Crossing from Puno to Copacabana
Copacabana sits on a bay of Lake Titicaca on the Bolivian side. From Puno the usual route is a bus through the Kasani border post, with passport control on both sides. Boats to Isla del Sol leave from Copacabana, so many travelers combine the two in one trip, either as an overnight stop or as the start of the way on to La Paz.
Border rules, road conditions and island access change. Treat the times and prices below as examples from 2026 and confirm them before you book.
Bus routes from Puno to Bolivia
Example departures listed by a booking agent, 2026.
| Route | Example departure and arrival | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Puno to Copacabana via Kasani | 07:00 Peru time to 11:00 Bolivia time | Passport control on both sides. More departures are listed |
| Puno to La Paz via Copacabana | 07:00 Peru time to 16:00 Bolivia time | Border checks and the change of vehicle can make the real time differ |
| Puno to La Paz via Desaguadero | Departs 07:10 | A different crossing, not a way to Copacabana. Arrival times in the listing are inconsistent |
The clock changes when you cross, so the arrival hour does not show the real travel time. Whether a listed bus runs on your day is up to the operator, so confirm the departure.
Our picks: Copacabana and Isla del Sol
Two day trips from Puno; check where the return ends, Puno or La Paz.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Isla del Sol and Copacabana in one day
Transfer to the bus station, tourist transport to Copacabana and back to Puno or on to La Paz, a shared motorboat, a private English-speaking guide, Isla del Sol entry and lunch in Copacabana. Any visa fees are not included.
Check availability →
Copacabana and Isla del Sol day trip
Tourist bus Puno to Copacabana, a bilingual guide, the basilica visit, Isla del Sol entry and tour by shared boat, and the bus on to Puno or La Paz.
Check availability →Tours from Puno and Lake Titicaca
Boat trips to the Uros, Taquile and Amantani and day trips to Sillustani before or after your crossing, with live prices and availability.
Entry rules for Bolivia
General information from government sources. Confirm your own case with the embassy.
US passports
The US State Department's Bolivia information of May 7, 2026 describes tourist and business visits of under 90 days per year as visa-free, with a passport valid for at least 6 months from entry. Other travel purposes can require a visa. Some bus agent pages still mention a $160 visa for US citizens. That does not match the government information, so confirm with the embassy before you rely on either.
German passports
The German Federal Foreign Office describes tourist stays of up to 90 days per calendar year as visa-free, with several entries and exits possible. Ask for an entry stamp at the border.
Other EU passports
EU passports are not one category. A list from the Bolivian embassy in London places Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and most other member states in the visa-free group and puts Cyprus in the group that needs a visa procedure. The same list still shows Bulgaria, Malta and Romania in the visa group, while a December 1, 2025 announcement by Bolivia's foreign ministry says they would join the visa-free group, with step-by-step implementation. If you hold one of these passports, ask the embassy.
Isla del Sol
Isla del Sol lies on the Bolivian side of the lake. A travel guide updated on August 20, 2026 gives about 90 minutes by boat from Copacabana to Yumani in the south and about 2 hours to Challapampa in the north. There is no official boat timetable, and no single price for the whole island.
Access has been disputed since about 2017. The same guide reports conflicting accounts of a reopening in 2022 and further limits in 2026. It describes the southern part around Yumani as reachable. Do not count on walking the whole island from north to south. Ask in Copacabana about the village, the landing and the path you want, one by one.
Check the situation before you cross
Protests and emergency measures can affect roads and the border on short notice.
Peru side
Puno is listed among regions with recent protests in UK government travel advice, and demonstrations can interrupt roads, rail and border crossings. A government conflict report for September 2026 counts 20 conflict cases in the Puno region, which does not mean the road to Kasani is closed.
Bolivian side
On September 16, 2026, Bolivia's interior ministry described a requested extension of the state of exception and named blockade risks in places such as La Paz and El Alto. A newspaper reported on September 17, 2026 an extension of 90 days. Neither report says whether the Kasani crossing is open on a given day.
Border hours
Opening hours at the Kasani and Desaguadero crossings can change. Ask your bus company or hotel and keep a day of buffer before any flight or onward ticket.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages for the days around the crossing.
Copacabana and Bolivia: frequently asked questions
How do I get from Puno to Copacabana?
By bus through the Kasani border post. A booking agent lists an example departure at 07:00 Peruvian time and arrival at 11:00 Bolivian time. Passports are checked on both sides.
Do I need a visa for Bolivia?
US and German passports are described as visa-free for tourist stays of under 90 days per year. EU rules differ by country, so check the embassy list for your passport.
Can I visit Isla del Sol?
The south around Yumani is described as reachable by boat from Copacabana in about 90 minutes. Access to the north has been in dispute, so confirm locally by village, landing and path.
Is the border open?
Opening hours and conditions change. Ask your bus company on the day before and keep a buffer for delays.
Is Desaguadero the same as the Copacabana route?
No. Desaguadero is another crossing on the way to La Paz. Copacabana is reached through Kasani.