Amy and Chris backpack South America: Lago Titicaca

Lago Titicaca - Peru and Bolivia

Having not seen the ocean now for almost two months when we got our first glimpses to Lago Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in the world) we just pretended we could smell salt and seaweed. The lake shares a border with Bolivia and our stop in Puno was the last stop in Peru. On the wharf we jumped aboard our boat to spend the night on one of the islands on the lake. The boat was a fairly sturdy craft powered by an old diesel tractor engine that doesnt make it over 1200 RPM, I have seen dories rowed by fishermen travel faster! The man made reed islands where communities of people have lived for centuries seemed to be passing us! Our first stop was onto a reed island where we were showed how the islands are built. It takes about 9 months to build an island with layers and layers of reeds stacked on one another. The islands last about 30 years before the reeds are too rotten and then they set the island adrift and build a new one.

Isla Oros

Reed houses

Need reeds¿?

Four hours later we were at Amantani Island where we would spend the night in a homestay. Mamas in traditional clothing were waiting for us at the dock and paired up with people. We ended up with a Papa who was nicely dressed and wearing the traditional black fidora. After brief introductions we started walking up the hill and we learned that our Papa was the Mayor of Amantani! When we got to the house we met our mama (the cutest 4´ 8" lady you´ve ever seen) were we had an amazing lunch. That evening we were all going to a fiesta down in the plaza. I came down the stairs and not knowing our mama had laid out all the traditional clothing we were to wear for the evening. She dressed me in a skirt, blouse, and waist band. Sucking in she just kept pulling my waist band tighter and tighter until I felt like I was wearing a corset and couldn´t breathe! Chris´dawned his poncho and butterfly toque and off we went. Dancing the evening away with our mama and papa was a night we will never forget.

Hike up Amantani

At the fiesta with our mama and papa

Leaving the next morning for a stop over at Isla Taquille, we learned about the traditions of this island. When you are a single women your skirt is colourful, you wear red, green, yellow, ect..When you get married your skirt colour then becomes black. The single men wear red and white slouch toques. When their toque is tipped to the right it means they are looking for a wife. When the toque is tipped to the left they are looking for a "casual encounter." When the man is married his toque is all red and can be tipped in any direction! How genious is this!

A 3 hour bus ride and we were across the border with no hassels into Bolivia. Jumping directly on a boat (again so slow!) we arrived on Isla del Sol. The island where the sun was born. We landed on the South end of the island and after hiking up the hill we found the cutest little hostel with an incredible view of the lake! Watching the sunset and enjoying the view was the perfect ending to our day.