| Day
1. Arrival in La Paz. Transfer to Hotel. |
Elevations
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450f)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Timing
Driving: 30 min
Meals
None |
Arriving in La Paz, what
impresses the most is the crisp clear sky of the highlands. In a normal
winter day it is possible to see over a distance of 200Km (120mi). The cold
and dry air feels good after so many hours of treated pressurized cabin
air.
The airport is located in the city of “El Alto”
the highest international airport in the world from here you will be transferred
to your hotel descending approximately 30 Min. into La Paz city canyon.
Do not stress much about the altitude, our program has been designed to
get you gradually acclimatized. At the beginning we strongly sug
gest you to take it very easy, drink plenty of water and eat lightly (get
into out Acclimatization page for more information).
You will have the rest of the day free. At early evening
we will have a briefing meeting and a welcome dinner.
|
| Day
2. Visit of Tiwanaco. Transport to Patapatani. Camp. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Traveling through this
land you will understand how important the shores of Lake Titicaca have
been in the origin of the Andean cultures. Surrounded by desert like hills
and snow caped mountains, lake Titicaca offered, and still offers, rich
lands and a mild climate. Tiwanaco used to be a port, an important ceremonial
center and a huge urban establishment. After an illustrative tour through
the ruins and museums, we will drive back to La Paz (El Alto) and from there
to the southern shores of the lake. On the way to our campsite, we will
be culturally transferred to the past as we go by Aymara villages where
Indians have been keeping their lifestyle for centuries. Our campsite will
be located on a beautiful beach on the shores of Patapatani peninsula, with
a great view of the peaks of “Cordillera Real”. |
| Day
3. Trek to Kala-Uta ruins. Boat to Pariti Island & Qwaya. Transp.to
Puerto Pérez. Hotel |
Elevations
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Walking: 2-3 Hrs
Motor boat: 1 Hr
Driving: 1 Hr
Meals
B,L,D |
Today we will start
trekking in the Bolivian Highlands. We will visit a small floating island
and the archeological sites of Khala Uta (house of stones). Later we will
take a motor boat. First, we will navigate along the peninsula’s shores
where reeds form a natural labyrinth that hosts many Andean bird species.
In the afternoon we will visit Pariti and its amazing pottery museum. Later
we will catch the afternoon side-winds to navigate offshore towards Puerto
Perez located at the southeastern shores of the lake. The mountains will
“grow” in front of us and will dominate the landscape. As the
glaciers of the mountains get “tanned” by the late afternoon
light, we will get to our hotel and enjoy the sunset overlooking the Cordillera
Real. |
| Day
4. Transport to Mina Cerro Hermoso. Camp. |
Elevations
Pelechuco pass 4,860m (15,946f)
Cerro Hermoso camp 4,200m (13,482f)
Timing
Driving: 7-9 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Normally driving all
day long could be really boring and tiring, but not towards Apolobamba.
The road follows the eastern shores of Lake Titicaca and afterwards gets
into the rolling hills of Muñecas mountain range. As the rocks change
colors and the lakes shown their colored waters, the car runs into the Ulla
Ulla plateau, the largest Vicuña reserve in Bolivia. Thousands of
wild animals run in front of glaciated peaks and colorful lakes. Finally
the road passes in between the glaciated mountains and descends to the mining
campsite of Cerro Hermoso. |
| Day
5. Mountaineering techniques Practice. Camp |
Elevations
Glacier 5,000m (16,050f)
Cerro Hermoso camp 4,200m (13,482f)
Timing
Climb practice: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
In order to start our
acclimatization process and to standardize the climbing techniques to be
used during our expedition, today we will spend part of the day practicing
on a glacier of the lower slopes of Cero Hermoso & Katantica mountains.
