Overview
A small, sun-bleached town on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, watched over by a gleaming Moorish-style basilica and a hill of pilgrimage. It’s the launch point for the Isla del Sol, the Inca creation myth’s birthplace of the sun, where trails link ancient ruins between two villages with no cars.
Top things to do
Basílica de Copacabana
A dazzling white Moorish-Andean cathedral and the focus of one of Bolivia’s biggest pilgrimages.
Cerro Calvario
A short pilgrimage climb to a ridge of crosses with the lake glittering far below.
Isla del Sol
A car-free island of Inca ruins, terraces and footpaths a boat ride out on the lake.
Hike the Isla del Sol
Boat to the island and walk the ridge trail between its villages past Inca ruins.
Sunset on Cerro Calvario
Climb for the classic view of the lake turning gold behind the basilica.
Lake trout lunch
Eat fresh trucha from the lakeside grills along the waterfront.
2-day sample itinerary
- 1
Town & sunset
Basilica, the waterfront and Cerro Calvario at sunset.
- 2
Isla del Sol
Boat across and hike the island ridge trail.