A three hour boat trip took us across Lake Titicaca to the north end of Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). The lake is massive and appears to be an ocean. With a depth of 457 meters, it's the largest lake in South America.
A guide led us around the Inca ruins and explained the history. One area had a small pool of water which had been filtered through the rocks. It produced a very sweet natural water source. Our guide grabbed a plastic cup he had hidden behind a bush, filled it with the water and passed it around, so we could take a sip. Then, he replaced the cup for the next group. We pretended this wasn't disgusting and continued the ritual by splashing some water on our heads.
We stayed at a hostel in the center of the island, near Playa Cha'lla, a sandy beach. The Aymara village here is very small and traditional. Pigs, donkeys, and sheep wander along the shoreline. The only sounds are children laughing, donkeys braying, and the distant music of pan pipes. We walked along the trail to marvel the clear blue lake, surrounded by the snowy Cordillera Real mountains. Despite the cool air, the sun is incredibly intense. This is the birth place of the Sun God after all.
Looks Beautiful!
ReplyDelete