Desaguadero

May 20, 2025

Today's ride started with a rather stiff climb out of Juli but the reward on reaching the top was our first decent view of the Cordillera Real, the snow covered range that runs down the south eastern side of Titicaca. We had been teased with glimpses of it over the previous days but this was the first time we could see it unobstructed by clouds and foreground hills.

After a lovely downhill run to the lakeside it was mostly flat with just a few shorter climbs until we reached the town of Pomata. Here the road split with the eastern leg leading to Yungayo on the Bolivian border close to the tourist town of Copacabana while the 3S continued to Desaguadero on the Bolivian border leading eventually to La Paz. Our original intention was to go via Yungayo to avoid the traffic on the 3S but today's traffic was light and the road surface had been excellent.

At this point we needed to make a decision while having our lunch at a rather rough roadside restaurant. The wind hasn't been a factor so far on this trip but today it was blowing at about ten kilometers an hour from the north east, an impediment if we went to Yungayo but providing assistance if we carried on to Desaguadero. So we continued on the 3S.

We saw a couple of these. I'm not sure what they are all about.

As we got closer to Desaguadero the light on the Cordillera Real improved and we were able to get better photos. Ancohuma, at 6,427 m, is the third highest peak in Bolivia and is clearly visible here.

Desaguadero is a scruffy border town and our digs for tonight are rather rough. At least we have a hot shower.

Tomorrow we cross into Bolivia and head for Tiwanaku, a town on the way to La Paz that has important pre Inca ruins.

Today's ride: 68 km (42 miles)
Total: 603 km (374 miles)

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