The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Off to Lima

Copacabana lends itself for a few days stay, but since I only had the day in all I think I managed to get a good glimpse.

after a 6 hour stay I hopped on the Bus that would bring me on a 24 hr ride all the way to Lima, Peru´s capital. Many people travelled to Cuzco first, but since I had already been there I pressed on to Lima.

before leaving I had a taste of a local beer called huari, name taken after an Andean native culture.
It is supposed to taste like coffee, (with some imagination) but I still recommend it.

In Passing snapshot - Ready for bussines

In Bolivia you will find all types of restos, but do not despise the pa and ma version where you will eat well and cheap. This grocery in San Pedro de Tiquina offered their daily deal while their toddler watched the passerbyers.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Our Lady of Copacabana sanctuary

Another highlight of the city of Copacabana is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Copacabana. This venerated Image is actually the Patron Virgin of Bolivia.

Folk from all over the country come here in Pilgrimage to ask for the intersession of the Virgin Mary.

The Sanctuary sits at the city´s main square and has a beautifull architectural style. There are times when it is very crowded but I was lucky to visit on a day that it was practically empty.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Mirador del Inca in Copacabana

After visiting the bigger Islands in Copacabana you might want to go to "El mirador del Inca" and "Islas flotantes" that is basically a rock that sits at the other side of the Copacabana bay.

the boat ride takes 40 minutes each way and you stay there for an hour, which is enough time to check out the area and see its beautiful nature.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Copacabana, visiting the Islands

When in Copacabana one of the thing you will want to do is visite the small islands that are on the shore of the lake.

the biggest one is la "Isla del sol", followed by "La isla de la luna" then there are the floating Islands or "Isla Flotante" which is the one I visited.

To go to the Islands you have an infinity of small, medium and big boats which you can hire on the spot with prices ranging from a couple of bucks to a hundred, according to the trips duration and your face.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The city of Copcabana

Nested at the shores of Lake Titicaca, the worlds highest lake, Copacabana is a beautiful city in Bolivia. do not mistake with Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Many activities can be done besides just touristing around, like hiking biking, bird watching etc.

Copacabana is definitely a main tourist attraction with prices changing according to your face, but it also has the charms of a small Bolivian town.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - On to Copacabana

after crossing the Tupiza straight is when the panorama really gets gorgeous

here you get a clean view of the Titicaca lake from the surrounding mountains

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - San Pedro de Tiquina

Once you and your bus make it safely across the Tiquina straight, you will be in San Pedro de Tiquina
the small city from where the bus will continue on to Copacabana.

Here you will get a first glimpse of Lake Titicaca which is the highest lake in the world.

At San Pedro you will be greeted by the statue of Manco Kapac, a mythical character that is said to be the first man to emerge from the lake and create the Inca civilisation.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - San Pablo de Tiquina

Now after a three and a half hour of travelling you arrive at San Pablo de Tiquina which is at one side of the Straight of Tiquina which you need to cross to continue on to Copacabana.

For some "safety measure" the bus cannot cross with passengers cuz the boats that cross vehicles are very basic, so people get on small boats and the buses and cars go on bigger ones.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - From La paz to Copacabana

So off we went on the four hour ride to Copacaban, with beautifull views of the Illy many the ighty volcano that overlooks La Paz.

This area of Bolivia yields a more fertile land with green covered hills. It was a nice morning ride with plenty of photo ocations till we got to the small ferry that croses the Titicaca.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - On to La Paz

Back to Uyuni, I hoped on to the next bus that would drive overnight to La Paz, bolivia´s capital.
Unfortunately I could only stay for an hour cuz I got a deal to go to Lima straight with a stop in Copacabana that is a beautiful city on the shores of lake Titicaca.

Since the bus left in an hour I took advantage to do some shopping, by the way, I discovered that in Bolivia you have to ask for directions at least three times to get your coordinates cuz people do´nt know s..

Finally some friendly local pointed me on the right direction towards a "Feria" so i took advantage to buy some souvenirs, a baseball cap and two Paceña beers.

Then ran back to the bus terminal which took its toll going 300 feet up and the 200 down at high altitude.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - La feria de Potosi

Now something that you will find everywhere in Bolivia are "Ferias" as in many places around the globe where you can buy fresh produce and other nic nacs. Actually you will notice that outside the big cities there are very few supermarkets, as most of the trade is conducted in these popular markets.

Besides the practical aspect of buying supplies you will see many different shapes and colours that a are a photographers paradise.

Here in Potosi my main purpuse was to have lunch, since I was in a hurry and in the ferias you can seat and have a hearthy plate served in seconds.

Of course you will eat local delicacies cooked mainly by ladies that live off that trade. If you are worried bout the cleanliness of the pots and stuff, I can tell you that at least you get to see everything opposed to other tourist to restos that hide their kitchens along with their roaches.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - La casa de la Moneda - Potosi

When in Potosi you´l get tired of people telling you to visit "La casa de la moneda", and you´ll be wise to follow their advice. This national mint was responsible for coining a great percentage of the Spanish colonial coins.

Its beautiful colonial architecture house a museum and historical archive which can be visited daily for a small entrance fee.

one of the highlights is the mechanical press that dates from the 1700s and is said to be the only one of its kind left. made entirely of wood and powered by animal traction, it was the machine responsible for pressing the silver plates into coin size thickness.

I must add that the museum and guided tours are quite well laid out and organised.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The city of Potosi

The beautiful city of Potosi, Once Bolivias capital is one of the most picturesque cities in Bolivia.

Originally founded beside a hill packed with silver, it is also one of the highest cities in the world sitting at more than 400mtrs. high.

Its main income always came from mining, specially silver and its famous mint which crafted more than half of the Spanish silver coins of the empire. Thus enriching its people who built beautiful churches and palaces that still stand.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The day trip to Potosi

Even though I am fluent in Spanish, something that does help a lot while travelling South America, there is always a nuance that messes up your plans.
i was planning to continue my trip to La Paz from Uyuni the nest morning, so i went to the shacks that operate as ticket offices and asked for a trip to La Paz next morning. the girl said there was one at 9, so i grabbed it and went on happy with my visiting.


later on talking to some Germans I said I was leaving next morning, to which they replied that the buses only left at night. So I double checked the paper slab they give you as a ticket, and It said 21hrs, darn, that's 9pm.

So I had a whole day in my hands. What to do, maybe take another Uyuni tour, dunno, the sunset was pretty amazing, I do´nt think it can be topped off.
So i decided to go to Potosi for the day, which is 3 hours away.
the scenery was very pretty so it wasn't that bad.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The Uyuni bus station

Where is the bus station? said the Finnish girl behind me. There is none. welcome to Bolivia.
At least in Uyuni which is a major tourist destination, they didn't bother building one. the buses just park outside the small travel agencies that will sell you tickets to your next destination.
Look for the "Baños" sign to go go relieve yourself, previous payment of course and you can buy something to eat at the kiosks on the boulevard.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Uyuni, Where to stay

Either your on a budget or you just need a place to shub your bones at night. In uyuni Hotel avenida offers a great value for your money.

https://mapcarta.com/ChIJkew9VNi6_5MR0QRfbUX5Okk

located at Av. de los Ferroviarios right beside the tour operators, so if you come back late or set out early you are just steps away.