Code: MBTITICA Duration: 4 days
Since immemorial times, the Copacabana peninsula and the island of the Sun has drawn visitors. The real name of the island was "TitiKarka" (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 Patapatani peninsula and then we move to Copacabana Peninsula, in both areas, we will ride following dirt roads along of the shores of these peninsulas. Besides a good 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.
Please note that to take this trip alone, you must already be acclimatized to the highlands. This means that you must have spent at least 3-5 days at the highlands doing light physical activity. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website.
Short Itinerary
Day 1. Transport to Qwaya. Ride near Lake Titicaca. Camp.
Day 2. Transport to Tiquina. Ride to Belen. Camp.
Day 3. Ride to Yampupata. Motor Boat to Wacana. Camp.
Day 4. Motor boat to Yampupata. Ride to Copacabana. Transport to La Paz
Highlights
- Riding on ancient trails around Lake Titicaca.
- 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.
Services Included
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary.
- Full land transportation during the trip.
- Common camping equipment: 3 season tents (one per each two people), dinning tent, kitchen stuff, and tableware.
- Bilingual guide during the trip.
- Cook when camping.
- National Park entrance fees.
Services Not Included
- International & local flight tickets & fees.
- Transfers IN/OUT to airports.
- Meals and accommodation while in La Paz.
- Mountain bike and personal gear like: helmet, gloves and clothing.
- Insurance of any kind.
- Any expense due to a rescue operation (rescuers fee, transportation, or medical cost).
Day to day details
Traveling through this land you will understand how important Lake Titicaca is for the Andean cultures. Surrounded by desert like hills and snowcapped mountains, the shores of the lake offered for millennium rich land and a mild climate. After a couple of hours driving, we will start riding our bikes along of Patapatani peninsula towards our campsite located in a beautiful spot with great views of the Lake Titicaca and the peaks of “Cordillera Real”. We will be culturally transferred to the past as we go by Aymara villages where Indians have been keeping their lifestyle for centuries.
Overnight: Camping
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
Patapatani: 3,832m (12,568ft)
Driving: 2-3Hrs (98km)
Riding: 3-4Hrs (27km)
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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.
Overnight: Camping
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Road pass: 4,300m (14,104ft)
Belen: 3,840m (12,595ft)
Driving: 3-4Hrs (153km)
Riding: 3-4Hrs(25km)
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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 we will camp by the beach.
Overnight: Camping
Road pass: 3,900m (12,792ft)
Wacana: 3,830m (12,562ft)
Riding: 4-5Hrs (20km)
Motor boat: 15-20Min (2.5km)
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After taking the motor boat back to main land, we will start riding our bikes towards the village of Copacabana following the shores of the peninsula. 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. Once at the town, we will take some time to visit the church before taking our vehicle and driving back to La Paz.
Overnight: None
Copacabana: 3,830m (12,562ft)
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Motor boat: 15-20Min (2.5km)
Riding: 4-6Hrs (20km)
Driving: 1-2Hrs (12km)
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