Copacabana Journals

Copacabana, Bolivia?

Best of IgoUgo

A January 2007 trip to Copacabana by SeenThat

Quote: Yes! Across the continent from its Brazilian sister, the Bolivian Copacabana sits on the eastern shores of the Titicaca Lake.

92 Photos

In Town

Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill)

Attraction | "Cerro Calvario"

Quote:

The SiteCopacabana is built between the Cerro (Hill) Calvario and the Cerro Niño (Child) Calvario. Thus climbing the low hill allows great views of the town, its port and the Lake Titicaca. Beyond that, the site features an important pilgrimage site in South America; the very one that apparently gave name to the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.Cerro CalvarioThe Cerro Calvario delimits the city to the north and is dedicated to the Via Crucis suffered by Jesus; the place has been developed by the Franciscans and the many crosses along it date back to the forties of the last century. The site is divided into fourteen stations, p...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2009

Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill)
Av. Las Heroínas
Copacabana, Bolivia

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Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana

Attraction | "Catedral de la Virgen de Copacabana"

Quote:

The Catedral de la Virgen de Copacabana is at the very center of the town and it dominates not only the landscape but the cultural life as well. Sparkling white, it was built between 1605 and 1820 and is famous due to the statue of the Virgen de Copacabana, a statue carved in wood by an Indian artist, Tito Yupanqui. The statue is housed in the higher floors, in the Camarin de la Virgen. It was carved on a hard cactus called maguey and is covered in gold, and her clothes are in Incan fashion and colors; strangely the statue has a wig of natural hair. Slightly over 1.2m in height, it holds a child Jesus in her left hand and in her right hand a basket and a candle; a crown a...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2009

Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
Central Plaza
Copacabana, Bolivia

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Copacabana, Bolivia

Overview

Quote:

HighlightsThe Catedral de la Virgen de Copacabana is at the town's very center and it dominates not only the landscape but the cultural life as well. It was built between 1605 and 1820 and is famous due to the statue of the Virgen de Copacabana, a statue carved in wood by an Indian artist called Tito Yupanqui. On the first two days of February, the Fiesta de la Virgen de Copacabana is celebrated on the place to commemorate the day in which the figure arrived to the town, on February 2, 1583. The cathedral and the adjacent Via Crucis at the Cerro Calvario became one of the main pilgrimage centers in ...Read More

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Outside Town

Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun)

Attraction | "Isla del Sol"

Quote:

The Isla del Sol (Sun Island) and Isla de la Luna (Moon Island) - both in Bolivia - is where according to Inca legends, their gods were born. The larger Isla del Sol is by far the most popular one to visit and is easily accessible from Copacabana in half-day or whole day trips. On the way there, the Isla de la Luna and Isla de la Estrella (Star Island) can be observed.Reaching the island is easy, at Copacabana's only beach there is a booth selling tickets for the 8:30am boats. The options are a half-day boat that returns at 12:30pm and costs 15BOB (a bit less than $2) and the ...Read More

The Isla del Sol (Sun Island) and Isla de la Luna (Moon Island) - both in Bolivia - is where according to Inca legends, their gods were born. The larger Isla del Sol is by far the most popular one to visit and is easily accessible from Copacabana in half-day or whole day trips. On the way there, the Isla de la Luna and Isla de la Estrella (Star Island) can be observed.

Reaching the island is easy, at Copacabana's only beach there is a booth selling tickets for the 8:30am boats. The options are a half-day boat that returns at 12:30pm and costs 15BOB (a bit less than $2) and the whole day one that returns at 4:30pm and costs 20BOB. The only difference between both is that the long trip allows a walk across the island and more time to see the very few ruins scattered around. All the restaurants in town sell lunch boxes for the long trip, since there are no facilities on the island.

The boats do not leave until they fill up; if it is not raining it is better to sit on the deck and enjoy the views. The day I traveled came after a very heavy night rain, it was chilly and damp; nonetheless, sitting on the deck was worthwhile. The boat travels slowly over the calm waters and there is no wind to speak of; surviving the low temperature was easy. The trip takes about one hour and travels north along the broken Titicaca shoreline; after the Isla del Sol is spotted, the boat ventures into the lake and then the Star Island and Isla de la Luna can be seen before docking.

The small pier includes a very basic snacks shop where overprized instant coffee is sold and little Aymara girls sell keepsakes (especially painted wood-whistles). A long staircase climbs up the steep hill and is the main Inca ruin; from here they arrived from the mainland and climbed to the holy places in the island interior. More souvenirs are available along the way - including a girl and her llama that pose for pictures. At the very top there is an awesome view of the lake and the mainland, as a background to many cultivated terraces (nowadays mainly with medicinal herbs).

Scattered around are several Inca ruins and two tiny villages; the main relic is the sacred rock where the Inca legend began. One of the strangest views is an improvised museum that blocks the way to the hill top at the staircase end; there a single boy that guards a circular room with Inca ceramics. There is no entrance fee, but a contribution is requested to be allowed to continue walking.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 31, 2007

Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun)
Southern Part of Lake Titicaca
Copacabana, Bolivia

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Puerto Perez

Attraction

Quote:

Puerto Perez is a small port on the shore of the Titicaca Lake. The village is arranged around a central plaza located next to its only pier. The plaza is misleading, spacious and quite developed in comparison to similar settlements in the area. However, beyond it the streets are unpaved and the houses built of an irregular mix of uncovered bricks and adobe, apparently without any system. The square plaza features a few hotels (one with a private pier, other with a closed bar), no restaurants and a tiny market; at its center a stone warrior keeps order. Despite its size and relative lack of facilities, the place is worth a visit since it features an unspoiled area of the Lake Titicac...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2009

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Crossing from Bolivia to Peru

Attraction

Quote:

Even long visas reach their end; visa runs are an inevitable part of a traveler's life. Near La Paz there are at least three crossing points to Peru: Khasani, Parquipujio and Desaguadero. The first two are best accessed from Copacabana, while the best is better suited for those leaving from La Paz.The border between the countries is open, meaning that every village along it can be the base for crossing over to the other country. However, not everywhere there are immigration officers capable of placing a stamp on the passport. That means staying at the border,...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 2, 2009

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About the Writer

SeenThat
Tel Aviv, Israel

"See http://www.igougo.com/travel_blog/post-p164-5_Questions_for_SeenThat.html We are all pilgrims....."
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