No
travel to 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,
place 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.
Itinerary
Day 01: Puno to Copacabana - Sun Island Overnight
You will picked up from your hotel at 6:30 a.m. Land
transfer to
Copacabana Sanctuary. You will arrive into Copacabana after
about 3 hours. Copacana is the most important religious sanctuary
of Bolivia. Thousands of pilgrims visit the virgin of Copacabana
every year. It is also known as the Native Madonna. Later,
you will visit the main square and the impressive Cathedral
(1/2 hour tour). You will arrive to the Sun Island after about
an hour of a spectacular catamaran cruise. This island has
been identified as the birthplace of several revered entities
, including the sun itself. A source of magnetic energy ,
the vertex of the earth, the cradle of the Incan Empire ,
and the Incan couple Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo appeared here
and founded the Sun Empire. For the following hour and a half,
you will take the Sun Island Tour (South side) where you will
visit: the Inca Garden, Inca Stairs, Inca water spring, Sun
Island Inti Wata Complex, Challapampa native village and Museum
and Chinkana Inca Holy Temple. Dinner and Sun Island native's
folkloric demonstration on board. Sun Island overnight. (L,
D).
Day 02: Sun Island to Puno
Next morning, Catamaran Cruise to Copacabana admiring
the overwhelming panorama. At the sanctuary free time to
enjoy several religious and archaeological sites, lunch
and land transfer to Puno city.
We will arrive in Puno at 5:30 pm and that will be the end
of the service.
(B,L)
Price per person: $210 per person based
on double occupancy.
INCLUDES: Catamaran, accommodations based
on double occupancy .All scheduled land and lake transportation.
All transfers (*). All scheduled excursions with English-speaking
guide services. All entrance fees. Meals as specified
in the itinerary.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes
or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights
during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages
or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry,
phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of
flights and items of personal nature.
Visa Requirement for US Citizens to enter in Bolivia
********************************************
if you are North american and have decided visit Bolivia,
you must take note of this recent information:
In the first hours of 2007, The Bolivian President Evo
Morales suppressed by decree the right of US citizens to
enter this country freely, in reciprocity with a similar
measure taken by the US government. Also the citizens of
Angola, Bhutan, República de Chad, Congo, Ruanda,
Somalia, República Yemen, Indonesia, China and Taiwán
has been affected by this decreee
Please make sure to have all necessary documents before
traveling.
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