Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LUXURY CRUISES ON LAGO TITICACA
Several La Paz tour agencies offer
luxury cruises
on Lago Titicaca - they're also the only
regular way to reach Peru from Bolivia by water. Trips with both Transturin and Crillon
Tours cost from around Bs1050 ($150) per person per day; the price includes accommoda-
tion, food and transport, and most cruises last one to two days.
Crillon Tours
Av Camacho 1223 ( 02 2337533,
titicaca.com
) runs a similar service
to Transturin, with faster hydrofoils from Huatajata. It offers accommodation at the classy
Inca Utama Hotel and Spa
in Huatajata and the exclusive
Posada del Inca Ecolodge
on
Isla del Sol.
Transturin
Alfredo Ascarrunz 2518 ( 02 2422222,
transturin.com
)
, run sightseeing
tours to Copacabana and Isla del Sol, plus trips to Puno in Peru, in luxurious catamarans
from their dock at Chúa, a few kilometres west of Huatajata. The company also operates
the comfortable
Hotel Titicaca
in Chúa.
GETTING AROUND: LAGO TITICACA
The main road to
Lago
Titicaca from La Paz runs northwest across the Altiplano, with the
majestic Cordillera Real to the north. Just after the lake first comes into view, about 75km
from La Paz, the road forks at the town of
Huarina
. One branch heads north towards Sorata
in the
Cordillera Real
via the town of Achacachi, or along the remote east coast and up into
the
Cordillera Apolobamba
. The other branch continues west towards Copacabana, running
along the north shore of the smaller section of the lake, known as
Wiñay Marka
or Lago
Menor, which is joined to the main body of the lake by the narrow Tiquina straits. Just bey-
Copacabana
The pleasant little town of
COPACABANA
overlooks the deep blue waters of Lago Titicaca
just a few kilometres from the Peruvian border. The town is an untidy collection of red-tiled
houses and modern concrete buildings nestled between two steep hills. As well as being a
good base from which to explore the Bolivian side of the lake, the town is the most important
Catholic pilgrimage site in the country, being home to Bolivia's most revered image, the
Vir-
gen de Copacabana
. Several times annually the town is overwhelmed by religious devotees
whocome topayhomage tothe Virginincolourful religious
fiestas
,while the rest ofthe year
sees a steady stream of pilgrims seeking the Virgin's blessing. Copacabana is also the base
for visits to
Isla del Sol
and
Isla de la Luna
, Titicaca's two sacred islands, while a series of
mysterious
Inca ruins
lie within easy walking distance.
