Walking along the ancient trails of the Qhapaq Ñan Inca road network around Lake Titicaca.
A journey through the history of a unique land and the people who have shaped it, through the landscapes of the most emblematic lake in the Andes and the culture of the communities that inhabit it.
We will learn about the secrets guarded by the Andes mountain range and sacred Lake Titicaca, visiting the ancient Andean road network called Qhapaq Ñan, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. These itineraries will take us to explore the cultural expressions, customs, ways of life of the communities that live there, as well as some of the most important natural and cultural attractions of the area: archaeological sites, cave paintings and hidden beaches.
The pre-Hispanic road, which here is called Qala Thakhi, has connected and united, for thousands of years, the communities of Ispaya Grande, Isapaya Tocoli, Quirihuate, Sisasani, up to the community of Santiago de Okola, where we will spend the whole day. Approaching the lake along these trails allows you to imagine and experience what many other travellers experienced in the past.
The Aymara communities living in this area have adapted their homes, and other spaces, to provide basic services to visitors, sharing their lifestyle, customs and traditions.
Services
- Accomodation
- Food and beverage
- Overland transport
- Local guides available in English, Spanish
Additional Info
Difficulty level
Medium-low.
Packing list
Personal documents, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat or cap, bathing suit, comfortable clothes and shoes, warm clothes and woollen hat for the night, raincoat for the rainy season (December to April), camera, snacks. Personal medication for altitude sickness.
Included services
Transportation: private round-trip transportation
Accommodation: one night with local family
Meals: traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner with local produce; enquire about vegetarian food
First aid kit
Local guide
Pick up at the hotels, if located in the city centre and subject to arrangement with the operator. Elsewhere, a meeting point will be arranged possibly at extra cost.
Services not included
Breakfast on the first day
Dinner on the last day
Boat rides or other service not agreed in Santiago de Okola
Tips
Extra charges.
Info Reservation
Minimum group: 10 people.
Minimum booking time: one week.
Transportation
by car, by mixed transportation
Day 1
From La Paz to Santiago de Okola
Duration: 1,5 days
La Paz–Ancoraimes community–Ispaya Grande community–Quirihuate community–Sisasani community–Santiago de Okola
We will set off from La Paz early in the morning by bus or minibus. The first planned stopover is at the community of Ancoraimes, near Lake Titicaca, where we will visit the colonial church with its wonderful altarpieces. From there we'll hike to the community of Ispaya Grande to learn about the local craft tradition of making woollen hats. The journey continues to Quirihuate, where we will see some rare and interesting geological formations, cave paintings and vizcachas. At the community of Sisasani, we'll visit its sandy beaches, with the opportunity to photograph the island of Tortuga, which overlooks the lake.
After the last stretch of the hike, we will rest for a while and have lunch at Santiago de Okola. We will spend the afternoon here at the weaving workshop of the community of Santiago de Okola, operated by local women, and visit the surroundings with its beaches and spectacular landscapes.
Finally, we will have dinner with the families of the community, as their guests for the night in their homes.
Day 2
The ascent up the Dragón Dormido
Duration: 6 hours
Santiago de Okola
After having breakfast with the host family, we will begin the trek up the back of the Dragón Dormido, or Sleeping Dragon, as the hill that dominates Santiago de Okola is known, with a local guide who will tell us about the medicinal plants we come across along the way, and the local mines, and show us the best views of the lake. After lunch in Santiago de Okola we will return to La Paz.
