Lazy Llama !!!

Arriving at Isla Del Sol, Bolivia

We were told to pack light and bring just what was needed for the one night stay on Isla Del Sol ( Island of the Sun ). All our remaining suitcases were sent to our next destination. For the Incas, Isla Del Sol was one of the most sacred places. There are many myths associated with the Isla Del Sol. According to one version, the ancient people of the area were without the sunlight in the sky for a long time. Then one day, they saw the Sun emerging from one of the cliffs on the island. Our guide Rodrigo explained that with so many volcanoes in Peru, it is possible that one of them blew up and the ashes blocked the Sun for a long time. The Inca kings from Cusco visited Isla Del Sol often and one of them built a temple for the Sun near the cliff where the Sun emerged from. The ruins of the Sun temple is called Pilcocaina ruins.

After the 1-hour long ride on Lake Titicaca, the boat from Copacabana dropped us off at Isla Del Sol.

Then started the steep hike to the top. There are no paved roads and cars in Isla Del Sol and
the only way to reach our eco lodge is to hike up !!!

The stone building towards the top right is the Pilcocaina ruins (aka Sun Temple).

At over 13000 feet elevation, we were all gasping for whatever little oxygen was available.
Rodrigo pinched off some leaves from a brush and asked us to crush the leaves and inhale it, explaining that
it will open up bronchial tubes in our lungs helping us to take in more air. It did help for a while until
we had to stop, rest for few minutes and inhale :)

But help was on the way !!! Within 10 minutes of our hike we spotted a train of people and animals
coming down to receive us. There was a woman managing a mule and two llamas and a man carrying an
oxygen tank and a first-aid kit! The mule was for anyone to ride on, the llamas to carry any bags,
the oxygen tank for any one having difficulty breathing :).
Thank God it was not that bad and we didn't have to use the oxygen tank.

We loaded all our stuff on the llama.

The higher we climbed, the better and stunning were the views.

The Snow-Capped peaks of the Bolivian Andes !!!

After huffing and puffing for 45 minutes, with the "Mule & Llama" train following us, we reached the top and level grounds.
Look, how far and tiny is the pier where we started this hike!

Courtyard of a small restaurant on the way. A stunning view to have it with your Narasu's coffee or masala chai :)

Arriving at the eco lodge, La Posada Del Inca. The black llama you see here is named "Herrara". He is the lazy llama :). We were told that Herrara doesn't want to do any work or carry any weight. He knew that if he came close he would be loaded with some luggage. For the entire hike, he was following at a safe 30 feet behind us :).

Of all the places we visited and stayed on this 2 week trip to Peru & Bolivia, I would say the most beautiful, natural and serene place is the Isla Del Sol.
More on Isla Del Sol coming up.