Copacabana

Information

It is a town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, at about 3800 metres above sea level. It belongs to the department of La Paz and is about 140 km from the city of the same name (La Paz). It has restaurants, accommodation, handicraft stands and many shops.

In and around the town itself there are attractions to see:
- It has a public beach and a shore path over the lake.
- There is the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Copacabana, which was built in the 16th century and houses the Virgen de la Candelaria (Virgin of Candelaria). Opposite is the 2 de Febrero Square, through which runs the Avaroa Street, where there are many stalls selling handicrafts.
- On one side of the town is the Cerro Calvario (a hill), which has a path that takes about 40 minutes one way to get to the top (the whole way is uphill, so it is only for people in good physical condition). From the top there are excellent panoramic views of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca.

From the harbour area, boats leave for Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna. With respect to the Isla del Sol, bear in mind that they can leave at the north or south end, and if you want to get to know the island well, it is a good idea to find out if you can pay for the one-way trip to spend the night there (there are lodgings) and return with another boat the following day.