Copacabana has 5 thousand inhabitants of indigenous origin. They speak spanish and aymara (the language of the indians of that region) and have their local traditions mixed with the introduced european, christian culture.

The village of Copacabana offers you the opportunity to visit the "Church", the ruins "Asientos del Inca" (Inca Seats), the hill "Calvario" and the "Horca del Inca" (Astronomic Observatory) all within half an hour walk.

The Village of Copacabana combines various points of interest, which attracs both local as well as international tourism. Bolivian tourists come from all over the country in devotion to the famous virgin and to have their cars blessed in front of the impressive church of Copacabana.

The Church

The church of Copacabana was built in the 16 th century and has a mixture of spanish and islamic architecture. It is famous for its dark virgin, which still attracts many pilgrims from Bolivia and Perú.

A popular custom is to get your car blessed in front of the church. You can witness these blessings with the strong aymara influence practiced by the christian priests every saturday and sunday morning.

The hill "Calvario"

Copacabana is placed right at the foot of the hill, called "Calvario". The path, that leads up to the top, is marked with the Passion Stations of Christ. Walking up, you are likely to see traditional indigenous offerings and blessing ceremonies.

From the top of the "Calvario", about 40 minutes from La Cúpula you have a wonderful view over the lake and the landscape.

This walk is highly recommend to see the sunset over the lake.

The astronomic observatory "Horca del Inca"

The name means "the hanging place of the inca" and was incorrectly given by the spanish. It is neither a hanging place nor made by the inca.

It is a sacred astronomic observatory of the chiripa culture.

Every 21 th of June, the sun on it's rise projects a beam through a man-made hole onto a horizontal stone. This moment marks the begining of the aymara year.

Many people from Copacabana walk up the mountain (40 minutes walking distance), before sunrise on this special day to give offerings to Pachamama (mother earth) and to ask for good crops, abundance and health for the following year.

The ruins "Asientos del Inca"

On your way to the "Horca del Inca" you can pass by the "Asientos del Inca" also called "Intinkala"(which means "stones where the sun sits"). The sight is located 5 minutes from the main church, right in front of the cementery.