| Along the way… |
After a necessary acclimatization at Lake Titicaca, we begin our trek in the Illampu mountain range, Giants of the Cordillera Real, this barrier dividing the Altiplano from the Amazon Basin.
This eight-day trek takes us from the North of the Cordillera to the Apolobamba mountain range, Land of the Kallawaya Healers. They are believed to represent the last ethnic trace of the Tiwanaku lords, still speaking their ancient language, the Pukina.
For enthusiasts of wild encounters and lovers of wide-open spaces. |
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| PROGRAM |
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Day 1: LA PAZ - ARRIVAL |
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Airport pick up (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to the hotel. Rest of day open.Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***. |
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Day 2: LA PAZ / PHOTO AND PANORAMIC TOUR – VALLEY OF THE MOON |
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Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***. |
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Day 3: LA PAZ – COPACABANA – TREK ISLA DEL SOL - YUMANI |
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Departure from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (around 3h30). From there a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (island of the Sun), a 3-hour trip.
From the ruins, we start the trek following the crest of the island until we reach the village of Yumani in the South (a 3 to 4-hour hike).
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Maria and Ismaël’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 backpacks during the walks.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +200m / -100m |
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Day 4: YUMANI – KALAKI – SORATA (el. 2700 m.a.s.l.) |
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Morning departure by motorboat towards the Isla de la Luna where we visit the temple of the ñustas, The Inca virgins. We then cross the whole Lake to Kalaki, on the Eastern shore (4/5-hour crossing depending on the weather conditions). There a vehicle awaits us to take us to the village of Sorata, at the foot of the majestic Illampu (el. 6430 m.a.s.l.). 2 to 3-hour journey between Kalaki and Sorata.
In the afternoon, option to visit the cave of San Pedro (4/5 hours round trip).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel **. |
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Day 5: SORATA – LAGUNA CHILATA (el. 4200 m.a.s.l.) |
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Difficulty: altitude trek. Daily 5 to 7-hour walk. Good physical condition required.
In the morning, on the outskirt of the village, we meet our team of muleteers. From Sorata, we start heading up on the slopes of Illampu. After a 5 to 6-hour walk on steep lama trails we reach Laguna Chilata.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +1500m |
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Day 6: LAGUNA CHILATA – LAGUNA GLACIAR (el. 5038 m.a.s.l.) – LAGUNA CHILATA (el. 4200 m.a.s.l.) |
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We depart in the morning for the ascent to Laguna Glaciar owing its name to the glacier literally dropping into it on its West bank. Views over Lake Titicaca, the Valley of Sorata and the Andes... The scenery is well worth the effort!
In the afternoon, descent to our base camp next Laguna Chilata.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +850m / -850m |
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Day 7: LAGUNA CHILATA – SORATA (el. 2700 m.a.s.l.) |
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Descent to Sorata in the morning.
Afternoon open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel **.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: -1500m |
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Day 8: SORATA – CHARAZANI – LAGUNILLAS |
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Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in a private 4WD. We skirt the mystical Lake Titicaca before driving through numerous charming villages typical of the Altiplano. We can stop to visit the churches of the villages of Carabuco and of Escoma, described like the “sixteen” of Bolivia. Then, after our lunch break, we reach a high point from where we can admire the Cordillera Apolobamba and the impressive summit of the Akamani (el. 5666 m.a.s.l.).
Early afternoon we reach the community of Charazani where we can take advantage of the Hot Springs to relax our legs (depending on the time). After a few more hours of 4WD we reach the hamlet of Lagunillas (6-7 hours of dirt road from Sorata).
Lunch on the way (included). All included. Night in a comfortable guesthouse (showers…). |
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Day 9: LAGUNILLAS – CURVA – JATUNPAMPA – INCACANCHA (el. 4100 m.a.s.l.) |
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Difficulty: altitude trek with several passes between 4.500 and 5.000 m.a.s.l. (at least two per day). From 5 to 7 hours walk a day. Good physical condition required.
