Copacabana, Religious town at Lake Titicaca, Bolivia
Copacabana is a town on the western shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, sitting at an elevation of around 3,840 meters (12,600 feet). The white basilica stands at the center, while surrounding peaks frame the town on all sides.
Before Spanish arrival, the site served as a shrine and oracle location for the Inca, who held sacred ceremonies on nearby Titicaca Island. In the 1600s, Spanish colonizers built the basilica to establish Christian worship in the region.
Religious processions move through the streets regularly, with locals and pilgrims gathering to have vehicles and boats blessed at the basilica. This devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana shapes the calendar and daily rhythm of the town.
The town is accessible by bus from La Paz or from Peru, with travel times varying depending on your starting point. Visitors should prepare for the high altitude and take time to adjust to thinner air.
The waterfront area holds one of the world's highest beaches, where visitors can actually swim despite the extreme altitude. The water stays cool year-round, making it an unusual swimming experience at such elevation.
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