Enjoy!
Bolivia offers a wide range of very attractive trekking routes. Many of our itineraries pass very close to stunning mountain ranges: we can easily combine trekking with some mountaineering.
Our trekking routes range from high altitude desert-like plateaus to lush low-altitude jungles. We are flexible and can arrange a trip around your needs.
CITY WALKS
This is a unique city tour taking in unusual places in both La Paz and El Alto. We will explore these cities through their bustling markets and steep roads, set against the backdrop of Bolivia’s majestic Cordillera Real mountain range.
This is a very flexible tour. Thanks to the La Paz/El Alto public transport system (especially the cable cars), we can cross the whole city and adjust our route to suit your interests.
FULL DAY - CHACALTAYA
5,500m
What was once the only official ski slope in Bolivia and the highest in the world has been taken out of action by global warming. Nevertheless, Chacaltaya (5,500m) still provides stunning views of La Paz and its surrounding mountains. It is only 90 minutes from La Paz and provides an ideal 1 hour acclimatisation hike and photography session.
FULL DAY
After a 1-and-a-half-hour drive from La Paz we arrive to a refuge on Chacaltaya, where the amazing views of the city and the Cordillera Real will be accompanying us while we have some coffee and snacks. Having done this, we will depart for a one-hour hike to the top of Chacaltaya.
The top of Chacaltaya is at 5500m. We will have time for a good photography session of the surrounding landscape where Huayna Potosi and Cordillera Real are the highlights. Finished this we get down to our vehicle for our drive back to La Paz.
FULL DAY - PICO AUSTRIA
5,300m
Our full day hike to Pico Austria is great way to get very close to the mountains of the Cordillera Real if you are short on time. It also serves as an excellent acclimatisation hike if you feel ready to push yourself a bit further than Chacaltaya.
We need to leave La Paz early to make the most of our day. We will drive to La Rinconada (4400m) from where we walk for an hour to Laguna Chiarkota (4600m), the basecamp often used to climb mountains in the area. From here we start to climb up to Pico Austria (5300m), first reaching a saddle (5100m) and then the peak itself. There are breathtaking views of the Condoriri Massif and the neighbouring peaks. This day requires 6-7 hours of walking with an elevation gain of 900m.
FULL DAY
We leave the city of La Paz very early to make the most out of our day. Our first stop where we will leave the car is LA RINCONADA (4400m), from this point we start our hike towards LAGUNA CHIARKOTA (4600m) a focal point serving as base camp to many mountaineers climbing the different peaks in the area. Continuing our way through a rocky valley we encounter the first pass at 5100m where Pico Austria will be visible and reachable after an hour more of hiking.
Having reached the top of Pico Austria we are faced with a breathtaking view of the Condoriri massif and the neighboring peaks. After taking a break on the top we start our way down to LA RINCONADA to drive back to La Paz.
The total length of the hike is estimated to take between 6 to 7 hours plus an elevation gain of 900m.
CONDORIRI – BOTIJLACA
3 Days
This is a trek taking in beautiful views of the valleys and mountains of Condoriri.
DID YOU KNOW?
This itinerary can be extended to 5 days to include summiting Huayna Potosi. This is a great way to ensure you are fully acclimatised.
The Zongo valley through which we pass contains the hydroelectric plant which supplies energy to all of La Paz.
DAY 1
After a 2-and-a-half-hour drive from La Paz we arrive to La Rinconada (4400m) where donkeys will be waiting to take our equipment to Laguna Chiarkota (4600m) which is an hour’s hike away. This lagoon will serve as our camp for day 1. We will spend the rest of the day taking in the Cordillera massif and acclimatising by doing nearby short hikes.
DAY 2
Today we will climb two mountain passes, both of which are at an altitude of roughly 4900m. We will then start to descend towards Laguna Livinosa (4250m), noting the altitude-related change in vegetation and landscape as we approach our next campsite in Ancoma (3750m).
