Experiences and local guides in Copacabana

Nature

Copacabana, at 3,840 m, is a white town on a bay of the Bolivian Titicaca, between Cerro Calvario and Cerro Kesanani. Off shore lies Isla del Sol, birthplace of the Inca empire according to legend: 70 km² of terraces, eucalyptus, beaches and stone trails with the snow-capped Illampu (6,368 m) behind. Next to it the small Isla de la Luna and, on the shore, reed beds, chinchillas and altiplano birds.

Activities

• Isla del Sol: north-to-south hike (3 to 4 hours) between Chincana, the Sacred Rock and Yumani, with a night in a family guesthouse
• Isla de la Luna and the temple of the Virgins of the Sun, boat or kayak trips around the bay
• Cerro Calvario at sunset, Horca del Inca, cycling to Yampupata along the shore
• Inca Trail trek to Yampupata and the Aymara communities of Sampaya and Titicachi
• Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana and the blessing of cars, lake trout on the pier

When to go

May to October is dry with blue skies and cold nights. December to March brings short rains and green landscapes. From 2 to 5 February and 5 to 8 August the town celebrates its main festivals.

How to get there

No airport: buses from La Paz (4 hours, with a barge crossing of the Tiquina strait) and from Puno via the Kasani border (3 to 4 hours, shared vans and tourist buses). Boats to Isla del Sol leave the pier at 8:30 and 13:30, taking 1 h 30 to Yumani or 2 hours to the north of the island.