Island of the Sun - Lake Titicaca
(Isla del Sol)
Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol) is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. It is part of the modern Plurinational State of Bolivia. Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island. There are no motor vehicles or paved roads on the island. The main economic activity of the approximately 800 families on the island is farming, with fishing and tourism augmenting the subsistence economy. Of the several villages, Yumani and Cha'llapampa are the largest. There are over 80 ruins on the island. Most of these date to the Inca period circa the 15h century AD. Archaeologists have discovered evidence that people lived on the island as far back as the third millennium BCE. Many hills on the island contain agricultural terraces, which adapt steep and rocky terrain to agriculture. Among the ruins on the island are the Sacred Rock, a labyrinth-like building called Chicana, Kasa Pata, and Pilco Kaima. In the religion of the Incas, it was believed that the sun god was born here. The Aymara name for the island is Titi'kaka. It is not known what was the original meaning of this word. Some linguists and archaeologists believe the name to be a corruption of Titi (puma) and Kala (rock). In the 1612 Aymara-Spanish dictionary of Ludovico Bertonio, the phrase Tahksi kala is listed as "piedra fundamental" or "foundation stone" possibly alluding to the origin story of the Inca that the Sun and Moon were born in the lake. (Source: Wikipedia)
Copacabana |
Copacabana embarking |
Copacabana |
Transturin Cruise |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Tourist on reed-boat |
Lake Titicaca |
Lake Titicaca |
Cordillera Real |
Sacred Fountain |
Inca Trail |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Track of the footstep of the God Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Acllahuasi - Inca Temple |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Island of the Sun - Challapampa |
Photos © J. Mazzotti
Our gratitude to Transturin that allowed us to obtain these photos
LAKE TITICACA AND PUNO - PHOTO GALLERY.
- Puno City
- Andean Explorer Train
from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca - Lake Titicaca
- Sillustani Archaeological Site
- Pucara - Museum and Church
- San Juan Bautista Church
- Amantani Island
- Taquile Island
- Uros Islands
- Yavari Project
- People of Taquile Island
- Uros Islands - People
- Uros Islands - Reed boats and Houses
- Dances of Puno
- San Santiago Feast in Puno
- San Santiago Feast in Taquile Island
- Virgin of Candelaria Feast - Yellow
- Virgin of Candelaria Feast - Green
- Virgin of Candelaria Feast - Blue
- Virgin of Candelaria Feast - Red
BOLIVIAN AREA (NEXT TO PUNO) - PHOTO GALLERY.
LAKE TITICACA AND PUNO TRAVEL GUIDE - SEE ALSO:
- Lake Titicaca & Puno Travel Guide
- Puno City
- Lake Titicaca
- Uros Islands
- Taquile and Amantani Islands
- Taquile Intangible Heritage