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Chip Standish, Ph.D., Dept. of Anthropology, U. of Chicago, 1985;
Associate Professor, Dept. of Anthropology
stanish@anthro.ucla.edu, A 410 Fowler, 310.794.5552
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The Islands of the Sun and the Moon house two of the greatest natural and cultural monuments of South America. Located in the southern side of Lake Titicaca straddled between Peru and Bolivia, the islands house more than one hundred and fifty ancient settlements. A visit to the Islands of the Sun and the Moon should be an exciting experience and this guide will help you to appreciate their natural and cultural wonders.
The Islands of the Sun and the Moon represent two of the greatest natural and cultural monuments of South America. Located in the southern side of Lake Titicaca (3810 meters above sea level), the islands house more than one hundred and fifty ancient settlements. During the Inca occupation of the region (around A.D. 1470 - 1532) these islands were the final destination of ritual pilgrimages from all around the empire. However, recently recovered archaeological evidence indicates that the sacred nature of these islands extends back at least to the Tiwanaku Empire (A.D. 600 - 1100). Prior to this time, humans first occupied the islands as early as 2000 B.C., and have continuously lived there for millennia. Click here for maps.
The natural beauty of these islands is impossible to describe; you simply have to visit them to appreciate it. As one ascends the summits, you gain breathtaking views of the Cordillera, the shores of Bolivia and Peru, and the Copacabana peninsula. A visit to the Islands of the Sun and the Moon should be an exciting experience and this guide will help you to appreciate their natural and cultural wonders.
