Day 1

We leave La Paz and drive for 2.5hrs to La Rinconada (4530m) where we load our equipment onto donkeys. We then hike for an hour to Laguna Chiar Khota (4620m), our basecamp. We have the choice of sleeping in tents or in the Fisherman’s house, a small mountain refuge at the edge of the lake. Depending on how you feel you can either rest or explore the surrounding area to help with your acclimatisation.

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast we organise our climbing gear and head to the base of the nearby glacier. We spend the day learning (or reminding ourselves of) essential mountaineering techniques: glacier traverse, knots, and the use of ice axes and crampons. If you are confident in your abilities this day can be cut from the itinerary. 

Day 3

We wake up at 1AM and have large breakfast before setting off for the base of the glacier. We now have a long steady climb to Pico Tarija (5300m) which lies at the top of the main glacier. From here we have great views Pequeño Alpamayo and can have a short rest before the final push. There is a short 70m descent over rock and then a steady ascent along a ridge to the summit of “El Pequeño” (5.410m). From here we retrace our steps to base camp where we have lunch, a short rest, and then head back to the car which will take us back to La Paz.