This time of year, tourists flood the routes that take you from La Paz to Copacabana and from there to Puno and Cusco, back and forth. Read on to get all the tips to make the most of this route, and of a short stay in Copacabana on your way to or from Cusco.

Getting to Copacabana from La Paz or Cusco
If you’re in La Paz and want to get to Copacabana, go to the main bus terminal on Uruguay Avenue for the best buses available. Tourist buses travel directly to Copacabana, stopping only at the Tiquina strait which must be crossed by boat at a cost of 2 Bolivianos (not included in the cost of tickets).
Here are the tourist bus companies that make this route, and their schedules:
Trans Titicaca
- La Paz to Copacabana: 8 am and 14 pm
- Copacabana to La Paz: 13:30 pm and 18:30 pm
Vicuña Travel
- La Paz to Copacabana: 8 am
- Copacabana to La Paz: 13:30 pm
Diana Tours:
- La Paz to Copacabana: 8am
- Copacabana to La Paz: 13:30 pm

If you’re coming from Cusco, and you want to get to La Paz, there are many companies that offer bus services through Puno and Copacabana.
Between Copacabana and Puno you will travel for about fou hours. Remember Peru has an hour difference with Bolivia. The companies that cover this route are:
- Empresa de Huayruro Tours: 18:00 pm
- Empresa de Trans Titicaca: 18:30 pm
From Copacabana to Cusco, you will travel for about 10 hours, with either of these companies:
- Empresa de Huayruro Tours: 18:00 pm
- Empresa de Trans Titicaca: 18:30 pm
Pick your bus service and schedule, and buy online right here: www.ticketsbolivia.com.bo
Please take into consideration that some buses make several short stops along the way, picking up passengers and sometimes women from local communities who make a living by selling food and beverages on the buses. Since these stops are not in the official itinerary, they may be upsetting for tourists.
The trip between Copacabana and La Paz takes around 4 hours, covering a total of 155 km and crossing the bolivian altiplano region, with snow-capped mountains far away and the shores of lake Titicaca. The trip between Cusco and Copacabana covers around 528 km and stops in Puno, where several passengers get off or on the bus. As we said before, sometimes buses make other short stops along the way.

In Copacabana for a day
Copacabana is a town on the shores of the highest navigable lake in the world: the Titicaca. The lake, sacred to the Incas and other indigenous communities of the Altiplano, is on the border between Peru and Bolivia. As the largest Bolivian town on it’s shores, Copacabana is known for its mystique and beauty, and for the best trout you’ll ever eat.
If you don’t have much time and want to make the most of your visit, you can choose one or several of these options:
City tour
- Visit the church of Copacabana, of mestizo baroque style, where you will find the image of the Virgin Mary of Copacabana, Bolivia’s patron.
- Horca del Inca, an observatory about 20 minutes from the main square
- El calvario, a mountain you can climb through stairs, a sort of pilgrimage that takes you to an altitude that allows for an amazing view of the lake and the faraway snow-caped mountains.
- The beach is one of the most popular places. You will find different kinds of boats for pleasant water activities. And some of the best restaurants for eating trout.
Copacabana – Isla del Sol
One of the most popular things to do when you are in Copacabana is visit the Island of the Sun. The boats leave from the dock and cross the lake for about an hour and a half. On the island you will be able to see Incan ruins and experience the peace and energy of one of the most sacred places of the Incan empire.
The boats back to Copacabana leave at 16:30 pm, reaching Copacabana at around 18pm.