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 - Eating fish

If you wonder what to eat in Bolivia, I suggest you stick to poultry, rice and potatoes dishes. In Copacabana i had this Quinoa soup and of couse Titicaca Lake trout, all for under 5 bucks.

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 - 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.