The name Copacabana is derived from two Aymaran words: kota – which means “lake,” and kahuana – which means “view point of the lake.” The Andean peninsula of Copacabana – containing a small bay in Lake Titicaca – is majestic in all manners with its archaeological vestiges that come from the Tiwanakuan culture and its wonderful natural attractions; the city is full of a multitude of activities.
Copacabana is a pilgrimage center of thousands of faithful nationals and foreigners who visit the Cathedral of the city daily to ask for blessings for their homes and to ask for all of their deepest desires to become a reality; these petitions are given up to the miraculous Virgin of Copacabana.
The peninsula of Copacabana serves as an embarking point to the Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol in Spanish) and to the Island of the Moon (Isla de la Luna in Spanish).
Lake Titicaca (also known as the “Sacred Lake”) is the highest navigable lake in the world at an altitude of 3,840 meters above sea level and a surface area of 8,710 square kilometers. Having been shared between Bolivia and Peru, the sacred lake is divided into two bodies: (1) Lago Menor (“Minor Lake”) – or, Huiñay Marca in the Aymaran language; and, (2) Lago Mayor (“Major Lake”) – or Chucuito in Aymaran. Lake Titicaca has been a shelter to many ancestral cultures due to its reference as “Sacred Lake” – like the Tiwanaku and Inka cultures with their spectacular landscapist and energetic richness. It’s a wonderful attraction for those who love and admire natural beauty; to enjoy an unforgettable experience in the Andes mountain range and such a visit to the various islands in the lake is a perfect way in which people can become in touch with the natural beauty that exists in Bolivia. The sacred and mysterious Lake Titicaca was the cradle of Andean civilization, populated by indigenous Aymara and Quechua people who – to this day – have retained the specific customs that were traditionally inherited by their ancestors. This lake offers a grand variety of wildlife consisting of ducks and different fish (like the carachi, ispi, mauri, pejerrey, and trout) – amongst other wildlife.
The lake vegetation is represented by 12 varieties of aquatic plants in which cattails and duckweeds are cultivated. The lake contains 36 islands – the most important being the Island of the Sun and the Island of the Moon on the Bolivian side – and the Islands of Taquile and Amantani on the Peruvian side; water temperature fluctuates between 10ºC and 15ºC (50ºF and 59ºF).
Duration:
2 Days / 1 Night
Type:
Shared / Private
Frequency:
Daily Departures from the City of La Paz
Tour Guide:
English / Spanish (Bilingual)
Hotel:
In Copacabana / Option to Stay the Night on the Island of the Sun
07:00-07:45 am– Personal pickup from your hotel in the center of La Paz to start the trip to the peninsula of Copacabana via an asphalted highway; Copacabana is located 151 kilometers outside of the city of La Paz and the trip is approximately 3.5 hours long. The trip is taken along the border of Lake Titicaca with an impressionable view of the Andes mountain range.
Upon arrival to Copacabana, we will find accommodation in the selected hotel.
Afternoon Tour to the Island of the Sun: After lunch, we will start our tour to the Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol in Spanish), crossing the lake and arriving to the island approximately 1 hour later. Upon arrival, we will visit the archaeological sites of the religious center, Pilkokaina – the Temple of the Incas; afterwards, we will take a walk through the stairs of Yumani (created literally by the steps of our ancestors) until we reach the sacred Fountain of Youth (called Fuente de la Juventud in Spanish) where it is believed that a drink of sacred water from the fountain can purify one’s body and cause one to regain their youth; within the garden of this fountain, one can enjoy the Inka beauty which is found within. After visiting the island, we will return to Copacabana and find accommodation in the selected hotel.
Hotel in Copacabana: Provides a hotel room with private bathroom + breakfast.
Included: Touristic bus (La Paz – Copacabana), tour to the Island of the Sun (shared boat, tour guide, entrance fees, lunch) + hotel.
AM – After breakfast, we will have approximately 2 hours to visit Copacabana; we will visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana, the local market – and, afterwards, we will ascend the stairs of the Calvario where we can appreciate the Yatiris, Amautas, Aymara people, and Quechua people who bless and invoke protection to every family.
At noon we will have lunch before taking the bus back to the city.
13:30 pm – We will take the touristic bus back to La Paz or continue to the city of Puno, Perú.
Included: Visit to Copacabana, lunch, touristic bus (Copacabana – La Paz/Puno).
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