Cerro Calvario, Copacabana
Panorama of Cerro Calvario in Copacabana. Photo
Filipe Fortes.
View of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca. Photo
Filipe Fortes.
Stations of the Cross and the lake at sunset. Photo
Jenny Mealing.
Pilgrims and tourists on Calvary Hill. Photo
Alistair Howard.
Stopping point halfway up the hill. Photo
Jonathan Shakhovskoy.
Chapel at the base of Cerro Calvario (the path is behind it on the left).
Photo
Ben Hewitt & Nicole Courneya.
Location map and aerial view of Cerro Calvario. For a larger interactive view, see our Copacabana Map.
Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) is a hill in Copacabana lined with small monuments representing the 14 Stations of the Cross. Pilgrims visit the Stations for prayer and penance and many tourists climb the hill for its fine views.
History
The Stations of the Cross were built on this hill in the 1950s, when the government decided Copacabana should have more to offer its thousands of pilgrims than just the Basilica of the Virgin.
What to See
The trail to the summit begins near the red chapel at the end of Calle Destacamento 211. At the bottom of the stairs, a man can tell your future by dropping lead into a boiling pot of water. About halfway up are native priests burning candles and working with coca leaves. Here you can stop and learn about the ancient rituals of fortunetelling.
There are fine views from the top, and this is an excellent place to watch the sunset over the lake. A hike to the summit takes about a half an hour. To return to the city, return by the way you came or take a rocky path on the west side of the hill that leads to the shores of the lake.
Festivals and Events
On Good Friday, thousands of pilgrims journey to Copacabana - some on foot for the entire 158km distance from La Paz - to do penance on Cerro Calvario. At dusk, a solemn candlelit procession begins at the Basilica of the Virgin and winds through town, led by a statue of Christ in a glass coffin and a replica of the Virgen de Candelaria.
At the summit of Cerro Calvario, pilgrims light incense and buy mini replicas of various material possessions that they hope the Virgin will grant them during the year. A local priests speaks to the crowd through a microphone and a military band plays dirges.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Cerro Calvario; Calvary Hill |
| Location: | Copacabana, Bolivia |
| Category: | Catholic Shrines |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Features: | Way of the Cross; Spectacular Setting |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 16.161777° S, 69.091258° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Av. Las Heroínas, Copacabana, Bolivia |
| Hours: | Tue-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 9am-8pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources for Copacabana
- Copacabana Map - our detailed interactive map of Copacabana, plus hand-picked links to more
- Copacabana Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Copacabana Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Copacabana Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Copacabana Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Copacabana tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Frommer's South America
- Reviews of Cristo de la Concordia - TripAdvisor
Article last updated: 10/09/2009.
