Overview
Lake Titicaca sits at 3,812 metres above sea level on the border of Bolivia and Peru — the highest navigable lake on Earth and, according to Andean cosmology, the birthplace of the sun, the moon, and the first humans. At 8,372 km², it is the largest lake in South America by volume, and its deep blue waters, snow-capped Andean backdrop, and extraordinary cultural landscape make it one of the most compelling destinations in the continent.
This 2-day programme explores the lake in the most comfortable and immersive way available — aboard a private Catamaran Cruise Ship with lake-view cabins, private bathrooms, and buffet meals served on deck. From Copacabana, the catamaran sails to Isla del Sol — the most sacred island in the Andean world, home to over 180 Inca ruins, ancient terraced gardens, and the mythological site of the creation of the sun.
The programme combines expert cultural interpretation, community visits to the Challapampa village on the island’s northern tip, sailing in a massive traditional reed boat (totora vessel), and visits to the Pilkokaina Inca Palace, the Inti Wati Cultural Complex, and the Inca Fountain. The overnight on the catamaran — with candlelit dinner and the silence of the open lake — is consistently rated by travellers as one of the most memorable nights of their Bolivia journey.
Destination Type
departure & logistics
price includes
price excludes
Early morning hotel pickup in La Paz and a 3.5-hour scenic drive along the Altiplano to Copacabana — the most important pilgrimage town on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca. On arrival, a visit to the Copacabana Sanctuary, home to the beloved Virgen de Copacabana (Dark Virgin of the Lake), one of the most venerated religious images in the Andes, whose gilded ceremonial wardrobe represents centuries of Andean-Catholic syncretism.
Board the Catamaran Cruise Ship for the sail to Isla del Sol. On board, a welcome buffet lunch is served while the boat crosses the open lake. Arrival at Challapampa village on the island’s northern tip — one of the original Inca settlements on the island, where the community maintains a small but exceptional museum of Inca artefacts recovered from the lake’s depths. The guide arranges a community visit, with the opportunity to interact with local families, visit the schoolhouse, and observe traditional weaving. From Challapampa, a short boat ride to the Inca Holy Temple where an Andean ritual demonstration takes place, followed by a walk along a section of the ancient Inca trail across the island. Return to the catamaran for candlelit dinner and overnight in lake-view cabins.
Breakfast on board as the catamaran sails toward the southern sector of Isla del Sol, offering uninterrupted views of the snow-capped Bolivian Andes across the lake. The morning programme visits the island’s most important archaeological and cultural sites: the Pilkokaina Inca Palace (Inca Palace of the Puma) — a well-preserved ceremonial structure on the island’s southern shore — the Inti Wati Cultural Complex, the Titicaca Shipbuilders Display Centre, and the Pachamama Agricultural Inca Terraces.
The highlight of the morning: sailing in a huge traditional Totora Reed Vessel — the iconic lake boat built from the abundant totora reeds that grow in the shallows of Lake Titicaca, used by Andean communities for millennia. The scale of these boats is remarkable; the photo opportunity with Pilkokaina Palace in the background is extraordinary. Buffet lunch on board before the catamaran returns to Copacabana for the afternoon transfer back to La Paz, arriving at hotel or airport by early evening.
Our team replies within a few hours. We also speak Spanish and English.