Cerro Calvario, Copacabana
Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) is a hill in Copacabana lined with small monuments representing the 14 Stations of the Cross. Pilgrims hike the Stations for prayer and penance, and it is also popular with tourists 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 chapel at the end of Calle Destacamento 211. At the bottom of the stairs is a man who 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. There are two ways to get back down: return the way you came , or take a rocky path 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 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, they light incense and buy mini replicas of various material possessions, in hopes of being granted the actual item by the Virgin during the year. A local priests speaks to the crowd through a microphone and a military band plays dirges.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Cerro Calvario in Copacabana. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Copacabana from space on our Copacabana Satellite Map.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Cristo de la Concordia; Christ of Peace |
| Type of site: | Colossal statue of Christ |
| Size: | 33m (108 feet) tall |
| Location: | At the far eastern end of Av. Las Heroínas, Copacabana, Bolivia |
| Hours: | Tues-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 9am-8pm |
| Cost: | Free to visit; cable car fare 3Bs (40¢) each way |
Sources
- Reviews of Cristo de la Concordia - TripAdvisor
