The lakeside town of Copacabana is one of our favorites—it is among the friendliest, cleanest and prettiest places in the country. Copacabana has several cathedrals, one of which contains the nearly 500-year-old silver- and gold-encased Virgen de la Candelaria, which is reputed to have healing powers. The cathedral that houses the Virgin is a fantastic combination of styles: An airy Moorish-style courtyard encloses the colonial church, whose doors are decorated with hand-carved wooden panels depicting biblical scenes in a definite Bolivian style.
On the entrance road to Copacabana, just before entering the town, is La Horca del Inca, ruins not usually seen by tourists. (There's a huge celebration there on 5 August.) In the late afternoon, climb the hill known as Cerro Calvario and watch the sun set across the lake. The walk up takes less than an hour, including short rests at all of the 14 stations of the cross that mark the path. Treat yourself to a trucha (the ruby-colored local trout) for dinner after the descent.
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