Isla del Sol, Sacred island in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia
Isla del Sol is a rocky island in Lake Titicaca covering roughly 14 square kilometers with mountainous terrain and scattered stone structures. Two main villages, Yumani and Challapampa, serve as the settlement centers where residents live without motor vehicles or paved infrastructure.
Human settlements at the island date to around 2200 BC, evidenced by obsidian tools showing trade with the Chivay region. Later, the Inca transformed it into a major religious center that retained importance through the centuries.
The island holds deep spiritual meaning rooted in Inca beliefs, with the Temple of the Sun and Pilco Kayma serving as sacred places that guide daily life. Local communities continue to honor these sites through their way of living on the land.
Paths between the villages and ancient sites are walkable but can be steep and require good fitness. Basic accommodations and food are available in the settlements, and it helps to pace yourself throughout the day.
Around 800 families cultivate crops on the steep slopes using ancient Inca terrace systems that have endured for centuries. This farming method reveals how residents work with the difficult landscape while keeping ancestral techniques alive.
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