This August we took a short trip to Peru, our second in the last few years. One of the first places we visited was the small town of Llachon on the Capachica Peninsula in Lake Titicaca.
Throughout the Lake Titicaca region, arches like this are very common.
Llachon is about a three hour drive from Puno. We took a colectivo (a very cramped, but inexpensive, mini-bus) to the town of Capachica. From there we hopped on another colectivo to get to Llachon. On the last leg of the trip I was seated next to the door, so I was the de facto doorman (which allowed me to hop out and snap the occasional photo).
Adobe bricks being dried in the sun at one of the places we pulled over to let someone out after departing Capachicha.
I had made arrangements to stay at the Hospedaje Samary with Felix Turpo. In Llachon, there are no house numbers or road names and GPS is useless. Finding Felix’s house could have been a challenge. I asked the colectivo driver if he knew where Felix lived and he gave a vague “down this dirt road and to the right.” His directions didn’t instill confidence. By the time we got to Llachon there was only a mother and her daughter left on the bus with us. Not really wanting to wander aimlessly around the town knocking on doors, I asked the mother if she knew Felix Turpo. As luck would have it, she was Felix's sister. She lived just down the road from him.
As close to an address as you get in Llachon. The sign that points to Felix Turpo's home, Hospedaje Samary
Felix’s home was perched right above Lake Titicaca. There are no hotels in Llachon, the only option for spending the night is to do a homestay with a local family.
A view of Hospedaje Samray, overlooking Lake Titicaca.
There are hiking trails in the mountains above the town that lead up to Cerro Incacaros. Llachon is 12,555 ft. (3,626 m.) above sea level, so it is easy to get winded while walking around, let alone while hiking. I had picked up a bag of coca leaves in Puno. These help with the altitude and give you a nice little boost of energy. I put them to good use hiking in the hills.
The view from part of the way up the main hiking trail in Llachon.
The trails were used to get sheep up to pastures in the hills to graze.
This girl was leading her sheep back to the village as we were heading up.
Woman spinning wool while watching her sheep.
The stone walls divided up different pastures.
In one of the pastures, a very friendly donkey walked over to greet us.
Friendly Llachonian donkey.
From near the top of Cerro Incacaros, there were good views of Isla Taquile, which we visited the next day.
The island of Taquile off in the distance.
Before heading back to Hospedaje Samary, we walked down to the lake to get a closer look.
Boats like this are the primary means of transport around Lake Titicaca. We took one the following day to get to the Uros Islands and Taquile.
By the time we got back to Felix’s, it was time for dinner--fresh trout from the lake, quinoa soup, and potatoes. Absolutely delicious.
The dining room at Hospedaje Samary.
After dinner the sun was setting over Lake Titicaca and we were treated to quite a view.
Sunset on Lake Titicaca
Enjoying the view