COPACABANA & ISLAND OF THE SUN ON A MTB, 4 Days
 Code: MBTITICA

Moderated mountain bike riding over secondary roads contouring the peninsula of Copacabana, and trails on Island of the Sun.

Dates: Upon request
Price: Upon request More information about prices (land services only)
Single Room Supplement: N/A More information about prices
Difficulty: Strenuous More information about Difficulty grading
Accommodation: 3 nights camping.
 

Mountain Bike descent to Zongo valley. Picture W.Stiller Since immemorial times, the island of the Sun has drawn visitors. Its real name was "Titi Karka" (The feline’s rock’), name that the Spanish distorted to Titicaca and applied for the entire lake. Anciently, it used to be a mandatory destination for Tiwanaco and Inca religious pilgrimages. According to legend the Sun and the Moon detached themselves from this island after the ‘Great Flood’, later the gods created the animals, plants and human beings that "surged" from underground to the surface through the rock.

This Mountain Bike journey has been designed for those who would like to visit Lake Titicaca and enjoy its magnificent views in closer contact to nature pedaling a Mountain Bike.

There are several tracks and trails suitable for bikes around the area. Our route starts at Tiquina strait and traverses the whole length of peninsula of Copacabana towards the Island of the Sun which we will also ride back and for. Besides lots of exercise, you will get a deep insight of the Andean culture when visiting archeological pre-colonial ruins and passing by Aymara villages where Indians have been keeping their lifestyle for centuries.

We strongly suggest to be acclimatized to the highlands, ideally to have spent at least 1-2 days at the highlands before signing for this trip. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website.

Itinerary:

D1. Transp.to Tiquina. Ride to Belen. Camp.
D2. Ride to Yampupata. Motor Boat to Pilcocaina. Camp.
D3. Round trip ride to Chincana. Camp.
D4. Motorboat to Yampupata. Ride to Copacabana. Transp.to La Paz.

 Highlights:
  • Moderated mountain bike riding over secondary roads along of the northeastern slopes of Copacabana Peninsila and later on ancient trails on Island of the sun.
  • Extraordinary views of the dark-blue waters of Lake Titicaca with the mountains of Cordillera Real in the background.
  • Exceptional changes to enjoy a cultural tour by traveling through the land of the Tiwanacu and Incas.

Day 1. Transport to Tiquina. Ride to Belen. Camp.
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Road pass 4.300m (14,104f)
Belen 3,840m (12,595f)
Timing
Driving: 2-3 Hrs
Mountain Biking: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
L,D
In the morning we will head to Tiquina and after ferrying the strait we will start riding our bikes along of the southwestern shores of Copacabana Peninsula. A long and pleasant traverse will take us almost to the border with Peru; there we have a long climb to the top of the ridge that we have to cross in order to descend to the other side. Our objective is the small village of Belen where we will camp with the best views of the Cordillera Real.


Day 2. Ride to Yampupata. Motor Boat to Pilcocaina. Camp.
Elevations
Road pass 3,900m (12,792f)
Pilcocaina 3,830m (12,562f)
Timing
Mountain Biking: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
From Belen we will first ascend to Sampaya village and make a short stop to visit this peculiar village, then comes a downhill section towards the northwestern end of the peninsula; the village of Yampupata. There our motorboat will be waiting to take us to the Island where wee will camp near the ruins of Pilcocaina. The building is supposed to have been the summerhouse of the Inca Emperor.


Day 3. Round trip ride to Chincana. Camp.
Elevations
Island ridge 4,065m (13,333f)
Pilcocaina 3,830m (12,562f)
Timing
Mountain Biking: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
Today we will make a circuit around the island. First we will ride along the top of the crest towards the other end of the island, the views of the cobalt-blue lake are astonishing from this elevation. After a short visit to Chincana ruins (the labyrinth), we will drop down to Challapampa village from where we will return to our campsite following trails along the northeastern shores of the Island. Our route will pass by several villages and terraced slopes created in the days of the Tiwanaco culture; they say that the pilgrims used to bring handfuls of their villages’ richest earth to leave in the terraces. We need to climb up again almost to the top of the island and pass by Yumani village to descend to our campsite, the same as yesterday.


Day 4. Motorboat to Yampupata. Ride to Copacabana. Transport to La Paz.
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Mountain Biking: 2-3 Hrs
Driving: 2-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L
Our motorboat will take us across the lake to mainland. From Yampupata, we will take our bikes again and ride along of the shores of the lake towards Copacabana town. After a short visit of the town, we will boar our vehicle that will take us back to La Paz where we will arrive late afternoon.


ALTITUDE CHART

SERVICES

Included

Not included

MORE INFORMATION

Please get into our “Resources” page in our website, there you will find plenty of information about pre-departure, National Parks, suggested reading, useful links and much more.

If you would like us to make additional hotel reservations besides the accommodation that is included in your trip, please get into our Reservations page