Bolivia's Isla del Sol is the crown jewel of Lake Titicaca -- and it's not overrun by tourists
Feb 10, 2022
A well-preserved Inca wall on the Isle del Sol.
By Nathan Strauss
On Bolivia’s scenic Isla del Sol, terraced hillsides and ancient ruins offer otherworldly vantage points over the seemingly endless expanse of Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake. The mythological birthplace of the first Incans, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllhttps://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1013o, lures hikers and history buffs with its weathered ruins and waterside paths. It’s also appealing to stargazers or travelers seeking to completely unplug for the world (good luck getting WiFi to work here).
Evidence of human inhabitation on this largest of Titicaca’s islands dates as far back as the third millennium B.C. Reminders of that rich history are everywhere — from ancient sites such as the Pillkukayna temple to the well-worn cobblestone lanes meandering through Isla del Sol’s tiny towns.
The island has a small, indigenous population of farmers and fishermen, but no cars or paved roads. Locals (many in traditional garb) and tourists navigate the hilly terrain on foot via a network of trails and stone pathways curving past windswept pastures and blue vistas over some of Lake Titicaca’s 3,200 square miles. In its quiet fishing villages, birds —including the endangered Titicaca grebe — bob in the water beneath the docks as donkeys and llamas idle along the shoreline. If you’re hungry, trucha frita (fried lake trout) tops the menus of Isla del Sol’s simple restaurants.
And as its name suggests, the island bakes relentlessly in the sun, resulting in sparse vegetation and brilliant light reflecting in the surrounding crystalline waters.
Ruins of an Inca structure on one of the island’s walking trails.
More:
https://cuencahighlife.com/bolivias-isla-del-sol-is-the-crown-jewel-of-lake-titicaca-and-its-not-overrun-by-tourists/
More google images of Isla del Sol:
https://tinyurl.com/2p8jtudh
Isla del Sol on a map of Lake Titicaca
https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*w4v4foOvvcxEk9dd.jpg
Highest navigated lake in the world
Native people of the area have built floating islands of reeds since ancient times.
