Being that we stayed in a nice hotel away from the backpacker area Bolvia Hop was a bit confused by us. Bolivia hop caters towards backpackers to help them get through countries while making stops where you can get on or off and stay overnight. We booked with them to let us a see a little more do the country instead of an overnight bus or flying. Since they didn't have pick up they had us meet at San Francisco plaza at 6 am.
When the guy found us he was so relieved. He couldn't believe the coordinator had us meet there instead of just going to Loki hostel where the bus actually comes. Duh!!! Either way we trudged back to the hostel at 6 am with both now heavy suitcases from shopping.
The bus full of backpackers made me excited. I was eager to chat with many of them to get tips about the following travels. As my mom pulled out food and began giving it away to the budget backpackers she quickly became their favorite mama bear! The bus leader was beyond hysterical. He loved to smoke cigs, eat chocolate, and loved his boys. He repeated these things constantly as he flirted with the Italian guys in our bus. A Bolivia native he enjoyed working in the bus and just making people laugh. By our first restroom break every single person craved chocolate and bought it off the gas station lady.
We arrived at our first views of lake titicaca. I'll be honest I never thought this place actually existed but a funny made up name people would say. But lake titicaca is real and it's at some pretty high altitude which is impressive.
Since both Bolivia and Peru share lake titicaca and parts switch back and forth between who own what we had to get off the bus and take a boat. We could t cross through the Peruvian section since it was a Bolivian bus. We took a nice little boat ride across the lake.
The next stop was in the cute little seaside, well lakeside, town of Copacabana. You better believe I was singing that song in my head the whole time! Although it's built up for tourist I still really enjoyed it. We walked around shopping although it seemed as if no one wanted to sell anything. The local church was very nice.
We took another boat across lake titicaca to the Isla del Sol. My mom opted to stay in the boat until it reached the next port while I jumped off and hiked with some of the other kids. This almost turned into a massive mistake. They are very strict on time and when they leave. The boat captain spoke very little English and made it clear they will leave you.
While I enjoyed a lovely hike past the turn off for the port time was running out. Ed, another backpacker, and I had gotten lost and not taken the right turn. We walked faster and faster. It wouldn't be so much of a problem other than the fact our luggage was back in copa and my mom and I had a strict schedule.
We stopped a boy and asked him in broken Spanish where to go. He told us and we gave him some money as a thanks. Five more minutes walking we didn't seem to be going the right way. We asked an adult next. He pointed back where we came from. We practically ran! Ten minutes to go and I can see the port way down below. Rocky inka stairs led the whole way down. Ouch! We struggled down trying to beat the clock. Meanwhile down at the port the boat guy was tapping his watch reminding my mom they would in fact leave me. She didn't know what to do. Racing down the stairs Ed and I made it with one minute to spare! Phew!!!
Back on the bus we had a bit of time to nap before the boarder crossing. Another guide who would be our Bolivia guide was joining us. Turns out she illegally crossed the boarder to join us. Super simple crossing made difficult by two massive suitcases housing souvenirs. This border was entertaining because if we wouldn't have gotten the Bolivia visas you could easily skip the checking out of the country line. There are no guards to check you or make sure you got stamped out.
Entering Peru, my 41st country, I was greeted by a massive Peru statue and massive cusquena beer statue. Hello Peru!!
Watching the sunset from the bus we slowly drove around the lake to Puno. Here we got off the bus. We were warned that there may be a strike and we couldn't get out the next day. The two girls on our bus got stuck there for three days in the way into Bolivia.
Puno was nothing special in my opinion. Our hotel was nice and we enjoyed a good dinner before resting up to take the Incan Ruta del Sol, sun route, to Cusco in the morning.
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