Along the way...

This trek takes it the discovery of the splendid Cordillera Apolobamba, on the territory of the Kallawayas.
It is said that they are the last direct descendants of the Tiwanaku lords of whose language they still speak. They are also, and above all, the last knowledge holders of the powerful plants of the Altiplano.
The Apolobamba Cordillera is one of the least explored regions of the Andes. It is considered by most like the hidden part of the Eldorado or Paititi ("the golden city"). The hillsides of the Apolobamba drop directly into the rainforest and the tropical basin of Madidi National Park, home of the Toromona tribe.
If Bolivia is a country little recognized by “classic tourism”, Apolobamba is a forgotten planet! This exceptional trip, in a very remote area, is the pretext to a magnificent trek highlighted by the ascent of one of the two summits of Chaupi Orco (el. 6044 m.a.s.l.).

Program

Day 1: LA PAZ - CORDILLERA APOLOBAMBA – PELECHUCO

Departure from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. for the long drive in our private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca to Escoma, before following Río Suches. We then enter the Muñecas Cordillera, giving us the impression of being on the Roof of the World. Great view of Illampu and Ancohuma mountain ranges. We then enter in Ulla Ulla wildlife preserve, prelude to the very remote Cordillera Apolobamba. After about 9 hours on a dirt road, we reach the village of Pelechuco, “the place in the clouds” in Quechua.
Cold lunch. All included. Guest house (basic comfort).

Day 2: PELECHUCO – POSO PONKO

Difficulty: altitude trek including various altitude passes between el 3500 and el. 5000 meters above sea level (at least two passes per day). From 5 to 7-hour walk per day. Good physical condition required.
From Pelechuco we descend the "Valley of Fog" to follow a faint trail on the Amazon side of the mountains. We then take the "Bears’ track", called after the "jukumaris" (spectacle bear) who often use it. The brown bear’s feeding grounds are located at an altitude between 2700 and 3200 meters above sea level. Its habitat is located further down, where it is more humid and warm. The flora is abundant and varied. We camp at el 3700 m.a.s.l. next to an ancient refuge/observatory (the: "Bears’ shack").
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 3: POSO PONKO - LLAMAKA

Long climb in the "valley of fog " among numerous altitude plants unique to the high Andes.
In the distance summits reaching altitudes superior to 5000 meters form a line of aretes and a barrier of glaciers.
We approach the Peruvian border.
We camp at Yamaca (el. 4400 m.a.s.l.).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 4: LLAMAKA – YAMACUCHA

We continue climbing the increasingly larger valley. We are now surrounded by rock cliffs. Usually a lot of llama herds are present in the area.
We amp at the place called Yamacucha.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 5: YAMACUCHA – SORAL (Base Camp el. 4280 m.a.s.l.)

The most beautiful day of the trek with ’’goal’ to clear the pass Huara Chumi at 5000 m.a.s.l. We follow the mining track built on the hillside: a superb vertiginous balcony with at times over a few hundred meters of air! We are flabbergasted thinking of the llamas following this “trail”. After the pass, we descend towards Rion Pampa via the camp of the gold mine of Warawarani located at 4600 m.a.s.l. in a surrealist atmosphere… We continue our descent before climbing along glacier Chaupi Orco, to finally arrive at a frozen glacier lake Laguna Soral (el. 4210 m.a.s.l.), where we set our base camp (el. 4280 m.a.s.l.).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 6: SORAL (Base Camp el. 4280 m.a.s.l.) – HIGH CAMP (el. 5150 m.a.s.l.)

The approach the the high camp is very steep from the start and reach the glacier’s moraine. We the climb the moraine to the altitude camp.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 4/5h ; Elevation gain: +900m

Day 7: HIGH CAMP – ASCENT – HIGH CAMP (el. 5150 m.a.s.l.)

Grade II/AD - with mountain guide.
Departure at around 2 a.m. We attempt the ascent of the summit (normal route grade II / AD, 45º) to then descend to the high camp. The ascent starts by a difficult progression on a scree taking us to the start of the glacier at el. 5400 m.a.s.l. A beautiful, relatively large, final arete with some crevaces allows the access to the summit.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7/8h ascent; Elevation gain: +900m

Day 8: HIGH CAMP - SORAL (Base Camp el. 4280 m.a.s.l.)

Descent to the base camp.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 3/4h

Day 9: SORAL (Base Camp el. 4280 m.a.s.l.) – YANACUCHA

We descend to Lago Céleste also called Soral, and then after clearing a pass at el. 4760 m.a.s.l. (Paso Yanacocha), we follow a remote valley to reach our camp located near various lakes (el. 4200 m.a.s.l.)
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 10: YANACUCHA – MACARA VALLEY

We descend to the bottom of Macara Valley after clearing Sanches Pass (el. 4840 m.a.s.l.).
We continue our descent, inexorably, all the valleys lead to the Amazon; the green in the distance strongly contrasts with the colors of the mountains.
We camp in the valley.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Day 11: MACARA VALLEY - PELECHUCO

We continue descending the valley, which becomes less arid: we cross a few hamlets and then a few haciendas before reaching Pelechuco (el. 3600 m.a.s.l.), a charming colonial village founded by the Jesuits in 1560.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7h

Day 12: PELECUCHO – LA PAZ

Departure from Pelechuco at 8 a.m. for LaPaz in our private 4WD via Ulla-Ulla National Park and Cololo Lake (9-hour trip).
We observe the wildlife we see on the way particularly the hundreds of vicunas, llamas and other camelides.
Lunch on the way (included) and dinner open. Hotel.

Included

- English-speaking guide
- Spanish-speaking guide for visit of La Paz
- Entrance to parks and cultural sites, visits mentioned
- Private transportation/spanish-speaking driver
- 2/3- star hotel in double or triple room including breakfast
- Night in the home of a local host and/or in refuge
- Meals mentioned
- Guides’ expenses (transportation, hotels, meals, etc.)
trekking guide
- Mountain guide (one for 3 participants max)
- Cook starting with 4 participants (if less than 4 people, the guide also does the cooking)
- Trekking and mountaineering collective equipment (tents, cook tent, crockery, ropes, etc…)
- Porterage of bags (high-altitude porters/mules/llamas).

Not included

- International round-trip flight*
- Airport taxes ($ 2 to 5 US per person for domestic flights, $ 25 US per person for international flights)
- Individual equipment (mandatory sleeping bag for the nights spent in the home of local hosts)
- Mandatory insurance
- Drinks
- Tips
- Meals mentioned "open" (plan 6 to 12 € per person/meal in Bolivia

General sales conditions

Your trip will be confirmed once we receive a deposit of 30% of the total amount on our Bolivian account or on our web site (Visa card icon on the top right; enter your name as the reference). The balance must be paid upon arrival in Bolivia in American dollars or Euros.

Prepare for your trip

Travel advice Bolivia
General Sales Conditions
Equipment

Emergencies

In case of major problem during your stay (delay, strike, traffic accident…), an emergency contact will be at your disposal to reach a member of our team:
(010) 712 57 378

Important

- As a security measure, each traveler needs to provide photocopies of passport and individual insurance documentation.
- If you are planning to travel to Brazil, please note that the Brazilian authorities request the yellow fever vaccine certificate to all travelers coming from Bolivia. If you do not leave the transit zone at the airport, it is not required.

Contact us to get the fares