At about 9 a.m., we depart from the lodging for a walk towards Curva (3780 m.a.s.l.). The village remains one of the most typical of the region: stone houses, Indians in traditional garments (possibility to buy beautiful fabrics, traditional garments and ornaments). We visit the hospital of traditional medicine, where practitioners heal using regional plants.
A two-hour hike takes us to the site called Jatunpampa, where we have lunch, accompanied by the sound of the creek nearby, and by an abundant fauna (lamas, viscachas...). Our road continues with the ascent of two passes: the Moyokaka Pass (4500 m.a.s.l.) and the Tambillo Pass (4700 m.a.s.l.), which we climb respectively in 2 and 3 hours. In the distance, we see the Cordillera Real. We descend for 1h30 to reach the valley where we set up camp (Incacancha, 4100 m.a.s.l.)
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +1000m / -700m |
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Day 10: INCACANCHA - MIL CURVAS – VISCACHANI PASS – SUNCHULLI (el. 4600 m.a.s.l.) |
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We depart at 8 a.m. from our camp and start with an abrupt ascent of about 2 hours (Mil Curvas gorge (thousand curves), el. 4585 m.a.s.l.). We arrive at a small altitude lagoon, surrounded by mountains. We have lunch in the valley below, at the foot of some gold mines. We then attack our second pass of the day, the Viscachani pass at el. 4825 m.a.s.l. The summit of the Huayna Sunchulli appears in front of us.
After a 1-hour descent, we reach the gold mine of the “the Virgin of the Rosary” where we can find miners still searching for gold, and even buy some chips of the precious metal.
Finally, at the end of the day, we take a stroll in the “pueblo perdido” (lost village) near the mine, where the Spaniards built their lodgings to exploit the mountain: the frenzied history of the gold fever for the Spanish crown.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +1000m / -500m |
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Day 11: SUNCHULLI – SUNCHULLI PASS – KOPPE PASS – PAUCHI COCHO (el. 3700 m.a.s.l.) |
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We leave our bivouac and start the steep ascent towards the Sunchulli Pass (el. 4905 m.a.s.l.), which we reach after about 2 hours.
From there, we can see a little laguna at the base of the imposing glacier. One more time, we can see the traces of the gold miners etched on the mountainsides.
An easy downhill takes us to our lunch spot. Then, a 2-hour walk takes us to the Koppe Pass (el. 4930 m.a.s.l.) from where we have a splendid view over the Valley of Azanjoce. Superb panorama over the Andes.
We reach our camp (Pauchi Cocho el. 3700 m.a.s.l.) after a steep descent (2 hours from the last pass).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +400m / -1300m |
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Day 12:PAUCHI COCHO - QUIMZA CRUZ CANYON – PELECHUCO CANYON – PELECHUCO (el 3600 m.a.s.l.) |
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Three successive canyons (Pichuara 4.370 m.a.s.l. / Quimza Cruz el. 4.550 m.a.s.l. / Pelechuco 4.700 m.a.s.l.).
We descend in the valley of the Hilo Hilo River before starting a 5-hour ascent, at the end of which we reach the Pelechuco Pass, culmination point of the day. We pass picturesque villages with their small thatched roof huts and, if we are lucky, we may get a glimpse at the flight of the famous Andean condor.
After a long descent towards Pelechuco (2 hours), we can see the imposing Katantica with its 5560 meters of altitude, it dominates the valley. Arrival in Pelechuco at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Marina and Reynaldo's (basic comfort).
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +1300m / -1400m |
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Day 13: PELECUCHO – LA PAZ |
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8 a.m. departure from Pelechuco with our private 4WD for our return to La Paz, through the National Park of Ulla-Ulla and Cololo Lake (9-hour journey).
We will be able to observe the fauna and specially hundreds of vicuñas, lamas and other camelides.
Lunch on the way (included) and dinner open. Hotel ***. |
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Day 14: DEPARTURE |
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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.
Please limit the weight of your bag to 30lb per person during the trek |
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