Isla del Sol Trek in Bolivia is one of the best hikes in the world.

Why? trekking guide 2003 Lonely Planet travel guide 2007 Footprint travel guide 2005	World > South America > Central Andes > Bolivia > Isla del Sol One of the best hikes in the world is the Isla del Sol Trek Also known as: Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol Island of the Sun Note: This page is a stub. You can expand it by e-mailing comments, recommendations and links in the appropriate sections below. Our editors will add your comments. Thanks for your help! WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE Before we did this hike, it seemed in the guidebooks to be a bit dull. Not so! It is excellent in every way. We highly recommend it. the Incas believed mankind and all of creation was born here on an island in sacred Lake Titicaca this trek is unique in South America, especially at this altitude saphire Titicaca 3810m (12,500ft) reminds you of the Mediterranean without the people beckoning views of the high Andes in the distance Copacabana, the jumping-off point, is one of our favourite towns in Bolivia the cathedral in religious Copacabana is our favourite in all of Bolivia culture — rubbing shoulders with the indigenous peoples of the Altiplano is lovely Bolivia is as photogenic as Tibet history — visiting the many ancient sites on the islands you can tent almost anywhere placid llamas and reed boats, just like the photos you remember from school museums, fishing villages this adventure is conveniently located on the gringo trail from Peru. Most overland travellers visit Isla del Sol anyway, but on rushed day trips. travel in Bolivia for as little as US$20 / day (2005). It's the least expensive country in South America. ... add a comment here Copacabana is only a couple of hours away from Sorata, trailhead for Laguna Glacial, Illampu Circuit and the Transcordillera. Annie's photo - available as a postcard from VirtualTourist.com CONSIDERATIONS the walking is medium difficulty on good trails if you handle the altitude it can be a relaxing hike altitude sickness less likely than you might expect. Most hikers are acclimatized from days in La Paz 3810m (12,500ft) or Cuzco 3326m (10,912ft) bring all trekking gear with you from La Paz or Cuzco good UV rated sunglasses recommended entrance fee for some of the island ruins a good reason to avoid Bolivia are frequent strikes, demonstrations & even states of siege be self-reliant & carry a good first-aid kit you can survive in La Paz and on this trek without being able to speak Spanish, but you will wish you could ... add a comment here ROUTES Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes route is 41km (25.5mi) 3 days, 2 nights in the tent May-Sept are the best (driest) months though it is doable offseason optional sidetrip to a lighthouse many hikers skip the first day walking the shoreline, instead doing a long day hike on the island. Or, better, 2 days hiking with one night sleeping on Isla del Sol. click for larger, scalable maps from fallingrain.com LOGISTICS it can be dangerous to fly to La Paz directly — it has the highest international airport in the world 4050m (13,287ft) slightly better is to fly to Cuzco, Peru 3326m (10,912ft) to start acclimatizing. Later travel to La Paz by bus or plane. in La Paz it is easy to find transport to Copacabana (3-4hrs) from Puno, Peru it is even quicker to get to Copacabana though you must cross the border ... add a logistics comment here INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED? This is a short trek, easily organized. Best carry your own pack and do it independently. Hike at your own pace. Stop when and where you want. ... add a comment here LOCAL INFORMATION CAB (Club Andino Boliviano) Calle México 1638 in La Paz South American Explorers Cuzco ... add a recommendation here There is no problem getting outfitted for your hike in La Paz. Almost anything you need can be purchased or rented from the many trekking agencies on Calle Sagarnaga. Agencies are all happy to give you information, as well. BEST TREKKING GUIDEBOOKS Our favourite is Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes Rachowiecki, Claire & Dixon, 2003 Trekking in Bolivia Bradt 8th edition, 2002 ... add a recommendation here BEST TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS Lonely Planet Bolivia 2007 Footprint Bolivia Honnor, Murphy & Groesbeck, 2005 Rough Guide Bolivia 2002 ... add a recommendation here Most travellers prefer Lonely Planet. But some swear by Footprint Guides which, sadly, include advertising. OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS Marching Powder Rusty Young, 2003 Coups & Cocaine Anthony Daniels, 1987 Sacred Mountains of the World Edwin Bernbaum ... add a recommendation here BEST MAPS IGM 1:50,000 Copocabana 5745 I But we had no problems using the simple trekking map in Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes . fallingrain.com excellent scalable maps biketrip.org on-line map ... add a recommendation here Many different maps are available in La Paz. You will likely survive Choro with only a guidebook map, if you cannot find a topo you like. BEST WEBSITES Ladatco Tours Sun Island BoliviaWeb.com Bolivia Times newspaper on-line ... add a recommendation here BEST PHOTOS & TRIP REPORTS Sira & Brian's Isla del Sol hiking photos Eu-Jin Goh Isla del Sol photos 2006 Jeffrey Poznanovic Isla del Sol photos 2006 Tom and Snoozy 2005 Isla del Sol photos Rick McCharles photos 2004 A Mountain Lake Teeming With Myths Melanie Wallace, 1999 Rob Radencic hike photos 2003 Emma Jotta's photos Amy's trip report 2003 Virtual Tourist photos David Hanson photos 2001 Sam's photos ... add a recommendation here MOVIES, VIDEOS, DVDs Bolivia , 2005, feature film directed by Adrián Caetano