The last few days in Cusco, after completing the Inca Trail, were predictably spent enjoying the revels of having completed such a trek and rewarding myself with some beers. It was nice to relax and rest for a little bit before venturing onto Bolivia.
The day before my Bolivia adventure, the news filtered through of an attempted military coup of the capital, La Paz, mere days before I would be there. Mum was straight onto it: “GO somewhere else. Was listening to that on the news”. Of course I didn’t listen and boarded a night bus to Bolivia the following night.
Copacabana: Copacabana was the first stop on the Bolivian adventure, a small but picturesque town on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca. I got off the bus to one of the most desolate places I have been to on my trip so far. The roads were riddled with potholes, sidewalks were nonexistent, and the buildings looked ready to crumble. It was a stark reminder that I was in a rural and raw country, much different to its developed neighbours of Peru and Chile.
I checked into my hostel where a private room cost less than most dorm rooms I had stayed in, and embarked on the quest for a restaurant that didn’t scream “food poisoning”. This was no easy task. Google reviews of various places provided no reassurance so I hesitantly picked a place that looked slightly less shit than the others.
Copacabana attracts many tourists, but most don’t stick around. The typical itinerary involves arriving in the morning, taking a tour or boat trip on Lake Titicaca, and leaving the same afternoon. I decided to stay for two nights.
Despite its shortcomings, Copacabana does boast an incredible sunset lookout point, making a one-night stopover worthwhile just for that. It was the highlight in a town with very few highlights. Onto La Paz.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TdjCtb3q8U1GBWox8
You never listen to your mum!😍