| 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 suggest 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.
|
| 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. Motor boat to Pariti & Intja Island. Camp |
Elevations
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Motor boat: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Today we will start
trekking in the Bolivian Highlands. We will visit the archeological sites
of Khala Uta (house of stones). Later we will take a motor boat to navigate
through a natural labyrinth of reeds that host many Andean bird species
towards the island of Pariti. There we will visit its extraordinary museum.
After lunch we will head to Intja Island where we will set up camp and enjoy
the sunset overlooking the Cordillera Real massif. |
| Day
4. Motor boat to Suriqui island & Puerto Pérez. Hotel |
Elevations
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Walking: 2-3 Hrs
Motor boat: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
In the morning we will
navigate towards Suriqui Island whose inhabitants are the famous reed boat
makers of Lake Titicaca. Some of them have helped adventurers like Thor
Hyerdahl, Kintín Muñoz and others to build the ships they
used to attempt Trans oceanic expeditions. Later afternoon we will navigate
offshore towards Puerto Perez located at the southeastern shores of the
lake. The mountains will “grow” in front of us dominating the
landscape and the glaciers will get “tanned” by the late afternoon
light as we approach to our hotel. |
| Day
5. Transport to Pelechuco. Basic hostel. |
Elevations
Pelechuco pass 4,860m (15,946f)
Pelechuco 3,600m (11,800f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We normally think that
driving almost all day long can be really boring, but driving to Pelechuco
does not feel that long. 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 Pelechuco town. This settlement experienced an economic boom in the time
of the Spanish occupation, and its streets and houses remind us of the old
castle hamlets in Spain. These days no Spanish remain, only an indigenous
population, which has adopted Spanish names. As we drive by the main street,
we feel time transported into the middle ages. The hotel has nothing to
do with last night’s four-star but is as charming as the town. |
| Day
6. Trek to Hilo Hilo river. Camp. |
Elevations
Keasani pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Hilo Hilo river 4,320m (14,169f)
Timing
Walking: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
While our muleteers
load up the horses and mules, we start the ascent towards Keasani pass following
a on and off a trail built by pre-Inca cultures several hundreds of years
ago (unfortunately miners have start building a new road over the ancient
trail). After exiting the town through narrow passages connecting local’s
backyards, our route climbs slowly along a mountain valley. Very soon the
mountains that surround Pelechuco will be below us and we will have our
first views to the sea of clouds in the bottom of the valleys heading to
the Amazon. Close to the mountain pass, we will have lunch near a small
lagoon. The last ascend to the pass will be breathtaking since it will be
the first time you will be at this altitude, fat consolation, next one will
fell less tough!. There is always a cairn called “Apacheta”;
ceremonial offerings to the mountain gods; the “Achachilas”.
The tradition says that as bigger the stone you carry from the bottom of
the valley to put on top of the pile, as larger the favor you can ask to
the gods. Our knees will feel the short but steep descent to the bottom
of a very narrow valley surrounded by steep slopes and with a crystal clear
stream. There we will set our first campsite at the bottom of the valley
near the village of Palca. There are many “Palcas” in Bolivia,
the word, in Aymara language means “Y” shape (the confluence
of two rivers or valleys). |
| Day
7. Trek to Sunchulli pass. Camp. |
Elevations
Puyu River 3,750m (12,300f)
Campsite 4,900m (15,729f)
Timing
Walking: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After breaking campsite
we will traverse a mountain slope with great views of rural landscapes towards
the mining town of Hilo Hilo, then descend to Puyu river and start the way
uphill to “Piedra Grande” (big stone) village; an agricultural
settlement with its potato crops all over the valley and mountain slopes.
After lunch we will continue ascending, first zigzagging at the side of
a beautiful waterfall and then traversing a beautiful mountain valley. Our
campsite will be located just at the foot of the northwest slopes of Cuchillo
mountain, where surrounded by soaring mountains, pastures for llamas and
alpacas we will enjoy our “tea time”. |
| Day
8. Trek to Incacancha. Camp. |
Elevations
Sunchulli pass 5,100m (16,728f)
Inca cancha 4,100m (13,448f)
Timing
Climb: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Today we have a very
long and extended trekking day. First we have to cross the Sunchulli pass
(the highest of the trip), down to the next valley and cross swampy plains
with lots of Llamas and Alpacas grassing. There we will spot the gold mine
of Sunchulli in operation since ancient times. A legend tells that when
the Spanish arrived and took over the mines, the Incas to cursed them. Year
later and earthquake loosened masses of ice of the surrounding glaciers
and the ensuing avalanche of ice, mud and rocks completely destroyed the
Spanish settlement. Today small mining cooperatives still work in the same
mines in the search of the entrance to the famous Inca mine. At the end
of the day, and after crossing two more mountain passes, we will abruptly
descend through a narrow steep gorge to the bottom of the valley. There
we will camp in a place called Inca Cancha. |
| Day
9. Trek to Curva. Basic hostel. |
Elevations
Akamani pass 4,700m (15,416f)
Curva 3,600m (11,808f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We have a long day to
trek to Akamani high camp. First thing in the morning we have to climb the
other side of the valley towards a mountain pass; it will be the last pass
of the trek if that helps you as a consolation. After a long climb to the
pass we will descend some distance to a second sort of pass from where we
will spot for the first time our destination in the valley of Curva. Early
in the afternoon we will arrive to Lagunillas where – if we are lucky
to find the key keeper -, will stay in a hut, otherwise we will camp near
a nice lagoon. A short hike to Curva to explore the town and meet its people
is a must |
| Day
10. Transport to La Paz. Hotel. |
Elevations
Road Paz 4,800m (15,744f)
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Driving: 8-9 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
No more walking, our
vehicle will take us back to La Paz. On the way back we will make a short
visit to Charazani; the Callawaya’s capital. The road will lead us
to the Altiplano and Lake Titicaca shores on the way towards La Paz city. |
| Day
11. 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
12. Departure. Transfer to Airport. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Timing
Driving: 30 min
Meals
B |
Transfer to airport. |
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Apus
are mountain gods in the Indian religion. The word Apolobamba means the
flat land (bamba or pampa) of the mountain gods, probably the ancient
name of the actual Ulla Ulla plains. Nowadays a huge area was engulfed
into a protected area; the Ulla Ulla plains for the Vicuña reserve,
Apolobamba mountain range and the upper Madidi national Park.