ILLIMANI THE SHINING MOUNTAIN, 4 Days
 Code: MEILLIMA

The highest mountain in Cordillera Real, Illimani - the shining mountain - is a spectacular massif surrounded by deep valleys and canyons. Technical experience is required.

Dates: 11/May, 1/Jun, 22/Jun, 13/Jul, 27/Jul, 10/Aug, 24/Aug, 7/Sep
Price: USD 533More information about prices (land services only)
Single Supplement: N/A More information about prices
Difficulty: Strenuous More information about Difficulty grading
Accommodation: 3 nights camping. 
 

Arriving at "Nido de Condores"; Illimani's high camp (J.Camarlinghi)“The Shining one” is the meaning of Illimani, actually the highest mountain in Cordillera Real and the second highest in Bolivia. It is considered the guardian of La Paz, a very important symbol that can be found everywhere in the city (hundreds of business have this name).

Illimani is actually a compact massif with several peaks over 6,000m (19,680ft); its base occupies an area larger than La Paz City.

Its climbing history begins over a century ago, when a French scientist, Charles Weiner, made the first ascent to a peak at the southern end (it is not visible from La Paz) in 1877. With the help of some local Indians, he was able to measure the atmospheric pressure and calculate the height: 6,320m (20,729ft). No human had climbed that high before! The peak was named after ”The Madonna of Paris”. You can have a good look at it when reaching the Southern summit.

The "normal" route to the south summit it is not easy by no means and - depending of the season - can get very icy and technical, which means that our guide may need to belay almost all the way to the summit (almost 1000m ascend from the high camp).

We strongly suggest to be fully acclimatized, ideally to have spent at least 3-4 days at the highlands and have already been higher than 5,500m (18,040ft) before signing for this trip. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website. Please consider signing one of the following trips beforehand MECONDOR or MEJKOTA.

Itinerary:

D1. Transport to Pinaya. Trekking to Chapoco base camp.
D2. Climb to Nido de Cóndores. Camp.
D3. Climb of Illimani. Trek to Chapoco base camp.
D4. Transport to La Paz.

 Highlights:
  • Great sightseeing of Palca and La Paz river canyons on the way in and out.
  • Spectacular route to Illimani south summit 6439m (21119ft).

Day 1. Transport to Pinaya. Trekking to Chapoco base camp.
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Chapoco 4,450m (14,596f)
Timing
Driving: 3-4 Hrs
Walking: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
L,D
The drive from La Paz to Pinaya is quite an experience by itself, after descending to the south neighborhood we will climb to “Animas” pass from where we will have and incredible view of the mountain. Then we will descend into Palca canyon and head towards Pinaya village traversing steep slopes and deep river valleys where nature have made and incredible job through erosion. By mid-day we will arrive to the head road where we will meet our muleteer and sort out our loads and have lunch. The route through the town and towards our campsite located in a grassy plain at the foot of the mountain is very scenic and quite gentle relatively speaking.
Day 2. Climb to Nido de Cóndores. Camp.
Elevations
High camp 5,500m (18,040f)
Timing
Walking: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
After breakfast, we will organize our loads with the high-altitude porters and start the ascent following a very marked trail between rocks and moraines on the west face of the mountain. On the way we will visit a small abandon tin mine just below the glaciers. Around noon we will arrive to the top of Mankiri; a rocky spur part of the ridge leading to the high camp; there we will have lunch before continuing towards “Nido de Cóndores” (Condor’s nest). From this point we will have a good view of the route to the summit, the glaciers hanging from the south and north summits, and - in the distance - La Paz city glowing with its lights.


Day 3. Climb of Illimani. Trek to Chapoco base camp.
Elevations
Illimani 6,439m (21,125f)
Chapoco 4,450m (14,596f)
Timing
Walking: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
After a light breakfast we will leave campsite around 3:00 a.m., early enough but probably not as early of the rest of the climbers. Our experience have taught us that if we leave too early, we will not only freeze longer and therefore risk the summit, but – the most dangerous factor – we will find all that inexperienced people and "pseudo-guides" in the most exposed places. The route goes first over the same ridge we followed towards high camp, and then traversing glaciers, across crevices and steep, frozen slopes (up to 50?) to arrive at the col from where a long ridge take us to the south summit. All the effort to reach this point will be reward with the breathtaking views from the summit, after a short time there we will start descending to the high camp where our cooks will be waiting us with some soup, but the day have not finished yet since we still have to descend to base camp.


Day 4. Transport to La Paz.
Elevations
La Paz river 2,371m (7,776f)
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Walking: 2-3 Hrs
Driving: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L
After a long and tiring previous day you will certainly appreciate that we have planned a very easy and relaxed journey to go back to La Paz. We will begin the day with a late breakfast and taking it easy to break campsite and get ready for the short hike to Pinaya village. There our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to La Paz but, this time following a different route that the one we took when we came in. Our route will take is first down to La Paz river and later on a ridge with magnificent views of the mountain and the La Paz River canyon.


ALTITUDE CHART

SERVICES

Included

Not included

MORE INFORMATION

Please get into our “Resources” page in our website, there you will find plenty of information about pre-departure, National Parks, suggested reading, useful links and much more.

If you would like us to make additional hotel reservations besides the accommodation that is included in your trip, please get into our Reservations page