CopacabanaLa Paz , Bolivia |
World ranking: #348
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Its cheesy Latino name doesn’t do this small town justice. Built on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana is dwarfed by a beautiful 17th century cathedral which in turn is built on the ruins of an Incan temple. The Spanish no doubt chose the town as an important outpost of Catholicism due to the Incan belief that nearby island ‘Isla del Sol’ was the birthplace of their Sun God.
Visit the Copacabana, Bolivia travel guide for more information
When in Copacabana, do not pass go, do not spend $100. This place is a hole. Noisy, boring and aside from a Moorish cathdral - pretty damn ugly.
Jump straight on the boat and head straight to the gorgeous Isla del Sol. It's a very traditional island in Lake Titicaca where electricity is scarce, you'll have to wait for the restaurant staff to catch your fish before you see your meal, and the showers are rarely hot. That aside, it's a really stunning place. It's surrounded by the deep blue shimmer of Lake Titicaca, with the moon reflecting on its surface at night, and the snowcapped peaks of some distant Andean mountain range rising on the horizon.
There's great hiking opportunities (takes 3 hours to walk from one end of the island to the other), some half-decent archaological remains, lots of accommodation and it's worth staying a night or two. Oh, and there's even an internet cafe here now (really fast connection!) so you can update your blog from the birthplace of the sun!