Here, on the border between Bolivia and Peru, and after Buenos Aires, Iguacu Waterfalls and La Paz, is my fourd tourist pitstop/trap: Titi-Caca. It is the highest navigable lake in the world, with an area of 8.300 km2 situated 3.800 m over sea level.
Titicaca (which always brings a smile to my face), according to Wikipedia takes its name from the island called Intikjarka, which now is known as Sun’s island. The Intikjarka name comes from two aymara language words: “inti”, ‘sun’ and “kjarka”, ‘crag’. So “intikjarka” means ‘Sun’s crag’, and today is known as "Sun's Island". It was a secred place for the Colla nation (or Qulla in aymara language) who lived and live around the lake and far south.
- but a local guide tells of a legend "dead pumas lake"; According to legend, once upon a time, there was no lake; on the valley lived some people that disappointed the gods, so they sent a hard rain. Men left the valley and sheltered in the mountains; they killed the pumas and took their caves. When the rain stopped, the men found a lake where it used to be a valley, and dead pumas on the surface.
- and let's not forget to mention that Peruvians tend to say the titi is for peru, and the caca is for Bolivia. So much for good neighbours...
Sun Island
Sun Island is the place where Incas Empire creators, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, appeared; they were children of the Sun (Inti). This is the largest island in the lake; there is a sacred water fountain and a cultural complex, with several local activities and imitations of typical totora rafts.
La Isla del Sol es el lugar en donde aparecieron los fundadores del Imperio Incaico, Manco Capac y Mama Ocllo; eran los hijos del Sol (Inti). Es la isla más grande del lago; hay en ella una fuente de agua sagrada y un complejo cultural, en donde se pueden observar diversas costumbres locales e imitaciones de las típicas embarcaciones de totora.
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