Isla del Sol, Bolivia

Isla del Sol, Bolivia

Isla del Sol Bolivia

Isla del Sol is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca, in Bolivia’s La Paz Department. The landscape is tough going: a rocky, hilly island with plenty of eucalyptus trees. There are no motor vehicles or paved roads. Around 800 families live here, relying mainly on farming, with fishing and tourism helping to support a subsistence lifestyle. Of the island’s villages, Yumani and Challapampa are the largest. More than 80 ruins are scattered across the island, most dating from the Inca period in the 15th century AD. Archaeological finds show that people have been living here since at least the third millennium BC. Many hills are marked by agricultural terraces, created to make steep, rocky slopes usable for crops. Notable ruins include Titi Qala (“mountain cat stone” or “lead stone”), a labyrinth-like complex called Chinkana, Q’asa Pata, and Pillkukayna. In Inca religion, Isla del Sol was revered as the birthplace of the sun god.
Recommended airport
El Alto Intl (LPB)
Nearby destinations
  • Lake Titicaca a 22.46 km
  • Island of the Moon a 11.39 km
  • Copacabana a 19.05 km