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Panamericana

Peru XVIII: Pomata to Copacabana

Entrance to Bolivia

Entrance to Bolivia

We finally arrive to Bolivia!

Our last kilometers in Peru are again mostly flat. Just about 30 km to the border in Yungayo, and then another 10 on Bolivian soil to Copacabana, the main city on this side of the lake.

Last km in Peru
Last km in Peru
Mirror picture
Playing with the camera in the flats

The first part is on the main road to Desaguadero, the main border pass, so the traffic is slightly heavier, but once we turned towards Yungayo, things got much quieter.

Washing at Titicaca lake
Washing, themselves and clothes, in the lake

The road also stopped being flat, as we were getting closer again to the lake’s shore so it got slightly ondulating, which was hard work at 3800 mts.

Steep climb in Yungayo
Too steep to climb with Simon
Downhill in Yungayo
Everything that goes up, goes down

When we were arriving at the border, we were surprised by live music and loads of people. Apparently the people from both sides of the border, Yungayo and Kasani, were requesting a binational Aymara University, and the day we arrived they were enacting their request with a big party, mostly with music and parades by the kids from all the nearby schools, all in their best uniforms while the proud parents watched.

Peruvian border control
Peruvian border control

Formalities on the Peruvian side were easy. We then had to fight against the crowds to go to the other side. It felt a bit like one of those movies where Harrison Ford runs away from the bad guys by hiding in the St Patrick’s parade that happens to go on exactly when he needs it.

Black wearing locals
Black is always on fashion
Kasani decorations
The streets were heavily decorated

The Bolivian border was a bit more fastidious, although luckily the party mood helped to ease things a bit. They still required a lot of paperwork they will never read, but at least the copy shop in front of the border office was doing good business.

Entrance to Bolivia
From that arch we are in Bolivia
Bolivian border office Kasani
In front of the Bolivian border office

After that, we tried to leave as soon as possible while the road was nearly empty as everybody was still in the party. We quickly noticed two things, the road surface was significantly worst than in Peru, but the drivers were much more courteous and careful with us.

Parade in Kasani
Crowds watching the parade
Thomas trailer
Local girls checking out Thomas’ trailer

To reach Copacabana we still had a couple of climbs, specially around the seemly abandoned new airport, and then a downhill to the city. To celebrate, we decided to splurge and went to a very nice hotel, Gloria, with great views to the lake.

Last climb before Copacabana
Last climb before Copacabana
Copacabana view
First views of Copacabana

1 Comment

  1. Katherine G

    Quien diria que tambien hay un copacabana dn Bolivia. Pero sin mar! Interesante ese recibimiento boliviano, lo q si veo es q esa zona se ve arida y…fria? Sera por eso el uso constantly de los faldones? Bue! A esperar mas turismo de los viajeros de oro! Saludos

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