Au fil des jours

 

La Paz is located at the crossroads of three very different geological systems: the Altiplano, Lake Titicaca, the majestic Cordillera Real and its summits often peaking at over 6000 meters above sea level and finally the tropical region of the Yungas where grow the famous coca leave as well as all the tropical fruits that supply the capital colorful markets.
This outdoor circuit takes us to the discovery of three different atmospheres, using original methods of transports: sailing boat, trek and mountain bike. Pure pleasure!

 

PROGRAM

DAY 1 : LA PAZ - ARRIVAL

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).
Rest of the day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

DAY 2 :LA PAZ – TIWANAKU - LAKE TITICACA – PACHA AYMARA

Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. in our private vehicle for the archaeological site of Tiwanaku (1h30). Guided tour of the pre-Colombian vestiges counting amongst the most important of the continent.
We then return to our vehicle to reach the community of Chojasivi for lunch. There, the association ADETUR has developed a communitarian project named Pacha Ayamara. Meaning “Aymara times”, this project is based on the developing of communitarian tourism. There, the community has built an Ecolodge from local materials such as totora, stone and mud.
After a typical Andean meal, the community inhabitants and their mules take us on a stroll on the lakeshores. We then visit artisan shops (weaving, totora made objects.). Evening traditional dances.
All included. Night in the Ecolodge. (Limited to 8 persons)

DAY 3 :PACHA AYMARA – PARITI ISLAND – TIQUINA - COPACABANA

Early morning, we raise the sails of our authentic colorful fishing boat and start our pleasant expedition on the minor part of the lake. We follow the village inhabitants gone on the lake to collect the totora, necessary to feed the animals as well as to be used as construction material.
The winds take us to the Island of Pariti in the late morning. Completely preserved, surrounded by a picturesque mesh of “totora” (reeds used to build the boats typical to Lake Titicaca), the island shelters a small museum exhibiting some of the most beautiful ceramics of the Tiwanaku culture, collected during a recent excavation on the village plaza.
Crossing towards the Straights of Tiquina, separating the minor and major part of the lake. After a 3 to 4-hour cruise (motorboat). We reach the Southern shore, not far from the village of Tiquina, where our private vehicle awaits us to take us to Copacabana (45-minute).
We climb the Way of the Cross to watch the sunset.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel / lake view.

DAY 4 : COPACABANA – TREK YAMPUPATA - ISLA DEL SOL - YUMANI

The trek continues along the crest of the Yampupata Peninsula. We cross the timeless village of Zampaya. We reach Yampupata after a 4/5-hour walk. A boat takes us to the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), where we disembark at the old Inca Palace of Pilkokaina.
A 30 to 40-minute walk brings us to the village of Yumani, from where there is a magnificent view of the lake.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at María and Ismael’s house (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: +550m/-350m

DAY 5 :YUMANI – ISLA DEL SOL (ISLAND OF THE SUN) TREK – COPACABANA – LA PAZ

From Yumani, we start the trek by following the crest of the Island to the North where we find the vestiges of the Inca ruins of Chincana, the labyrinth in Aymara (3 to 4-hour walk).
Our boat takes us back to Copacabana after lunch. Return to La Paz in private transport (3 to 4h).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

DAY 6 :LA PAZ – LAGUNA TUNI – LAGUNA JURIKHOTA (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.)

Difficulty: 4 to 6-hour hike a day. Good physical condition required.
Departure from La Paz at 8 a.m. in our private vehicle for the village of Tuni, starting point of our trek (a 3-hour trip).
After skirting the lake of the same name, we go over a pass at an elevation of 4900 meters above sea level, before descending to Laguna Juri Khota (a 4-hour walk). From there we have a very beautiful view of the “Cabeza de Condor”, or the Condor’s Head also known as El Condoriri, dominating the scenery (el.5648 m.a.s.l.). It forms, with the two adjacent summits, the Condoriri range, in the shape of a condor with tucked wings.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Ascent time: 4h; Elevation gain: +500m / -250m

DAY 7 : 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 8 : 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 9 : LAGUNA WICHU KHOTA – 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 (2-hour round trip). Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +320m / -200m

DAY 10 : CAMPO CANAL – HUAYNA POTOSI SHELTER (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.) – LA PAZ

In the morning we hike to the Laguna Glaciar of Huayna Potosí. We finally approach the “giant”! The trail, an old dried stone canal carved on the mountainside, offers wonderful views of the area (2h30 round trip).
We then continue on towards the Milluni pass (el. 5000 m.a.s.l). From there, we overlook the Milluni Valley. We keep on going towards our shelter by passing Huayna Potosi on our left. At this point the Andes abruptly drop into the Yungas, a green and tropical area. This is the end of our trek (4-hour hike).
A private vehicle brings us back to La Paz at the end of the afternoon. Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +200m / -300m

DAY 11 :LA PAZ – COROICO – LAS CASCADAS / MAD MOUNTAIN BIKE DESCENT

Departure at 7:30 a.m. from our hotel in a private 4WD, in direction to the Cordillera Real. After passing La Cumbre, a pass at 4750 m of altitude, the Andes abruptly drop below our feet. A few hundred kilometers lower as the crow flies, is the Amazon Basin! Welcome to this incredible intermediate region called the Yungas, named after an ancient pre-Incan tribe that used to live on its steep slopes.
Our exciting mountain bike descends starts at the Cumbre. As we drive down the winding road, the scenery becomes more lush, the air more humid, the wind yet warmer... more than 3500 meters of elevation loss to reach Yolosa (el. 1100 m.a.s.l.) in just a few hours!
We return to our motorised vehicle. A steep ascent over the next 7 kilomiters (650 m elevation gain) takes us to Coroico, a paradisiacal village in the Yungas, where a delicious buffet awaits us. Then transfer by 4WD to the Ecolodge “Las Cascadas”, lower tan the Coroico River Valley, in direction of Caranavi.
Cold lunch. All included. Ecolodge / with swimming pool. Note: the descent is done as a group.
Death road access fees are 25 Bolivianos per person and due before the descent.

DAY 12 : LAS CASCADAS – RAFTING / KAYAKING – LA PAZ

We descend to the Coroico River, where our kayaks and rafts (your choice) await us. Surrounded by tropical landscape, we head to the river (about 4 hours), via the “Ensueño” (the charming) waterfall. When we arrive at the place called Chojña, we get back to our vehicle and return to the lodge for lunch. We return to La Paz in the afternoon in a private vehicle.
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel.
Note: plan some snickers or sandals, and a change of clothes. For the rafting, a minimum of 4 people is necessary.

DAY 13 : LAS CASCADAS – CANYONEERING – LA PAZ

We depart for a magnificent walk in the river. We reach some very beautiful waterfalls where we can rest and swim. In the afternoon, we return to La Paz in our private vehicle.
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel.
Note: plan some snickers or sandals, and a change of clothes. For the rafting, a minimum of 4 people is necessary.

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.
Meals open.

 

Included

- Local Spanish-speaking guide in Lake Titicaca
- Mountain biking guide (Spanish speaking)
- Mountain bike rental
- Spanish-speaking trekking guide
- Entrance to parks and cultural places mentioned in program
- Private transport / Spanish - speaking driver
- 3-star hotels in twin room including breakfast
- Night with local hosts and Ecolodge
- Meals mentioned
- Cook for groups of more than 4 people (for groups smaller than 4, the guide will be the cook)
- Collective equipment for trekking (tents, cooking gear, etc…)
- Portage of luggage (mules / llamas)

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 (except for mountain bike)
- Mandatory travel insurance
- Drinks
- Tips
- Open meals mentioned, (from 5 to 12 $US 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