Driving from La Paz to Lake Titicaca was beautiful and gave us a better understanding of how large the lake actually is. It felt more like an ocean and the crystal clear water against the blue sky was picture perfect. We were confused when the locals on our bus began to get off at a port, which was not our final destination. We followed along and were herded onto a small taxi boat, which took us across the lake. From the far side, we all watched as our bus drove onto a large platform and slowly made its way towards us on the water. We stayed one night in Copacabana on the Bolivian side of the lake in the cheapest room we have had all year. For a little more than $1.00 we fell asleep listening to the sounds coming from the main street below. We awoke early the next morning and began our 17km hike to Yampaputa.
The trail wound us through small villages and past many local farms. It was nice to be out of a tourist area and we enjoyed seeing how the locals live away from what we considered civilization. The path hovered above the lake and offered countless panoramic views of the lake. We ate a picnic lunch in a little forest while sitting on a fallen tree looking out over the water and the snowcapped mountains. 
As we continued north we watched as Copacabana faded away and Isla del Sol appeared in the distance. We met up with two fellow Americans on the trail and the four of us hired a small boat that took us across the water from Yampaputa Isla del Sol – our final destination.
Isla del Sol played a major role in Inca history and it was a perfect first stop on our journey ending in Machu Picchu. The Incas believed the sun god was born here and there a number of ruins scattered around the island. We arrived at the south side of the island where we climbed the steep Inca stairway that lead us to a cute village set high on the cliffs above the lake. There are footpaths connecting the different areas of the island, which pedestrians share with countless donkeys. Terraces cut into the hillside where local farmers can be spotted working in their colorful clothing. We stayed one night in a hostel overlooking the lake and enjoyed watching the sunset with well deserved beers after our long hike. The four of us went to dinner together and fell asleep early exhausted from our adventure. The next morning we took a ferry back to Copacabana and spent the day wandering around the small town. A night bus shuttled us to the border of Peru and then on towards Cusco.
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