DAY 3
Today we descend further into the Zongo valley. The vegetation changes, the temperature rises, and the air becomes noticeably thicker and easier to breathe! We finish our day in Botijlaca (3670m) where we will have a car waiting for us to drive back to La Paz.
EL CHORO
3 Days
El Choro is one of the most well-known pre-Columbian trails amongst trekking enthusiasts. This 60km long trail, famous for its diversity of landscape and climate, usually takes 3 days to complete. Over that time you will descend approximately 3600m of elevation!
DID YOU KNOW?
This trail used to be frequented by the Incas for trading and communication.
It is possible to combine this program with summiting Huayna Potosi (6088m).
DAY 1
We leave La Paz after breakfast. A 1-hour drive takes us to La Apacheta (4810m), the highest point of the trek. We will load our equipment onto donkeys and walk downhill for 5-6 hours on a well-kept trail until we reach our campsite at Challampa (2600m).
DAY 2
After a hearty breakfast we start following the Koscapa river until we reach the town of El Choro (2145m). We then continue through a trail which winds through valleys and creeks until we reach San Francisco (1921m) where we will spend our second night.
DAY 3
Today we will have an early start. We keep following the previous trail until we cross the Koscapa river (1715m), at which point we start to ascend through fruit and coffee plantations to the town of Sandillani (1978m). We will have lunch and explore the Japanese garden after which we will carry on to Chairo (1100m) where a car will be waiting to take us back to La Paz.
KOTHIA – HUAYNA POTOSI
5 Days
This trek is a great way to get close to the beauty of the Cordillera Real without needing to do any technical climbing.
DID YOU KNOW?
This is our most popular trek since it can be easily customised to our client’s desires. We can add mountaineering summits onto the itinerary: see the Expeditions section for more information.
DAY 1
We leave La Paz and drive to Laguna Kothia (4570m) where we pack our luggage onto the donkeys that will accompany us on our trek. We then progressively gain altitude until we reach our first pass (4820m), from where we can see Lake Titicaca and the altiplano. We start descending towards Ajuani (4580m) which serves as our first camp.
DAY 2
After a good breakfast we climb to a pass where we get our first look at the imposing Huayna Potosi (6088m) and the Condoriri Massif. We then descend down a moraine to Laguna Sistaña (4500m), before climbing to our second pass of the day. Finally, we descend to Laguna Jurikhota (4600m) to set up camp and have a well-deserved dinner.
DAY 3
We start today by making our way to Laguna Glacial (4900m) at the foot of the Condoriri massif. After a short break we continue to Austria Pass (5150m) and either climb to Pico Austria (5300m) or descend to our campsite at Laguna Chiar Khota (4600m).
DAY 4
Today we will only cross one pass, Jistaña (4900m) after which we descend to the Racacha valley, passing through old mining centres. We finish the day at the base of the Western face of Huayna Potosi (6088m) and Maria Lloko (4450m).
DAY 5
Today is a short hike of only 3 hours. We climb to Huallatani (4850m), the last pass of our trek, and then descend to Huayna Potosi’s base camp (4700m) where we will have our last lunch in the mountains before driving back to La Paz.
LAGUNA GLACIAR
4 Days
A high altitude hike which offers incredible views of Illampu (6368m) and Ancohuma (6427m).
DID YOU KNOW?
Laguna Glaciar (5200m) serves as base camp for those attempting to summit Ancohuma (6427m).
DAY 1
We drive from La Paz to Sorata (2800m) where we leave our equipment at a small hostel. In the afternoon we walk to San Pedro’s Caves and later return to town to spend the night.
DAY 2
After a big breakfast, we load our luggage onto donkeys and walk for 4-5 hours to Laguna Chijllata (4800m) which serves as our campsite.
DAY 3
Today we will visit Laguna Glaciar (5200m) where well have lunch and admire Illampu (6368m) and Ancohuma (6427m), before returning to our camp at Laguna Chijllata (4800m).
DAY 4
Today we load up our donkeys and descend to Sorata (2800m), where a car will be waiting to take us back to La Paz.
