David was up early to make the sandwiches and breakfast. Not only did we have to be ready for the boat to Isla del Sol but we had to check out first, then take our bags and laundry to Hotel La Cupula for our return tomorrow.

The streets were pretty much deserted but Andes Amazonia office was open so we could buy our Bs.25 ticket for the ferry to the northern end of Isla del Sol. The water on the lake was flat as a pancake but the boat was just chugging along in the water as if they had all the time in the world. It was sunny but the air was cold so we definitely felt it, from our seats on top of the boat, when the sun went behind the odd cloud in the sky. There were great views though and it was worth being wrapped up warm to sit outside for the 2 hour trip.

We disembarked at Challapampa on the north of island and made our way to Museo de Oro de la Ciudad Sumergida. The Bs.10 ticket entrance to the museum was also valid for the Ruinas de Chinkana that was on the walking route we were going to take. The museum was very small but had a few artefacts and stories of the discovery of a sunken village in the Lake Titicaca near to the island.

The 45 minute walk over to the ruins was just amazing, it was a winding Inca styled paved path with the most incredible views. Every way we turned there was picture postcard views.

The ruins had labyrinth of well preserved rooms on the western slopes of the island and a ceremonial area including a sacred rock and sacrificial table.

We found a nice, flat rock to stop for a bit of lunch. It was only a tuna and tomato roll but after being out of the kitchen for so long, this was the extent of David's culinary ingenuity. There was also a limit to what could be bought in the market too.

After lunch, we started the trail to the south of the island on "Ruta Sagrada de la Eternidad del Sol" or "Willka Thaki" in local language. The track was maybe 3 hours long in total with lots of stops for photos (read, catching your breath because of the altitude) and some more lunch. There weren't actually that many people walking the track so it was relatively peaceful (apart from the heavy breathing on the uphill) and continued to have equally stunning views.

In the middle of the track, we were charged Bs.15 for the walk which goes to the village of Ch'alla in the middle of the island. Almost nobody ventures off the track, down to their village and it's their way to earn some money. The boats from Copacabana go to the north and south so the villages there get money from tourists on the boat arrivals and departures.

We stopped for second lunch at a nice viewpoint which was great and really peaceful until a big group that came along decided it was the ideal spot for their group photo. It took them ages to set it up on the timer and then repeat the whole process, it would have been a whole lot easier and quicker if they had just asked David.

Once the big group left, they were replaced by 3 Ozzie girls who wanted a photo taken of them topless. The local guide for the big group photo couldn't believe his luck when he was asked to take the photo. He didn't bank on the girls facing away from him though, waving their bras in the air.

After our lunch, when the crowds had moved on, we took a small side track to highest point of the main walking track, which was just over 4,000m. The view wasn't as good as elsewhere on the island but David did build a stone stack for luck.

The southern half of track wasn't quite as well built as north or perhaps there was more local 'traffic' but it was equally as picturesque. We arrived to Ecolodge Palla-Khasa just before 3pm and enjoyed the afternoon sun from the garden with a beer or two. There was a huge hummingbird that kept coming back to bush next to us but wouldn't stop long enough to get a decent photo.

As soon as the sun started to drop , there was a definite chill in the air, we were close to 4,000m after all. As the sun dropped closer to the horizon, we were treated to a fantastic sunset.

A fire had been lit in the restaurant and we managed to put our hat and gloves to the side while we had dinner. We both ordered the menu del dia with Maria opting for trout and David, the chicken. It was okay but we were definitely spoiled in the culinary department in Peru, Bolivia has quite a bit of catching up to do.

After the restaurant, our room felt cold but there were heaps of blankets on bed. Even still, we wore thermal pants and a wooly hat to bed until the sheets and the bed warmed up.