Lake Titicaca Catamaran Crossing

General Description

No travel to Bolivia or Peru would be perfect without visiting the sapphire-blue waters of mystical Lake Titicaca, with the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real as backdrop. The world's highest navigable lake, at 12642 ft/3856 ms, played for 2 millennia a leading role in Andean beliefs and was at the heart of the most sophisticated Andean civilisations. It is still scattered with Inca remains and the people who live on the shores of the lake still consider the lake as sacred and make offerings to her.
The best known of Titikaka's islands are those of the Sun and the Moon, places where, according to Indian Legend, the sun and the moon sought refuge during times of flood. According to the most supported legend, the Inca Empire began at the Sun Island, the Inca couple Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo appeared here and founded the Sun Empire. Supporting this legend are some important pre-Columbian archeological remains on this island: the Sun temple, now known as the "Holy Rock" or the "Origins Rock" (in the North of the island). Only 200 meters from the Sun Temple is a maze-Iike construction known as Chinkana ("the place where you get lost"). Of interest is the fact that a type of corn considered sacred prospers on the Sun Island, the pre-Columbian natives believed that whoever possessed a grain of this corn would never get hungry nor lack bread ("zancu"). Also at the Sun Island, the Pilkokaina Palace and the Yumani Steps (constructions attributed to the Incas) are extremely important, along with the Inca Fountain which is supposed to be a source of eternal youth and happiness. Bulrushes (totora) grow in the low waters of the lake. They have always been of multiple use for the natives. The people from the Titikaka region weave this plant very well to make rafts which seem to be made of woven glob fiber; they cut swiftly through the waters of the great lake

You have the opportunity to sail in first class catamaran and in a totora reed vessel across the lake and visit thoroughly the Sun Island holding several precolumbian remains.

Itinerary

The following itinerary can start and/or finish either in La Paz or Puno in Peru. This is the prefect journey for those who wish to enter Bolivia after a journey into Peru or vice-versa.

DAY 1:
Around 6:30 am, transfer in bus from La Paz or Puno (Peru) to Copacabana on the Bolivian side of the Lake Titicaca. After a visit of the city including the cathedral and the Inca remains, we board the catamaran and sail towards the south side of Sun Island. After a buffet lunch, we start a 2-hour and a half excursion across the island visiting the Inca Garden, an old Inca retreat, the Inca Steps which lead to the Inca Water Spring, supposed to be a source of eternal youth, and the Inti Wata Cultural Complex. The complex contains the largest amount of archaeological and anthropological items found on the island, as well as permanent expositions about traditional medicines, witchcraft items and Andean flora and fauna.
Then, you witness the Kallawaya ancient ceremony involving magic and natural healing, part of the mystic word of the Kallawayas heritage. After, you leave for an unforgettable sail in a traditional totora reed vessel towards the Pikokaina Inca Palace.
In the mid-afternoon, you board again the catamaran to sail towards the north side of the island and visit the Challampa native village, an ideal place for an authentic interaction between visitors and pristine islanders still leading their ancient way of life. The excursion continues with a soft hike across the island towards the Chinkaka Holy Temple, the most spectacular ruin complex, which is supposed to have been the site of human and animal sacrifices.
Diner on board witnessing a Sun island folkloric demonstration. Overnight on board. (L D)

DAY 2:
In the morning, after a buffet breakfast, a 2 hours and an half sail in catamaran brings us in Chua or Copacabana, where we board our bus back to la Paz or Puno in Peru, arriving around 13:30 in La Paz and around 17:30 in Puno.
In the morning we can organise for a small additionnal fee, an optional 4 hour hike across Sun Island, visiting other sites of interest enjoying the pleasant atmosphere and the spectacular views over the Lake. In this case we arrive in la Paz around 19:30 and around 17:30 in Puno. (B L)

Options

One day excursion are also available either from La Paz or Puno. You only visit the south side of Sun Island, and come back in La Paz around 19:30 and around 17:30 in Puno.

General Information and Price

Rated: Easy

2 days/1 night catamaran lake crossing journey
	From La Paz to La Paz		From Puno to Puno		From La Paz to Puno or vice-versa
Room	SGL	DBL	SGL	DBL	SGL	DBL
USD	$ 330	$ 278	$ 222	$ 186	$ 330	$ 278
EUR	€ 274	€ 230	€ 184	€ 154	€ 274	€ 230
GBP	£ 185	£ 155	£ 124	£ 104	£ 185	£ 155

(*) Price last updated on 04 January 2003. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a
quotation request .
(**) If you start or stop in Copacabana, there is a discount.

1 day catamaran lake crossing journey
	From La Paz to La Paz		From Puno to Puno		From La Paz to Puno or vice-versa
Per person	-	-	-	-	-	-
USD	$ 182	-	$ 121	-	$ 126	-
EUR	€ 151	-	€ 100	-	€ 105	-
GBP	£ 102	-	£ 67	-	£ 71	-

(*) Price last updated on 04 January 2003. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a
quotation request .
(**) If you start or stop in Copacabana, there is a discount.

Included: Lodging on board in double rooms, meals and escursions as specified, experienced bilingual guides, transport in bus and catamaran

Not included: Other meals, drinks, tips, local boarding tax (usd 3)