How To Spend 48 Hours In Copacabana Bolivia

A tiny town on the southern shores of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana was once a sleepy fishing village best known for its many religious fiestas. Today, however, more and more visitors are stopping by to explore nearby Isla del Sol, meaning there’s an ever-growing number of attractions here. From exploring sacred pre-Inca sites to catching your own trout lunch, here’s how to spend 48 hours in Copacabana.

Explore pre-Inca ruins at Horca del Inca

Perched high up on a hill overlooking Copacabana town, Horca del Inca is one of the most sacred sites in the region. It’s thought that pre-Inca civilizations carved these impressive rocks (making holes and marks so that the sun’s rays could form different shadows on the ground) to serve as an astronomical observatory. During the June solstice (the Aymará new year), the locals still hike up to the site to predict whether the coming year will bring a prosperous harvest. It’s also possible to see offerings to the goddess Pachamama, such as coca leaves and incense, tucked in the stones here all year round.

Explore a pre-Inca astronomical observatory at Copacabana’s Horca del Inca

Catch your own lunch on the floating islands

A fisherman on Copacabana’s floating islands reels in his net filled with trout

Hike to Yampupata

Sadly, many people who visit Copacabana skip exploring the surrounding hills. While the center of town can seem riddled with tourist traps, if you walk just a few hours into Copacabana’s peaceful countryside you’ll feel like you’re in a different place altogether. The challenging day hike to the sleepy town of Yampupata will take you along empty trails, past friendly llama herders and quinoa farmers, and across rolling hills backed by rarely seen views of Lake Titicaca. If you’re the kind of person who likes to get off the beaten track, then put this high up on your list.

Hike along empty trails in Copacabana’s rarely visited countryside

Visit Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna

The vast majority of travelers passing through Copacabana come to visit Bolivia’s two most sacred Lake Titicaca islands: Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna. Day trips to these two beautiful islands are easily organized once you arrive in town. Most tours leave at either 8:30 am or 1:30 pm, and will include return transport and a stopover on Isla de la Luna for 35 bolivianos (US$5). Once you’re there, you can take a guided tour of the island’s most important Inca sites, watch the ladies weave intricate patterns, or just take in the views from one of the many restaurants selling trucha (trout). It’s also possible to stay the night on Isla del Sol, though note it’s currently only possible to visit the south side of the island, due to unresolved disputes in the north.

An Aymará woman weaving on Bolivia’s Isla del Sol

Take in the views at Cerro Calvario

At the far right side of Copacabana’s horseshoe bay sits the most beautiful lookout in town. A dirt road starting from either Calle Destacamento or Calles Jauregui and Costañera (the latter takes slightly longer) wind up past 14 crosses to views across Copacabana and Lake Titicaca. If you leave town around 4:30 pm, you’ll make it just in time to watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in Bolivia.

Spectacular views over Copacabana from Cerro Calvario

Check out the town’s beautiful cathedral

Dominating the town’s central plaza, Copacabana’s mudéjar (Moorish-design) cathedral is a beautiful site to see. On the outside, a large stone square is surrounded by huge white pillars and beautiful domes decorated with tiny blue and rust-red tiles. On the inside, you’ll be met by an intricately carved, gold-covered altar and walls decorated with 200-year-old religious paintings. The church is usually open every day and is free to enter. On Sundays, however, note that the church is reserved for baptisms and weekly mass services.

Copacabana’s Mudejar-style cathedral dominates the town’s central plaza

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.