Isla de la Luna,
Bolivia.

The Acllahuasi — the House of the Chosen Women of the Inca Empire. A small sacred island on Lake Titicaca, 45 minutes from Isla del Sol, inhabited by ~80 people with no cars.

The temple ↓Copacabana →Gallery ↓

From Isla del Sol

30–45 min by boat

From Copacabana

2.5h by boat

Area

6 km²

Inhabitants

~80 people

Ruins

Iñak Uyu temple

Entry

~20 Bs

— Temple, island & how to get there

The most forgotten island on Titicaca.

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Iñak Uyu Temple — The Acllahuasi

The House of the Chosen Women of the Inca Empire

The Iñak Uyu (also spelled Iñakuyu) is the main ruin complex on Isla de la Luna, located on the south shore of the island on a terrace overlooking the lake. It was the Acllahuasi — the House of the Acllas, women chosen for their beauty or skill who lived dedicated to the cult of Inti the Sun. The complex consists of a series of rooms with the characteristic trapezoidal niches of Inca architectural style, arranged around a central courtyard with stone retaining walls. Entry: approximately 20 Bs.

Tip

Afternoon light from the west illuminates the trapezoidal niches of the temple directly — the most famous Iñak Uyu photo is taken at this hour. The site is less restored than the ruins on the north of Isla del Sol — its semi-tumbled stones on the lake edge give a sense of discovery that more popular sites have lost.

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The community and the island

~80 people, no cars, no roads

Isla de la Luna is inhabited by a small community of ~80 people who live from fishing and tourism. The community manages access to the ruins and collects the entry fee. The main village is on the south shore near the pier. No cars, no motorbikes — everything on foot. The island has 1–2 very simple restaurants and 1–2 basic guesthouses (50–80 Bs per bed) for those wanting to overnight.

Tip

Isla de la Luna is significantly quieter and less visited than Isla del Sol — most tour groups don't go. This makes it ideal for those seeking the lake experience without crowds. Bring everything you need: water, food and Boliviano cash (no ATM, no consistent mobile signal).

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How to get there and how to combine it

30 min from Isla del Sol or 2.5h from Copacabana

The most logical way to visit Isla de la Luna is combining it with Isla del Sol: spend 1–2 nights on Isla del Sol (north or south), and on the last day before returning to Copacabana, arrange a boat from Yumani (south Isla del Sol) that stops at Isla de la Luna. Public boats from Copacabana have no fixed route to Isla de la Luna — you must arrange a boat at Copacabana or Yumani pier. Estimated price: 30–60 Bs/person on a shared boat.

Tip

Negotiate the boat price before departure. The boat from Yumani (south Isla del Sol) is the most practical and economical option — go to the pier early and ask boatmen for "Isla de la Luna". A minimum of 4–6 people makes the price reasonable. With fewer people the per-person cost rises. Isla de la Luna as a standalone trip from Copacabana is not efficient — always combine it with Isla del Sol.

— Gallery