Lake Titicaca

Taquile (Spanish) or Intika (Quechua) is an island in the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca. It is about 45 km from the Peruvian coastal town of Puno. The island is about 5.5 km long and up to 1.6 km wide. The highest point is at 4,050 m above sea level. The approximately 1500 inhabitants are organized in a cooperative and refrain from the presence of a police unit.

The area on Lake Titicaca was originally a settlement area of ​​the Aymara Indians and the Incas. In and around the lake are the legacies of these cultures to find as well as on the approximately 100 acres Isla de la Luna (Moon Island), which is also known as Isla Koati. According to legend, on this "holy" island of the Incas, Wiracocha ordered the moon to ascend to heaven.

Although the sun was scarce on our Copacabana Bolivia boat trip to the "Sun-Island", traveling to the place where, according to legend, Inca mythology began, it was impressive. The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega describes that on the sunny island, siblings Manqu Qhapaq and Mama Uqllu at the ritual stone Titiqaqa emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca. They are considered Adam and Eve of the Inca culture.

Some 100 of the approximately 2000 Urus still live on the almost 50 floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca near Puno. The islands are made of Totora reeds, which also serve as building material for their boats. The Urus live on fishing and tourism. The small replicas of their "dragon boats" made of reeds, we have gladly bought as souvenirs and paid a corresponding Obolus for the photographs.