Lake Titicaca is certainly the most sacred lake of the Andean culture: according to the legend Tunupa, the God who created the Aymaras, was born from this inland sea. This ancient culture, which thrived for thousands of years, established its “capital” at Tiwanaku. The site, today, located far from the shores of the lake because of a drop in the water level, is showing now, after years of excavations, the mysteries kept hidden for so long. It offers today a very beautiful museum.
Following this belief, the Incas who conquered this area instigated a legend according to which the God Sun Viracocha dropped his son Manco Cápac, the first Inca, and his spouse Mama Ocllo off on the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). Numerous Incas vestiges tell us about the wealthy past of this area.
This religious syncretism was followed by the Spanish: The offering site of Illapa, the Thunder God, was converted in a Calvary and a pilgrimage site dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Copacabana. The statue, originally black, was later on “whitened” by the catholic authorities to give it a more European look. She is preserve today in the superb cathedral of Mudejar style.
This very important site in the Andean History is also located in a magnificent setting where the numerous islands are reflected on the limpid waters dominated by the summits of the nearby Cordillera Real.

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in our private vehicle for the archeological site of Tiwanaku (1h30). Guided tour of the pre-Colombian vestiges counting amongst the most important of the continent. Then we follow Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real to Copacabana. Visit of the most interesting sites in town: Horca del Inca, cathedral…
We climb up the hill of the Way of the Cross to watch the sunset over the lake (bring a headlamp for the descent).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ** / lake views.

In the morning, a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) (2 to 3-hour trip depending on weather conditions). Visit of the Inca site of Chincana and of the Sacred Rock of the Incas, from where God Viracocha gave birth to his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. Short hike on the island to the village of Challapampa, where is located the museum of Marka Pampa. Visit of museum.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host in the village of Challapampa (basic comfort).

In the morning, a nice hike across the cultivated terraces covering the slopes of the island leads us to the village of Yumani (2-hour hike – possibility to link Yumani and the Fountain of the Inca by boat). The view over the lake is superb. We then descend the beautiful stone staircase to the Fountain of the Inca (Fuente del Inca), where we meet our boat (around 500 steps!).
A short hop takes us to the temple of Pilkokaina. We then traverse to the Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon), where we visit the temple of the “Ñustas”, temple of the virgins. Return by boat to Copacabana in the afternoon and to La Paz in the evening Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Hiking time: 2h; Elevation gain: +100m / -100m