Copacabana & Isla del Sol: 2-Day Lake Titicaca from La Paz

Lake Titicaca's Island of the Sun: Two Days from La Paz with an Overnight Stay

You're picked up from your La Paz hotel at 7 am, driven to Copacabana, and ferried out to Isla del Sol for an overnight stay near Inca temples. The next morning you have free time to explore the island (hiking, visiting museums, or just walking around) before returning by boat and bus to La Paz by late evening. The island entry fee and meals are separate, but transport, guide, and accommodation are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Copacabana and Isla del Sol

• Hotel pick up in La Paz at 7:00 am
• Arrive Tiquina crossing by 9:45 am
• Cross lake on rafts to Copacabana
• Free time in Copacabana until 1:00 pm
• Boat departs to Isla del Sol at 1:00 pm
• Arrive Yumani, Isla del Sol
• Walk around Pilkokaina and Yumani coast
• Free afternoon on Isla del Sol

Day 2: Explore Isla del Sol and return

• Free morning to explore Isla del Sol
• Optional visit to Gold Museum and Fountain of Youth
• Boat departs Yumani to Copacabana at 3:30 pm
• Arrive Copacabana and free time
• Bus departs Copacabana to La Paz at 6:00 pm
• Arrive La Paz around 10:30 pm

The experience

The boat leaves Copacabana at 1 pm sharp, and if you're not on the dock by 12:55, you'll watch it motor away without you. That's the first thing your guide tells you when you arrive in the lakeside village after a three-hour drive from La Paz, and it's the kind of detail that makes the whole trip feel real instead of rushed. Hotel pickup happens at 7 am, and by 9:45 you're crossing the Tiquina strait on rafts, a short, slightly surreal moment where the bus essentially floats across the water before you drive the rest of the way into Copacabana. You get an hour to walk around the village, grab lunch, or just sit by the water before boarding the boat to Isla del Sol.

The island itself is where the pace slows down. You arrive around 2:30 pm at Yumani on the south end, and the first stop is the Pilkokaina sun temple. An Inca ruin that sits above the coast with views across the lake. A bilingual guide walks you through the site and the surrounding area for about an hour, then you're free to wander. The island has no cars, no crowds, and no real schedule after that. You sleep in a basic hostel or guesthouse on Isla del Sol, which means you're there when the light changes and the tourists leave. The entry fee to the island is 10 bolivianos per person, paid in cash to the community when you arrive, not included in the tour price, so bring small bills.

Morning two is yours to use however you want. Some people take a public boat north to hike back down the island over three hours with views the whole way. Others visit the Gold Museum, a small but genuinely interesting collection of recovered artifacts housed in the north end. The Fountain of Youth is there too, three streams of water each with its own local name and the promise of eternal youth. It's the kind of thing that sounds corny until you're standing there and it doesn't. At 3:30 pm the boat departs back to Copacabana, arriving around 5 pm, and you have 45 minutes to eat something before the bus leaves at 6 pm for the four-hour drive back to La Paz, arriving around 10:30 pm. The bus has Wi-Fi on the way back, which helps pass the evening.

This isn't a tour where you're herded through ten stops. It's two days on and around Lake Titicaca with enough structure to get you there and back safely, and enough free time to actually feel like you're somewhere. The boat ride itself is the kind of thing you remember: the water, the light, the fact that you're on one of the world's highest lakes at over 12,000 feet, looking at islands that have been inhabited for centuries.

What’s included

Roundtrip boat transport to and from Isla del Sol with a bilingual guide, comfortable large bus for the La Paz-Copacabana route, hotel or hostel pickup and drop-off in La Paz, one night's accommodation on Isla del Sol, a free stop at the Tiquina Mirador viewpoint, and onboard Wi-Fi on the return journey. Meals, the island entry fee, and any optional activities like the Gold Museum or Fountain of Youth are separate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

GroupUp to 37

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bolivia Hop

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Lake Titicaca and Inca sites without arranging your own transport and accommodation: the fixed schedule and included overnight stay mean you're not rushing back the same day, which is what makes exploring the island actually possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup?

Hotel pickup is at 7 am on day one. You'll arrive in Copacabana by 11:45 am and board the boat at 1 pm.

Is the island entry fee included?

No. The 10 bolivianos per-person entry fee is paid in cash to the community when you arrive on Isla del Sol.

Where do I sleep on Isla del Sol?

You stay in a basic hostel or guesthouse on the island. The accommodation is included in the tour price.

Can I do the hike on the island?

Yes. The three-hour hike from north to south is optional and available on the morning of day two. You take a public boat north first, then walk back down.

What time do I get back to La Paz?

The bus departs Copacabana at 6 pm on day two and arrives in La Paz around 10:30 pm.

Is there a guide with the tour?

Yes, a bilingual local guide accompanies the group and explains the sites on Isla del Sol.

How long is the drive from La Paz to Copacabana?

About three hours, with a stop at the Tiquina Mirador viewpoint included.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to the high altitude and boat travel.