Tiquina Strait is a passage approximately 800 metres wide and up to 70 metres deep that divides Lake Titicaca into two distinct bodies of water. Located in the La Paz department of Bolivie, it forms the essential crossing point between the administrative capital and the southern shore of the lake, where Copacabana lies.

Why cross Tiquina Strait

The crossing is not an excursion in itself, but a memorable moment on the route between La Paz and Titicaca. The strait separates the lake into two basins: to the southeast, Lake Huiñaymarca (Bolivian side) extended by Lake Pequeño (Peruvian side); to the northwest, Lake Chucuito (Bolivian side) extended by Lake Grande (Peruvian side). It is one of the narrowest points of Titicaca, making it the only practicable waterway to reach the Copacabana peninsula without circling the lake.

The appeal lies as much in the scenery—deep blue water, peaks of the Royal Cordillera in the background—as in the very particular scene of the crossing itself: vehicles are loaded onto rudimentary wooden barges, while passengers board separately in small motorised boats.

What to see and do

The strait connects two hamlets: San Pedro de Tiquina (north shore) and San Pablo de Tiquina (south shore). Both sides concentrate a few activities useful to transiting travellers:

• The barge crossing: brief (10 to 15 minutes), it remains the main attraction. Passengers leave their bus, board a lancha, and rejoin their vehicle on the other side.
• Waterfront restaurants: several eateries serve local specialties—grilled Lake Titicaca trout, chuño (dehydrated potato), quinoa-based dishes, accompanied by chuflay, a traditional spirit made from singani and ginger soda.
• Craft stalls: textiles, jewellery and small sculptures sold along the wharf.
• The Bolivian navy: San Pablo is home to a naval base, testament to Bolivie's claim to maritime access, lost during the War of the Pacific in 1884.

Practical information

• Crossing duration: 10 to 15 minutes actual crossing time, but allow 30 to 45 minutes with waiting and boarding.
• Fare: passenger crossing is charged at local rates, modest (a few bolivianos). Vehicles pay a supplement, usually included in the bus ticket price.
• Frequency: barges operate continuously during daylight hours, from dawn to dusk. No night service.
• Season: the dry season (May to October) offers the best crossing conditions and clearest skies.
• What to bring: a windbreaker, the breeze is cold on the water even in bright sunshine. Altitude approximately 3,810 metres, plan for prior acclimatisation.

How to get there

From La Paz, the strait is reached in 3 to 4 hours by road depending on traffic. Several options:

• Regular bus: departures from La Paz's Cemetery (Cementerio) bus station, heading towards Copacabana. All buses necessarily use the strait.
• Tourist bus: private companies (departing from La Paz city centre) offer direct connections to Copacabana with a stop at Tiquina.
• Private vehicle or taxi: possible, the driver uses the same barge as the buses.

The road follows the eastern shore of Titicaca before reaching San Pedro de Tiquina, where the crossing to San Pablo takes place, then continues to Copacabana.

Nearby attractions

• Copacabana: approximately 1 hour's drive beyond the strait, a pilgrimage town and departure point for Isla del Sol.
• Isla del Sol: an iconic island in Titicaca, the mythical cradle of Inca civilisation, accessible by boat from Copacabana.
• Huatajata: village on the southern shore, starting point for excursions on Lake Huiñaymarca and site of the Alajpacha observatory.
• La Paz: administrative capital and logical starting point for the excursion.

Planning your trip to Bolivie

Tiquina Strait fits naturally into an itinerary combining La Paz, Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol. To build a coherent stay around this region and beyond, consult our Bolivie travel suggestions.