Copacabana and Island of the Sun tour from Puno: Inca temples

Cross Lake Titicaca to walk Inca stone stairs and drink from the Eternal Fountain

This full-day tour from Puno crosses the Peru-Bolivia border to Copacabana, Bolivia, then takes a shared boat across Lake Titicaca to Island of the Sun, an Inca sacred site. You visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana, descend the Umani stairs built in the Inca era, tour the Temple of the Sun archaeological site, and taste water from the Eternal Fountain of the Incas. Hotel pickup in Puno is included, along with a bilingual guide, lunch, and all entrance fees. The full day runs 13 hours from pickup to return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour to Copacabana and Island of the Sun

• Pick up from hotel in Puno at 6:00 a.m.
• Travel to Copacabana by excursion bus
• Complete border procedures at Peru-Bolivia border
• Arrive in Copacabana around 12:00 p.m.
• Lunch and visit Cathedral of Our Lady of Copacabana
• Boat to Isla del Sol
• Visit Pilkoken archaeological site and Umani stairs
• Taste water at Eternal Fountain of the Incas
• Boat back to Copacabana around 5:00 p.m.
• Free time in Copacabana
• Bus back to Puno, arrive around 9:00 p.m.

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Puno hotel near the main square at 6 a.m., then heads to the terminal for the excursion bus to Copacabana. The drive crosses the Peru-Bolivia border at Cassani, where you'll complete entry procedures into Bolivia. You arrive in Copacabana around noon Bolivian time, with lunch and a visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Copacabana before heading to the dock.

From Copacabana, a shared boat carries you across Lake Titicaca to the south side of Island of the Sun. Once there, you walk down the Umani stairs, built during the Inca era, and visit Pilkoken, the Temple of the Sun, an important archaeological site dedicated to Inti, the sun god. Along the way, you stop at the Eternal Fountain of the Incas, where you can taste the holy water. The boat returns to Copacabana around 5 p.m., leaving time to explore before the bus departs for Puno, arriving back at the terminal around 9 p.m.

A bilingual guide in English and Spanish accompanies the group throughout, explaining the Inca history and spiritual significance of the sites. The pace is steady but manageable for all fitness levels, with the main physical demand being the walk down and back up the Umani stairs and the time spent on boats and buses.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in central Puno.
• round-trip tourist bus from Puno to Copacabana.
• border crossing procedures.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• lunch in Copacabana.
• shared boat across Lake Titicaca to Island of the Sun.
• entrance tickets to Island of the Sun and the Temple of the Sun.
• visit to the Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 60 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 36 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Machupicchu Holiday

Is this one for you?The 13-hour commitment means you leave early and return late, so plan this for a day when you have no other activities. It rules out a relaxed morning or evening in Puno but fits a full-day immersion into Inca history and Lake Titicaca in a single trip.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How long does it take to get from Puno to Copacabana?

The excursion bus from Puno reaches Copacabana around 12 p.m. Bolivian time, roughly a three-hour journey including the border crossing at Cassani.

What is the Eternal Fountain of the Incas?

The Eternal Fountain is a sacred spring on Island of the Sun where you can taste water believed to be holy by the Incas. It's a stop during the archaeological site tour.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, you'll cross the Peru-Bolivia border at Cassani, so a valid passport is required to enter Bolivia and return to Peru.

Is lunch included, and what are the meal options?

Lunch in Copacabana is included in the tour price. Specific menu options depend on the restaurant chosen that day.

What is Island of the Sun and why is it important?

Island of the Sun is an Inca archaeological site in Lake Titicaca dedicated to the sun god, Inti. It contains the Temple of the Sun and the Inca-built Umani stairs, making it a key spiritual and historical location.

Will I have free time in Copacabana?

Yes, after returning from Island of the Sun around 5 p.m., you have free time in Copacabana before boarding the bus back to Puno at approximately 9 p.m.