What's on in Copacabana, Bolivia through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Peak crowds — Virgen de Copacabana in February, Carnaval

• Festival

  Virgen de Copacabana in February

  1–8 FebReligious feastCrowdedBook early

  The Candelaria days around 2 February bring dance groups from both sides of the lake, brass bands circling the basilica and three nights when every bed in a small town is taken. Source ↗

• Festival

  Carnaval

  14–17 FebCarnivalCrowdedClosures

  Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday are national holidays, and the whole weekend is given over to parades, music and water fights with balloons and foam, so expect to get soaked. Offices close, buses fill and some tours and services run reduced. Source ↗

Busy — Holy Week pilgrimage, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Holy Week pilgrimage

  20 Mar – 20 Apr · usuallyEaster & Holy WeekCrowded

  Pilgrims walk the last stretch of the road from La Paz through Good Friday night and arrive before dawn; the candle climb up Cerro Calvario above the town is the local version of it. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval (14–17 Feb)

Busy — Holy Week pilgrimage

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Holy Week pilgrimage (20 Mar – 20 Apr (usually))

Busy — Fiesta de la Cruz

• Season

  Dry season on the lake

  1 May – 31 Oct · usually

  The clear half of the year for the walk across Isla del Sol and the boat crossings, which are calmer than in the wet months. Nights are hard frost at this altitude, and many cheap rooms have no heating. Source ↗

• Festival

  Fiesta de la Cruz

  2–4 MayReligious feastCrowded

  The Finding of the Cross on 3 May is kept with mass, brass bands and dance groups; it also marks the start of the harvest, and the lake villages combine the Christian feast with offerings to the earth. Source ↗

Busy — Andean New Year, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Andean New Year

  20–21 JunNational holiday

  The winter solstice is a national holiday in Bolivia. Copacabana keeps an all-night vigil in the main plaza, then climbs the hill above town to greet the sunrise at the Inti Kala stones. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season on the lake (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Dry season on the lake (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Virgen de Copacabana in August, Independence Day

• Festival

  Virgen de Copacabana in August

  1–8 AugReligious feastCrowdedBook early

  The Virgin was declared patroness of Bolivia in August and tens of thousands walk in for the first week of the month, which runs straight into the national holiday on the sixth. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  5–7 AugNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  6 August is Bolivia's national day: schoolchildren, civic groups and the military parade around the main square, flags hang from every building, and banks, offices and many shops close. Streets in the centre are closed for the parades. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season on the lake (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Dry season on the lake (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Dry season on the lake (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.