Tag Archives: copacabana

Bolivia; Copacabana here we come…

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Don´t get this Copacabana confused with the one in Brazil that is big and brassy… no, no, no. This one is a little coastal town, with the only Bolivian beach on Lake Titicaca. Quaint, laidback, and just what the doctor ordered!

Prior to arriving though, we and the bus had to cross Lake Titicaca. We got off loaded at the ferry spot, with the bus slowly driven onto some kind of floating platform whilst many of us got onto this small boat, with 6 visible life jackets for approx 20 passengers…hhhmmmm. And then you noticed the floor, wooden slats with holes and a few nails missing… double hhmmmm. Anyway, make it across we did, as did the bus.

Crossing the border into Bolivia was very reminiscent of others we had crossed in the past in Africa. On the Peru side, you walk into one mud building to have your departure card stamped, then you walk into another building to have your passport stamped, then you walk approx 100m across ¨no mans land¨ to the next building on the Bolivia side to have the reverse happen. WE got through without a hitch.

After a further 112km, we made it to Copacabana late afternoon, very happy to have arrived. On the way in though, we noticed these beehive looking things standing to attention on the hill, overseeing the bay. Sure enough, that was our pad for the next 2 nights…

Hostal Las Olas was impressive to look at, and lived up to expectations. Rustic, wood, mud brick, hammocks, clean, self-contained; Daughter said it reminded her of her kinder… A very nice place to recharge the batteries…

And that we did.

Apart from walking around town and finding interesting places to eat, visiting the Cathedral and witnessing the impressive sacred candle wax sculpting on the walls, hiring a boat to take us out to Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun), we didn´t do a whole lot else really. Excellent!

Legend has it that the founders of the Inkan culture, Manko Kapac and Mama Ochleo flew over the lake and when they saw the Isla Del Sol, Island of the Sun, they decided to settle there. Why not I say!

Before we knew it, it was time to leave…bugger!
On to another bus and into the thriving metropolis that is La Paz…

A long bus ride to Puno…

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After spending one last night in Cuzco, we said our farewells and headed off to meet the bus taking us to Puno. After the long 10 hour bus and bump ride, we made it, checking into the lovely “Intiqa Hotel” in the middle of the greyness that appears to be Puno.

Mind you though, what with the hotel, and a scrumptious meal at “Colours” (a restaurant recommended in the Lonely Planet) coupled with some long awaited shopping, Puno was certainly shredding its grey hue rather quickly.

Puno is the main Peruvian town that lies on the edge of Lake Titicaca. It is famous for its floating islands, which we are going to visit tomorrow. Then we have our next bus ride, to Copacabana, finally crossing the border into Bolivia. That´ll be interesting I´m sure.

Once there, we have 2 sleeps to explore all there is to see and do, including finalising our next leg which is spending time on the Amazon in eco-huts. Fabulous!