Copacabana & Isla del Sol, Bolivia

From Puno, I crossed into Bolivia with Bolivia Hop. The border crossing is at Kasani — everyone gets off the bus, walks through Peruvian immigration, then crosses a few hundred metres on foot into Bolivia and goes through Bolivian immigration. Bolivia Hop guides you through every step, helps with the paperwork, and makes the whole thing very manageable. Once through, you reboard the bus and continue to Copacabana.

Copacabana is a small lakeside town right on Lake Titicaca — colourful, relaxed, with great trout restaurants by the water. We stopped here to eat something before heading out to Isla del Sol.

Time of Year I Visited

I went in June, as part of the Peru & Bolivia route.

Did I Feel Safe?

Yes, I felt safe in Copacabana. It’s a small, calm pilgrimage and tourist town.

What’s Worth Doing

Isla del Sol: According to Inca legend, this is where the sun was born — the mythical origin of the Inca civilization. Bolivia Hop organises the boat from Copacabana, and you pay on board. The full tour takes about 4 hours in total — including the boat ride there and back, plus time on the island. The island is car-free, there are Inca ruins scattered across the hillsides, and the views of Lake Titicaca from the trails are breathtaking.

One note: since 2019 there has been a dispute between the northern and southern communities of the island, which has restricted access to certain areas including some of the most famous ruins. As of 2026 the situation is still unresolved — ask your operator before going which parts are accessible.

The island is beautiful enough that many people end up wanting to stay a night or two. If you have the time, it’s worth it — it’s small, peaceful, and a completely different pace from the rest of the trip.

How Long Did I Stay?

Just a day — a quick stop on the way from Peru to La Paz. But if I had more time, I would have stayed longer.

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