Along the way…

This itinerary caters to the mountain enthusiasts, aiming to combine, in two weeks, the pleasures of mountaineering to those of trekking.
After acclimatizing a few days in La Paz, we begin a self-sustained, nine days trek through the heart of the Cordillera Real. On the menu, three ascents: el Pequeño Alpamayo (el. 5410 m.a.s.l.) and La Cabeza de Condor (el. 5700 m.a.s.l.) in the Condoriri mountain range, then, the highlight of the trip, the ascent of Huayna Potosí culminating at 6088 meter above sea levels.
A refreshing adventure. What a beautiful sight are these mountains!

PROGRAM

DAY 1 : LA PAZ ARRIVAL / CITY TOUR

Pick up at the airport (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to hotel (check in time 12 p.m.; if you wish to have a room upon arrival, it is possible to pay for one extra night, check with us).
At 2 p.m., we meet in the hotel lobby for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagárnaga Street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches’ street, San Pedro’s food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. hotel.

DAY 2 :LA PAZ - COPACABANA – TREK YAMPUPATA - ISLA DEL SOL – CHA´LLAPAMPA

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in our private vehicle. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real to reach Copacabana (3 ½-hour drive).
A motorboat takes us to the Virgin of Lourdes fom where our trek on the village of Yampupata starts. A boat awaits us there to take us to the nearby Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) (1-hour crossing). In the village of Cha´llapampa we visit the little museum of Marka Pampa before admiring the sunset over the Cordillera Real.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort). Note: During the following 2 days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the gear during the walks.
Hiking time: 5h ; Elevation gain: +250m/-250m

DAY 3 :CHA´LLAPAMPA - TREK ISLA DEL SOL – YUMANI – LA PAZ

In the morning, we climb to the ruins of Chicana (“the labyrinth” in Aymara) and the sacred rock of the Puma, from where God Viracocha created his son Manco Capac, the first Inca.
A very nice hike following the crest takes us to the village of Yumani at the Southern point of the island. We then go down the 500 steps of a stone staircase to the pier of the “Fuente del Inca”. A short hop by boat takes us to temple Pilkokaina, built by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui for his pilgrimages on the Isla del Sol. Our boat then takes us back to Copacabana (1-hour crossing), where our vehicle awaits us to take us back to La Paz.
Cold lunch. Dinner open. Hotel.
Hiking time 3-4h; Elevation gain: +450m / -450m

DAY 4 :LA PAZ – LAGUNA KHOTIA – LAGUNA AJWANI (el. 4720 m.a.s.l.)

Difficulty: altitude trek with one or more passes of elevations superior to 5000 meters, each day. 4 to 6-hour walk a day. Good physical condition required.
Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle in the direction of the Cordillera Real (a 3-hour trip) and of laguna Kothia, the start of our trek (el. 4470 m.a.s.l.).
We meet our team of muleteers and start hiking on the right side of the lake, on the Southwest slopes of the Cordillera. We clear the first pass (Paso Contador, el. 4760 m.a.s.l.) before crossing a swampy area, near laguna Surakhota. Alter about a 4-hour walk, we arrive at the laguna Ajwani (“lagoon of the birds”, el. 4720 m.a.s.l.). Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 4/5h; Elevation gain: +500m / -300m

DAY 5 :LAGUNA AJWANI - LAGUNA JURIKHOTA (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.)

We start by following the hillside, clear a first pass at an altitude of 4920 meters (Paso Milluni / 1h45), then we take our time to reach laguna Sistaña (el. 4660 m.a.s.l. / 45mn).
In the afternoon we ascend to a second pass (Paso Janchallani, el. 4900 m.a.s.l. / 1h30), before our last descent of the day towards Laguna Jurikhota (el. 4700 m.a.s.l. / 1h).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 5/6h; Elevation gain: +665m / -560m

DAY 6 :LAGUNA JURIKHOTA – LAGUNA CONGELADA – PASO AUSTRIA - LAGUNA CHIARKHOTA (el. 4670 m.a.s.l.)

From Laguna Jurikhota we begin by ascending up a steep slope to reach, an hour and a half later, the Laguna Congelada, (two glaciers literally fall into its icy waters), a jewel nested at an altitude of 4900 meters at the foot of El Condoriri (el. 5650 m.a.s.l.).
From there we keep climbing to a second pass (Paso Austria, 5120 m.a.s.l. / one hour ascent) before descending on the other side towards El Condoriri and El Pequeño Alpamayo base camp, at the edge of Laguna Chiarkhota (el. 4670 m.a.s.l. / 1h30 descent).
Just before reaching the pass, we have the option to climb Pico Austria (el. 5300 m.a.s.l.) to admire the incredible views it offers over the Cordillera Real (45-minute climb, 20-minute descent) Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +645m / -670m

DAY 7 : ASCENT OF EL PEQUEÑO ALPAMAYO (el. 5410 m.a.s.l.)

