Bolivia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 174

offerings and pour alcoholic libations to
ensure their prayers are heard. Though
without the attractions of its more
famous namesake in Brazil (which was
named in honour of the shrine here),
Copacabana's beach is a pleasant place for
a lakeside stroll and a bite to eat; there are
also plenty of pedal boats to rent.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Buses and micros to and from La Paz and Kasani at
the Peruvian border (15min away) arrive and depart just
off Plaza Sucre. At Kasani you can get your exit stamp at
passport control (daily 8am-9pm) then walk across to
Peru, where micros and taxis wait for passengers to take
them to Yunguyo, which has regular departures for Puno
and on to Cusco. Alternatively, you can catch one of the
tourist micros which travel direct from Copacabana to Puno
several times a day; these are run by the companies with
o ces around Plaza Sucre and, at around B$25-35, cost
just a little more than the public micros . Note that between
Copacabana and La Paz, you will be asked to get off the bus

and pay a small fee to cross the lake in a boat, while your
bus is transported across on a larger raft. The tourist bus
goes to the Terminal Terrestre in La Paz, whilst the cheaper
(around B$15) public bus goes to the cemetery district.
Destinations Regular departures to La Paz (every 30min;
3hr 30min) and Puno (daily 9am, 1.30pm & 6pm; 4hr) for
onward travel to Cusco (10hr), Arequipa (9hr) and Lima
(18hr).
By boat It is also possible to reach Peru by crossing the
lake. The best way to do this is by the bus and catamaran
tours from La Paz to Puno - or vice versa - with Transturin
(see p.180).

2

INFORMAT ION
Tourist information The tourist o ce is on Av 16 de
Julio, just off Plaza Sucre (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-6pm)
where English is spoken. You might also check out the
o cial website W visitacopacabana.com.
Money and exchange There are two ATMs on Av 6 de
Agosto and another on the main square, next to the police
station. To change dollars or travellers' cheques, try the Casa
de Cambio Copacabana at the eastern end of Av 6 de Agosto.

Cerro Calvario Kusijata & Yampupata

COPACABANA

Bullring PLAZA

DE TOROS

Market

Buses to
La Paz
& Kasani

ATM PLAZA

SUCRE

Boats to
Isla del Sol

P L AZA
2 D E
FEBRE RO

Punto
Entel

ATM

Lake
Titicaca

N Catedral

ACCOMMODATION
La Casa del Sol
La Cúpula
Hostal Emperador
Hostal Intihuatana
Hostal Leyenda
Hostal Las Olas
Hostal Sonia
Utama Hotel

6
2
7
5
4
1
8
3

EATING AND DRINKING
Aransaya
Café Bistrot
El Condor and the Eagle
Nemos
La Orilla

5
2
4
3
1

0 200

metres

Kasani & Peru Horca del Inca