Some subject to be review are: rope handle and knots, crampon and ice axe
techniques, and – if there is some time left -, some crevasse rescue
techniques. At the end of the afternoon we will get back to our camp. |
| Day
6. Climb of Cerro Hermoso peak.Trek to Flor de Nevado mine. Camp. |
Elevations
Cerro Hermoso 5,320m (17,077f)
Flor de Nevado camp
5,100m (16,321f)
Timing
Climb: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After hiking up through
moraines, we will arrive to the upper glacier plateau of Cerro Hermoso,
cross it and climb a steep wall towards the main ridge. Today’s climb
will allow you to test your performance at high altitude and to put in practice
everything what you have reviewed the day before. Later we drop down to
the other side of the mountain to our new campsite located near the road
to “Flor de Nevado” mine. |
| Day
7. Climb of Azucarani Peak. Transport to Suches. Camp. |
Elevations
Azucarani peak
5580m (18302ft)
Flor de Nevado camp
5,100m (16,321f)
Suches camp 4,700m (15,421f)
Timing
Climb: 7-8 Hrs
Walking: 2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Today we will make an
early start because of the long day we have ahead. First we have to cross
a large glacier plateau towards the base of Azucarani, climb its northwest
ridge and return almost the same way to our campsite. Later, after taking
a short rest we have to break the campsite and prepare our gear that our
vehicle will transport to the next campsite. Our vehicle will follow a track
in a extremely rough mountain terrain, depending of its conditions we may
need to hike to our at the head of Lake Suches. |
| Day
8. Rest day. Camp. |
Elevations
Suches camp 4,700m (15,421f)
Timing
None
Meals
B,L,D |
A well-deserved rest
day will allow regaining our strength and getting ready for the following
days. The activities of today can be hiking the campsite surroundings; play
cards, or just relax and read. |
| Day
9. Trek to Chucuyo. Camp. |
Elevations
Chucuyo 5,100m (16,321f)
Timing
Walking: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
The approaching route
towards Chaupi Orko base camp goes through a very rough terrain that is
very seldom visited by foreigners. As far as we know, all attempts to climb
this mountain are organized by the eastern slopes following the traditional
but not necessarily easier or most scenic route. Our campsite will be located
at the shores of a beautiful glacier lagoon in a remote hidden valley on
the southern slopes of the peak. |
| Day
10. Climb to Chaupi Orko High camp. Camp. |
Elevations
Chaupi Orko HC 5,500m (18,040f)
Timing
Walking: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After organizing our
loads with the high-altitude porters, we will start the ascent first between
rocks and moraines, and later to the edge of the glacier from where we will
rope-up and continue ascending towards our high camp. |
| Day
11. Climb of Chaupi Orko. Trek to Chucuyo. Camp. |
Elevations
Chaupi Orko 6,088m (19,968f)
Chucuyo 5,100m (16,321f)
Timing
Walking: 10-12 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We have to make an early
alpine start if we want to get back to the base camp tonight. And normally
that is what everyone wants after spending an uneasy night at high camp.
After traversing a glacier plateau, we have to descend to the base of the
southeast ridge. The route on this ridge is very long but, most of it is
not really technical. There we do not expect many technical complications
but this will depend on the ice and snow conditions. The crux of the route
is an open bergs rung just before a steep icy slope at 60º. In the
case that we return to the high camp too lake in the evening, we may need
to spend a second night there. |
| Day
12. Trek to Suches. Camp. |
Elevations
Suches camp 4,700m (15,421f)
Timing
Walking: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
With the help of our
muleteers, we will retrace our steeps back towards Lake Suches where our
campsite will be ready. If we arrive to Suches camp early in the day, we
may consider moving the campsite closer towards La Paz city. |
| Day
13. Transport to La Paz. Hotel. |
Elevations
Road pass 5.100m (16,728f)
La Paz 4,650m (15,252f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
Our vehicle will take
us back to La Paz following the same route we came in … it always
seems it was long time ago. |
| Day
14. Free day. Hotel. |
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
None
Meals
B,D |
Free day in La Paz to
rest or enjoy shopping in La Paz markets. At early evening we will have
a farewell dinner and celebrate all together. |
| Day
15. Departure. Transfer to Airport. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Timing
Driving: 30 min
Meals
B |
Transfer to airport. |
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The
word Apolobamba (originally spelled Apullupampa) comes from the words
Apu=Gods in the Indian religion and Pampa=flat land, literally meaning
the flat lands where the mountain gods live.