Inca stairway
Between terraces.
Jawira — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jawira — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jawira — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bob Ramsak — CC BY-SA 4.0
A rocky, hilly island in Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, which Inca legend names as the birthplace of the sun and of their first kings. About eight hundred families live here by farming, fishing and tourism, in small villages, the largest being Yumani in the south and Challapampa in the north, with no cars or paved roads. The island has over eighty archaeological sites, mostly Inca: the Pilkokaina palace on the south coast, the long Inca stairway climbing from the pier between farming terraces, and in the north the stone maze of Chincana and a sacred rock. Its finest experience is walking the old paths over the hills between quinoa and potato fields and eucalyptus trees, with views of the deep-blue water and the snowy Cordillera Real on the horizon. Many sleep in simple lodges in Yumani for sunset and sunrise. Small fees are paid to each community on entering its land. The island's north was closed for years by a dispute between villages and later reopened, so check the situation before going. The lake sits at about 3,800 metres, with a scorching sun and cold nights, so bring sunscreen and a jacket. Bolivia is under a state of emergency with protests and road blockades, so check road conditions and your government's travel advice before the trip.
Between terraces.
On the shore.
Lake views.
Southern Lake Titicaca, about an hour and a half by boat from Copacabana
Yes, by morning boat from Copacabana, but a night in Yumani allows walks and the sunset; check whether the north is open.