Cerro Calvario, Copacabana

Panorama of Cerro Calvario in Copacabana. Photo Filipe Fortes.

View

View of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca. Photo Filipe Fortes.

Sunset

Stations of the Cross and the lake at sunset. Photo Jenny Mealing.

Cerro Calvario, Copacabana

Pilgrims and tourists on Calvary Hill. Photo Alistair Howard.

Halfway

Stopping point halfway up the hill. Photo Jonathan Shakhovskoy.

chapel

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
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Catholic
Category:	Catholic Shrines
Features:	Way of the Cross; Spectacular Setting
Status:	active
Visitor Information
Address:	Av. Las Heroínas, Copacabana, Bolivia
Coordinates:	16.161777° S, 69.091258° W (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:	View hotels near this location
Opening hours:	Tue-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 9am-8pm
Cost:	Free

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Copacabana Map - our detailed interactive map of Copacabana, plus hand-picked links to more
Copacabana Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
Copacabana Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town

Article Sources

Frommer's South America
Reviews of Cristo de la Concordia - TripAdvisor

Last updated on October 9, 2009.