Where the Inca culture was born - the Titicaca tour


Since I was planning my trip to Bolivia, one of the top destinations was to visit the Titicaca Lake. It sounded appealing to see the highest lake on Earth. However during the day it turned out that not this is the most important thing about Titicaca. But that it is the cradle of Inca culture.



 
After a 2-hour-long journey from La Paz we arrived to the town of Copacabana. Yes, Copacabana is a Bolivian town. It has nothing to do with the famous beach in Brasil. Copacabana is a small and nice town at the shore of the Titicaca Lake. Quiet. Neat. Touristic. After walking around an hour I could not resist to buy some souvenirs and to try the Bolivian soup, the "quinua".

On the way to Copacabana

Church of Copacabana

Walking on the street

On the shores of Titicaca

The Titicaca Lake is laying in a volcano crater, therefore the gray granite. According to the Incas the lake has a shape of a running puma. That is where the name, Titicaca comes from. Titi means 'puma', Carca means 'grey stone', therefore Titicarca means 'puma of grey stone' in the Aymara language.

Crossing the Titicaca Lake




Carlos played Bolivian songs on the way


From Copacabana we left to the Island of Sun (Isla del Sol) on boat. This is the biggest island of the lake and a holy place in the Inca culture. The Inca man and woman was born here. They were siblings, then became the first Inca couple. Today the island is inhabited by 3000 Aymaras who cautiously restore their culture. I felt like in the film of Avatar, how these people still live with nature in perfect harmony. And they share everything: food, goods and work.

Carlos, the guide showed around on the southern part of the island. I drank from the well of youth. One should drink three times to stay young. I drank four times. Either I will become super young or the other way around.


Drinking from the well of youth - the 4th time was for the photo

We saw the pre-inca ruins of the Church of the Sun (Iglesia del Sol). This means that the ruins are older than 2700 years. We gave sacrifice for the Pacha Mama with coca leaves and made three wishes. Though in Bolivia you can share your wishes, I kept it for myself.


Moon Island from the Sun Island

Holding my menthol branch
Church of the Sun where we made our sacrifice for Pacha Mama
With my French friend

About Tiny Girl With Big Bag

Hobby writer and autodidact photographer whose passion is to travel and get to know new people and cultures. She has been on 4 continents and 30 countries, and the outcome is this travel blog where she shares travel stories, thoughts, tips and photography always through a subjective eye.

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