March 21, 2004
Isla Del Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Julian and I headed to Isla Del Sol today, a smallish island on the southern, Bolivian end of Lake Titicaca...  10 bolivars and a hour and a half in a local lancha will get you there.

Isla del sol is home to about 3000 people in 4 little villages.  most of them in the southern-most town, nearest the mainland where most visitors choose to spend an hour or two on the daily boats.  We headed for the northern side, on the last boat of the day, and arrived about 5:30... in time for a quick hike out to the incan ruins at the outermost tip for sunset.

Titicaca stands for 'Rock of the Puma' and Isla del Sol used to be called Titicaca... taking its name from the sacrificial stone used in ancient Incan ceremonies which still stands on the northern side of the island.  Later, the lake also took its name from this same ceremonial stone.  The stone slab which forms the sacrificial table can still be found outside the primary northern ruins, where undoubtedly, the first Inca, Manco Kapac, for whom this island is famous, was born and raised.