets to see it! 😀

    Reply
  11. Gail at Large January 19, 2009 at 4:07 am

    I’m always very conflicted about tourism. It’s a problem, but I don’t want to be part of the problem. It’s like what someone said earlier: go visit before it becomes too spoiled.

    Nice to see you both smiling at the top of the mountain!

    Reply
  12. Bluefish January 19, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    Hi,
    I’m going private of my blog. If you want to keep reading it please give me your e-mail address.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  13. Aiglee January 19, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    Beautiful pictures 😀 I didn’t know about no ATM and the residents charging you whatever they wanted :0 isn’t there a bank either? wow

    Glad you are enjoying your trip 😀

    Reply
  14. Shantanu January 20, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Exceptional pictures! I remember reading about this lake so long ago; remembered it because of its unique name. The market picture is nice with the colorful clothes.

    Reply
  15. Max Coutinho January 20, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Hello again,

    I didn’t know there was also a Copacabana in Bolivia…good to know, good to know…

    Oh, the locals are not friendly? Hmmm….I wonder if they are a bit fatigued of foreigners (you know there are enemies of foreigners everywhere in the world) *nodding*…

    I loved the photos…so cute (the little girl is so nice)! I also like the floating village: now that is interesting!

    Look at you and your husband: you guys are a gorgeous couple :D!!! “Love is in the air…everywhere we look around…love is in the air” lol…ok, enough of singing…

    Absolutely great to be sharing your trip with you :D! Thanks!

    Cheers

    Reply
  16. Zhu January 23, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    @Linguist-in-Waiting – You really feel like you are touching the clouds!

    @Bluefish – You bet… Canadian winter is hard on everybody. Lack of sunlight too.

    @RennyBA – Ouch, sorry for your back! I also read and catch up whenever I get a good internet connexion. 🙂

    @Jennie – I never ever miss home… only if I travel for over 6-7 months I guess. But I´m used to it. I sometimes miss confort and some surroundings, but over all and I like traveling best. Freedom!

    @Sidney – 30 years ago? Wow! Yep, must have changed… you were quite a pionneer!

    @Seraphine – I wish I could sell it to a magazine! 🙂 Costa Rica is the same… sometimes, it´s just way too many condos, and they don´t fit on the landscape of course. But there isn´t much we can do…

    @Khengsiong – I think there are quite a few 5 stars hotel, not western standards, but they charge hundreds of US$. Yep, too bad… it spoils a place.

    @Brenda – I don´t mind missing the cold, for sure 😆

    @shionge – Not sure! Probably another month or two…

    @kyh – They are quite small, I actually liked the Isla Del Sol est. I think floating villages were mostly built for tourists… or maybe not after all.

    @Gail at Large – I had to smile for the picture, but really, I was probably coughing! 😆

    @Bluefish – I will email you.

    @Aiglee – Not really. There is one local bank but you have to have a Bolivian account, can´t withdraw with a Visa or Mastercard. So far it´s the only place where we didn´t have a ATM.

    @Shantanu – Bolivia is a really colorful and beautiful place. The scenery is unique…

    @Max Coutinho – I don´t blame the locals, I kind of see what they are going through. Yet, I was shocked how it changed since 2002. Yes, this is another Copacabana, not as sunny as the famous one though! 😆

    Reply
  17. Kelkel January 24, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Wow, great photos! I would love to go there! Maybe I should go to Bolivia instead of Italy in March… it would be cheaper!

    Reply
  18. Abi October 28, 2009 at 5:03 am

    Wow. Certainly sounds like it’s changed a lot since I was there. This post has reminded me how quickly time passes…
    .-= Abi´s last blog ..Surfing the Web =-.

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 28, 2009 at 9:33 pm

      The place did change a lot. Not sure when you were there, but even in 2002 it wasn’t that “touristic”!

      Reply
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