Yampupata to Copacabana via the Inca toilet

Up early for a days adventure. Today a caminar (walk) from Yampupata to the Baño del Inca.

As is often the way in Bolivia the best mode of transport is not always obvious, in this case we decided to try and use the Titikaka boats to get us to Yampupata which is about 18km north of Copacabana. The first leg was a dawdle, 10bs each to catch the Isla Del Sol ferry to Yumani. After that it should be easy to catch the ferry that returns to the mainland, however on arrival at Yumani we were immediately forced into buying some tickets that give access to the south of the Isla Del Sol (See later post) and then, we found that to get to Yampupata we would have to charter a private boat. This was duely done and 40minutes later we commenced our walk back to Copacabana.

The walk was quite stunning, taking us far above the lake and providing unrivelled views West to Peru and East to the Cordilla Real mountain range. According to the Lonely Planet we should follow the road all the way but we found some other tracks that took us away from the traffic and the dust that goes with a van going by which made the journey a little longer but the views more than made up for it. (If we ever find a decent internet connection we will try to put some pictures up.)

Just before getting back to Copacabana we headed off the track and up the hillside past some sort of Bolivian brass band practice session to the Baño del Inca, which translates as far as we are concerned to the Inca toilet but for some reason the books prefer to translate it to the Inca bath. There is not much left of the ruins but there is a clear water course that the Inca's created that ends in a large circular tub. Did not have a bath there myself but if we get smelly then a return visit may be in order.