Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From pre-Columbian times to present day, the Uru people have lived on man-made
floating reed islands on the lake. The islands on the Peruvian side of the lake are still in-
habited, while the Bolivian counterparts are made purely as tourist attractions. The Span-
ish arrived in the area in the mid-16th century, resurrecting cities like Puno and Co-
pacabana on the shore.
From year to year, changes to the water level of Lake Titicaca are not uncommon; in
the 1980s, a large flood displaced 200,000 people and it took several years for the Río
Desaguadero, the lake's only outlet, to drain the floodwaters. Today, with melting glaciers
and inconsistent rainfalls, the water is dropping to record-low levels.
Archaeological expeditions continue around - and beneath - the lake. At Isla Koa,
north of Isla del Sol, 22 large stone boxes were found, containing a variety of artifacts: a
silver llama, some shell figurines and several types of incense burners. And in 2004, the
tiny island of Pariti hit world headlines when a team of Finnish and Bolivian archaeolo-
gists discovered elaborate and beautiful pottery there, which is now housed in a small mu-
seum on the island and in La Paz.
Getting There & Away
The road journey between La Paz and Copa- cabana is impressive. Buses to La Paz have
been hijacked, and it's recommended to travel by day. To get to Copacabana by bus, you'll
need to cross the Estrecho de Tiquina (Tiquina Straits) on a ferry. The Islas de la Luna and
del Sol are accessed by boat from Copacabana.
Copacabana
2 / POP 54,300 / ELEV 3808M
Nestled between two hills and perched on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca, Copa-
cabana (also called Copa) is a small, bright and enchanting town. It was for centuries the
site of religious pilgrimages and today local and international pilgrims still flock to its
fiestas.
Although it can appear a little tourist-ready, the town is a pleasant place to wander
around. It has scenic walks along the lake and beyond, is the launching pad for visiting
Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno
or Cuzco in Peru.
