BOLIVIA: LAKE TITICACA
Considered the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 ft, Lake Titicaca forms a natural boundary between Bolivia and Peru and is truly gigantic: 233 km long and 97 km wide. The inhabitants of its shores are mostly Aymara and Quchua Indians, descendant of both the ancient Aymara and younger Inca civilizations. Cocacabana is a tiny resort town on the shores of the lake important for the shrine dedicated to the Indian Virgin "La Virgen Morena". A three day festival is held here in August in her honor. Today's tourists will find numerous ways to get to the lake, as well as to the Isles of the Sun and Moon, two of its biggest islands. Isla del Sol has crystalline lagunas, white sandy beaches and cliffs, while Isla de la Luna has the ruins of a temple built in honor of "Mother Moon. Further more, according to legend, the city of Wanaku was in the water, and its ruins are said to be visible from the Lake's surface. Lake Titicaca is a must on the list of things to see for visitors to this part of the world. In the lake there are two islands: the Islas del Sol and Islas de la Luna, which are part of the Inca mythical creation. Legends tell us that Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo rose with staff in hand to found the capital of the Inca Empire at Cuzco. The Inca themselves called Titicaca the "womb of the world".
Lake Titicaca Highlights
TIWANACU.- "The Cradle of American Man" and once capital of a powerful civilization which flourished around 700 AD.HUATAJATA - The home harbor or the lake’s hydrofoil fleet, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, 45 miles (85 kms.) from La Paz. You drive on a paved road running parallel to the impressive Royal Range of the Andes, Huatajata is an oasis of modern facilities on the still primitive Bolivian high-plateau. The harbor overlooks the lake and is surrounded by native mud, adobe brick homes. In Huatajata you find some of the pre-Columbian reed boats, you get to see the proud llamas and alpacas and you can discover a lot of the most unique Lake Titicaca Culture at the Hotel Inca Utama
KALAUTA ISLAND - Visit a stone village with two and three stories high-ChulIpas (Mortuary towers). This sacred place is the largest Necropolis in the area and shows how much respect our ancestors had for the dead. You reach the island through Totora reed canals.TIQUINA.- The strait of Tiquina is 3/4 of a mile (750 mts.) wide and divides the small lake Chucuito from the main one Huihay Marca. On both sides of the strait terraced hills populated by two picturesque villages, San Pedro and San Pablo, rise four-hundred feet high (1 20 mts.). Between its shores you will see the flat Indian boats which ferry traffic back and forth through the strait.
ISLANDS OF THE SUN AND OF THE MOON.- According to legend, the Inca Empire was founded on these Islands when a golden rod was brought to earth by Manco Kapac and Mama Ocilo, son and daughter of the SUN GOD-INTI) and was buried there. There are several ruins on both islands supporting this legend. On the Island of the Sun, we visit the Inca Staircase and the Inca Springs, said to be a source of eternal youth and happiness. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake, the Royal Range of the Andes and pre-Colombian Inca terraces still farmed by local natives. According to an ancient tradition, upon returning on board, all passengers are blessed with sacred water, receive a crossing certificate, and a Bolivian drink.COPACABANA.- The most important religious shrine in Bolivia and the original place which gave the name to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. It attracts many pilgrims who make the trip on foot' often from great distances, to visit the famous cathedral and the "Virgin Morena" the Indian Virgin called by our natives "La Mamita del Lago": a mixture of Indian liturgy and catholic religion. The town is located on beautiful Titicaca Bay, providing a highly photographic panorama combined with exciting local color.
PUNO - The Peruvian main town near Lake Titicaca is remarkable for its churches, gold and silver, and colonial style craftsmanship.Lake Titicaca Mysticism
According to metaphysical laws, there are two main sources of power on earth: 'Male and Female". This concept is considered relevant, since it represents the two antagonistic meanings of life. Good and Bad, Night and Day, Light and Dark, the Physique and Psychic, emphasizing the complete circle of nature representing the two faces of our daily existence. During thousands of years, these two main sources, characterized by two magnetic rays, have been in the Himalayas (Tibet). Now we are under the Age of Aquarius, the source of power has moved from Tibet (Northern Hemisphere - Male) to Lake Titicaca "The Central Vertex of Cosmic Energy" (Southern Hemisphere - Female). Six different levels of spirituality (and cultures) arose in the Northern Hemiphere (Egypt, Babylon, Tibet, etc.) under the "Male" sign. Now this seventh level is for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere under the "Female" energy sign: the Pachamama. According to ancient prophecies, a new beginning commences and the Pachacuti in the Andes represents the "awakening" of a new and better world. From now on, the positive energy of the world will be generated by Lake Titicaca, while serenity will be kept by the Himalayas. It is said that most of the problems the world has been through, have been impelled by a lack of equilibrium, and the dramatic changes in the last years are supporting this theory: The time of joy for mankind has finally arrived with the harmony of this shared balance of power.
ANDEAN AWAKENING - "PACHACUTI" - The Shallot Cross is the sign of the Aymara religious identity: it outlines are living space in unity. It's center is the "Taypi", the core of Aymara spiritual existence. In the center of the Shallot Cross is the Pachamama (Mother Hearth) together with the Achachilas or Mallcus (Sacred Mountain Souls) acting as creative forces. The Pachamama controls everything and harmonizes all opposites: the "Above" with the sun, moon, rain, stars, thunder and winds - the "Below" where evil spirits live represented by earthquakes and lack of land fertility. From all this stems the basis of the Andean cosmovision based on 3 elements:The Alajpacha - a supreme identity representing the "Above All" (God)
The Acapacha - the space in which we find ourselves sharing together with the Pachamama
The Manqhapacha - the inside space which represent destructiveness and physical death.
The Kallawayas
Northwest of sacred Lake Titicaca live the Kallawayas, healers and masters of natural medicine. The Kallawayas know how to treat the body and the mind. Kallawayas legend says that their healing powers come from Achachila, the soul of one of the snowcapped peaks of the Andes, the sacred Akamani. The Kallawayas were among the first to use penicillin, streptomycin and quinine and they knew more than 200 plants and natural products to aid in healing. They also believe that you first have to heal the soul in order to heal the body. Today modern medicine also uses this approach, which recognizes that healthy mind and spirit are essential in physical health and well-being. The mysterious Coca leave has been used by the natural medicine for thousand of years: it has vitamins and minerals and a unique effect on hunger control or potent skin treatment elements. The Kallawayas were also among the earliest healers to adopt preventive medicine techniques focusing on spiritual health and strength through mysticism and ancient methods. In Bolivia natural medicine is legally recognized and these natural medicine doctors are authorized by law to practice medicine like any other MD. Due to their wisdom of nature's secrets, Bolivia was declared the cradle of natural medicine (Natural Medicine World Congress, Mexico, 1988.MYSTIC WORLD OF THE KALLAWAYAS - This living museum has received international awards as well as constant feedback from our visitors who, among other comments, catalogue it as "the major and newest attraction of the continent". After the night visit of its mystic world, the Kallawaya of our community, Tata Lorenzo, will bless visitors performing a ChalIa (Tribute to Mother Earth "Pacha Mama").