In the morning we will leave your hotel and start to climb out of the La Paz valley. Road to the lake goes through El Alto (where the La Paz international Airport is located), the poor and desolate sister city of La Paz. Leaving El Alto, road goes north west and runs straight through the Altiplano, passing small communities (Patamanta, Batallas, Huarina, Huatajata) and fields of potatoes, quinua and other local crops. During good weather conditions there are spectacular views of the whole chain of Cordillera Real, you will be able to see the peaks of Mt. Chacaltaya, Huayna Potosi, Condoriri and even Illampu. After about 55 km (34.2 mi) out of El Alto, we reach the shores of the Lake Titicaca. This however is the so called Minor or Lower Lake, which is separated from the Mayor or Upper Lake by the Tiquina Straight. Road continues along the shores of the lake with some spectacular views of the Minor Lake. Evenutally we get our first glimpses of the Major Lake. Trout farms can be seen in the distance along the way
San Pablo and San Sedro are small villages on the opposite sides of the Tiquina straight. Here we have to ferry our car across on a wooden barge, passengers go on a separate little motorized boat. There is an immigration control in San Pablo (passport required), as Peru is just around the corner. Here is also a major Bolivian “navy” base. The straight can be pretty choppy if the wind is strong.
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