Isla Del Sol - 'The Sun Island', Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Runaway Donkey

You could be in Drumadoon!

Pretty house along the way

Tra na Mbo!?

Our bus from Copacobana - La Paz - we watch all our worldly possessions on this bus from a dinghy nearby 

Locals hard at work!

A room with a view!

We are up bright and early in Las Olas to a breakfast of eggs, toasted french bread & fresh coffee, a luxury compared to the usual stale bread and jam of hostels we have become accustomed to. A boat at 1.30pm is to bring us to 'Isla Del Sol', the beautiful 'sun island' mooring on the calm waters of Lake Titicaca.
A rainy day casts a shadow on the island which upon first sight doesn't make it look very appealing. We climb the steep & somewhat muddy hillside to stumble upon a modest family run accomodation. We barter with a boy of no more than 10years old to accrue a reasonable rate of €8 each for a private double room, with bathroom, but without water. A dangerous bout of diarrohea in the previous days threaten us tempting the use of the toilet, sin agua. **Shudder**

Thankfully, luck is on our side and we set off to see more of the island. Our first impressions diminish the further on we trek as the view becomes more and more amazing. The silent lake surrounds us and little pigs  greet us with little piggy grunts as we pass by. A local trying to walk his donkey using a rope loses grip, the donkey breaks free and gallops(?) off into the distance while his owner desperately grasps for the rope time and time again to no avail.

Strolling on, three children of about 5 years sit together smiling sweetly in their traditional dress as we pass, postcard perfect. Futher on down the track two girls play, making good use of a piece of wood with four wheels attached to its underside and a rope on one side for a pulley. They pass us in the cutest manner possible, one sitting on the wood, the other pulling her along, both girls giggling hysterically. We succumb to their trap and ask for a photo. Bolivians certainly know how to make a quick buck, and how to exploit their children!

We stop at a restaurant to try the Trucha(trout) fresh from the lake, delicious! A magnificent 180degree wall of glass lends a spectacular view of the lake as we eat. A girl of about 10years serves us.
We rise early for breakfast served again by two young children, presumably the daughters of the house. At this point we have yet to see any adults working here and begin to wonder if all the children on this island are the breadwinners?!


The new day brings fresh sunshine and we are finally able to see the island in all its glory. The brown and muddy streams running down the hill to the lake yesterday are today clear and sparkling and the lake shimmers blue and magnificent in its new clothes. We leave on the 10.30am boat back to Copacobana where we move on to La Paz, sad to leave, but happy to have seen this lovely place!