Grade III/AD+, Max 55° - with mountain guide.
Start at 4 a.m. to attempt the summit (normal route / 4-5 hours) and then descend to Laguna Chiar Kota.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Ascent time: 7h; Elevation gain: +740m / -740m

DAY 8 : BASE CAMP (LAGUNA CHIARKHOTA)

Rest day. Option to walk around the laguna. All included. Bivouac.

DAY 9 : ASCENT OF EL CONDORIRI (CABEZA DE CONDOR) (el. 5700 m.a.s.l.)

Grade III/AD+, Max 55° - with mountain guide.
Start at 4 a.m. for the summit attempt by the normal route (5-6 hours) then descent to Laguna Chiar Kota.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Ascent time: 8h; Elevation gain: +1030m / -1030m

DAY 10 : LAGUNA CHIARKHOTA – LAGUNA WICHU KHOTA (el.4680 m.a.s.l.)

We leave the Condoriri behind us, pass at the base of the Black Needle and eventually reach the Jallayko Pass (el. 5025 m.a.s.l.). We then drop into the very beautiful and steep Jistaña Valley, before ascending the Tillipata Pass (el. 5000 m.a.s.l.).
The spectacular scenery over the myriad of lagunas down below is ample reward for our efforts. Then another downhill to Laguna Wichu Khota, where we set up our camp, at the foot of María Lloco (el. 5522 m.a.s.l.). Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +845m / -935m

DAY 11 :LAGUNA WICHU KHOTA – LAGUNA GLACIAL - CAMPO CANAL (el. 4800 m.a.s.l.)

We progress amongst the lagunas, until the ancient camp for mine Santa Fe. A short detour to a small nearby summit dominating the camp allows us to get a nice view over all the lagunas. We then climb up to our camp, surrounded by the summits of Imilla Apachita, Maria Lloco and Huayna Potosi (el. 6088 m.a.s.l.). The view is superb (4/5-walk).
The most courageous will be able to hike over to Laguna Glacial del Huayna Potosi. The trail, an ancient dried out stone canal on the hillside, offers wonderful scenery (2h round trip).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +320m / -200m

DAY 12 : CAMPO CANAL – ASCENT OF HUAYNA POTOSÍ / DAY 1 (el. 5100 m.a.s.l.)

Grade II/AD, Max 50° - with mountain guide.
After loading the gear on our lamas, we head for the Milluni pass that we reach in the middle of the morning (el. 5000 m.a.s.l) and from where we discover the Milluni Valley on the other side. We go around the Huayna Potosi mountain range until we arrive at the refuge (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.). At this point the Andes are dramatically dropping into the Yungas, a green and tropical area.
Ascent to the “Rocks Camp” (base camp –el. 5100 m.a.s.l.).
Approximately a 2 hour-walk.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in mountain shelter.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +600m / -300m
Note: team of porters for the two-day ascent.

DAY 13 : ASCENT OF HUAYNA POTOSÍ (el. 6088 m.a.s.l.) – LA PAZ

Departure at 2 a.m. for a tentative ascent of the summit. Later on, we descend to the shelter (approximately 10h total). Return to La Paz with private vehicle.
Lunch included. Dinner open. hotel.
Ascent time: 10h; Elevation gain: +1000m / -1400m

DAY 14 : DEPARTURE

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.

Included

• Trekking guide
  
• Mountain guide (one for 3 people max)
  
• Cook for groups of more than 4 people (for groups smaller than 4, the guide will be the cook)
  
• Collective equipment for trekking and mountaineering (tents, cooking gear, ropes, etc…)
  
• Portage of gear (high altitude porters/ mules / llamas)
  
• Local guide in La Paz
  
• Entrance to parks and cultural places mentioned in program
  
• Private transport / Spanish - speaking driver
  
• 2/3-star hotels in twin room including breakfast
  
• Meals mentioned
  

Not included

• International flight round trip
  
• Airport taxes (about $ 2 US per person for national flights and $ 25 US per person for international flights)
  
• Individual equipment (for camping we can provide the sleeping pads)
  
• Mandatory travel insurance
  
• Drinks
  
• Tips
  
• Open meals mentioned, (from 3 to 8 € per person / meal)
  

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