With travel to Bolivia on the rise, this European company has expanded it’s popular Peru Hop line making travel between Bolivia and Peru easier, safer and better then ever! This new wave of transportation is a “hop on hop off” bus, and it makes for an exciting way to see both of these extraordinary places in South America. With help across the Bolivian border crossing and multiple stops and tours included, Bolivia Hop from Cusco to La Paz is a steal at just $79!! Here’s how our experience went!

Day One: Cusco to La Paz

The first night, we boarded the bus at 10pm to start our adventure. The main office is located right in the center of Cusco, Peru at 172 Meson La Estrella. The reclining seats are pretty comfortable, and I probably would of gotten some sleep if not for the Back to the Future marathon playing! However, you’re given pretty comfortable blankets and before you know you’ll be waking up for you 6am start!

Day Two: Bolivia Hop Stops

On the second day we arrived in the town of Puno, Peru, at 6AM. The place we were brought for breakfast was cold, damp, and had many other dungeon-like qualities that I won’t list. On the upside though, the locals were very nice and we were grateful to get some food into us (Toast, Eggs, Coffee) before we headed out for the day!

Lake Titicaca

The first stop was Lake Titicaca where we enjoyed a beautifully scenic boat ride to the local Uros FLOATING Islands. Made up of a combination of tree roots, reeds, and mud, these man-made islands were something to see! This isn’t just a small village were talking either…shockingly we found out there are over 2,000 inhabitants!

The villagers were very welcoming and gave us a tour of their incredibly sturdy straw huts. Following a quick presentation, we were then given a chance to donate to the local community by buying some of the amazing art!

Crazy that the Uro people have been living this way for hundreds of years! Very interesting, but not the type of island i’d prefer to live on!

Some people chose to get off Bolivia Hop and stay back in Puno for a night, but I’m extremely happy we didn’t. After taking a second look at the town there isn’t really much to do or see. A friend we met up with after even confirmed this for us.

So with that, we headed off to the Bolivian Border Crossing… and just two hours and $55 later, we were into Bolivia! You will have a chance to change some money before crossing the border, but they take a small cut. You will definitely need some money for lunch, so make sure to exchange before you cross!

3 Strange Things That Happened At The Bolivian Border Crossing

An Israeli gentlemen was actually turned away for not having a printout of his bank statement. Apparently Bolivia has some serious beef with Israel we didn’t know about!

Another person didn’t have the required yellow fever card, but was still allowed to enter the country. Don’t worry, you may have contracted yellow fever, but as long as you have $135 come on in!??

You are required to physically walk across the border with all your stuff. Just how we planned our last moments in Peru!

From the border it’s only a 15 minute drive to the little waterfront town of Copacabana. This is where you absolutely need to hop off and stay for a night (we stayed two!) The little harbor has plenty of amazing hikes and food to enjoy. We LOVED the time we spent in this little town and besides our tour of the Salt Flats, Copacabana was probably our favorite destination in Bolivia! It was a great opportunity to hike, swim, bike, and eat endless amounts of Trout from the waterfront stalls!

Isla del Sol

Around 2PM everyday there’s a boat that goes out to Isla del Sol (Sun Island). The ticket is included in your trip with Bolivia hop as well as an ice cold beer for the ride over. Isla del sol was just the spot we were looking for! The Incas believed that the Sun God was born here, and there are plenty of ruins on the island built in his name. Our groups guide (who couldn’t of been more than 5 years old) led us on a beautiful hour long hike around the island. The boat was waiting for us on the other side, and we enjoyed the sunset on our cruise back to Copacobana. We only wish that we spent a night at one of the islands small guest houses! Next time!

Don’t Hop the Last Leg

The only downside to Bolivia Hop is that the bus leaves at 6pm for La Paz. This unfortunately means that you won’t get there until after 10PM. Instead, we elected to just pay the $3 for the express bus, and officially “hopped off” early! We loved Bolivia hop, but I highly recommend the express bus move. Not only do you get into the city at a reasonable hour, but the views en route to the capital city are absolutely amazing!

We typically don’t use tour companies while traveling because we feel a bit restricted. Everything on a schedule, you have to stay with the group, etc… However, on Bolivia Hop we really appreciated the freedom to hop on and off when we pleased. What started off as just an easy way to get across the border, turned into an experience we will never forget! If you’re heading from Peru to Bolivia definitely try Bolivia Hop!

If you have any questions about Bolivia Hop, the Bolivian border crossing or how to travel from Cusco to La Paz, please comment below and we’ll be happy to help.

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Explore More of Peru & Bolivia with Us

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Journey to the Bolivian Salt Flats with Red Planet

La Paz Bolivia: The Highest Capital City in the World

Where To Stay In La Paz Bolivia

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Stannum Boutique Hotel & Spa – This swanky upscale hotel sits above the city and offers stunning views of La Paz. Just a quick 5 min drive and you’ll be in the heart of the action.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) –Hotel Casa de Piedra Hotel Boutique – This colonial house with carved wooden walls is right in the heart of the city and perfect for a fun vacation. This hotel offers you the chance to be steps from the action but a safe and warm place to return to.

Hostel Life (Budget) –The Adventure Brew Downtown Hostel – Rooms are simple but location is everything at this popular La Paz hostel. Shared and private rooms available.

For more places to stay in La Paz you can explore the latest prices here!

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