Travel to Bolivia: Copacabana Tours

Why travel to Copacabana

Copacabana is a small town situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, about 4 hours by bus north-west of La Paz. Many travelers stop off in Copacabana for a day or two, since it lies on the main tourist route between Bolivia and Peru. The frontier is only an hour away by bus and approximately 4 hours from Puno in Peru.

It is a lovely place to relax and enjoy Lake Titicaca, highest navigable lake in the world and one of the most magical in all of Latin America. Copacabana is the ideal base to launch excursions on Lake Titicaca, particularly to Isla del Sol, the sacred Inca island.

Although tourism has rapidly grown over the years, Copacabana has retained its quaint lake town charm, and is truly enchanting. It’s a pleasure to walk the city’s scenic walkways along the lake’s shores, and relax one of its many terraces.

Copacabana's many vibrant religious celebrations and traditional festivals are well known throughout Bolivia. Many Peruvians travel across the lake to attend these colorful festivities.

What to do in Copacabana

Sail Lake Titicaca. By far, the biggest attraction of Copacabana is Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Copacabana is a great base for island excursions, especially to the nearby Isla del Sol, where according to mythology, Incas originated with the birth of the first Incas: Viracocha and Manco Capac, his sister-wife. Cruises across the lake are also a great way to cross over to Peru, stopping in the major Peruvian city on the lake, Puno.

City tour. The town is famous for its ornate Moorish-style Cathedral. Built in the 17th century, the cathedral is home to the 16th century Virgen de Candelaria also known as the Dark Virgin of the Lake, who is credited for many miracles. She is Bolivia's patron saint and an object of worship throughout the Andes. Also worth a visit is the Museo del Poncho to see colorful exhibits of Andean weavings and clothing.

When to visit Copacabana

One can visit Copacabana year round, although the best time is from May to October, when the days tend to be sunny and rain is infrequent. Expect to dress in layers, as the high altitude and sun can make it very hot during the day, but lake breezes require sweaters to keep the chill away. Temperatures drop to nearly freezing after dark.

Travel Testimonials

Peru For Less hooked us up with all the tools and plans to have an unforgettable experience. We toured Lake Titicaca, which was fascinating, especially the floating islands of Uros. The main part of Bolivia that I highly recommend is the Salt Flats of Uyuni. It's like being on another planet. We spent two days driving on and around the flats in a four runner with a guide and a driver. I couldn't recommend Peru For Less more if you're planning a trip to Peru or Bolivia.

Chris from New Orleans traveled to Bolivia in July 2011

Thank you for an excellently organized trip to Peru and Bolivia. The Bolivian experience including Lake Titicaca, and tortora boat visit to Tiwanaku ruins was a different (high altitude!) experience. The unforgettable decent from high Regal Cordilleras and the La Cumbre Pass (4,650 meters a.s.l.) to a steamy Yungas tropical rain forest at only 1,500 meters a.s.l. and a visit to small town of Coroico was very interesting. All in all, the itinerary was followed closely and punctually and all local tour guides were very professional and informative.

Ned Kljucec from Alberta, Canada, traveled to Lake Titicaca and Bolivia in October 2010

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Copacabana Hotels

The best hotel in Copacabana is the 3-star Hotel Rosario del Lago. Overall, accommodation is fairly limited and hotels generally have basic yet clean and comfortable infrastructure. Contact your travel advisor for more information.