TREKKING IN THE APOLOBAMBA RANGE
1. The CALLAWAYA & SHAMAN TRAIL from PELECHUCO to CURVA (9
days) Tour Code: TREK-APOLO-9 Rating:
Moderate
TREKKING IN THE ROYAL MOUNTAIN RANGE
2. HIGH ALTITUDE TREK from MT. CONDORIRI to ZONGO VALLEY
(4 days) Tour Code: TK-CNDR.ZNGO-4
Rating: Moderate
TREKKING aT LAKE TITICACA
4. LAKESIDE TREK along COPACABANA PENINSULA & ISLAND of the SUN
(4 days) Tour Code: TREK-TICA-4 Rating:
Moderate
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TREKKING IN THE APOLOBAMBA RANGE
1. The CALLAWAYA & SHAMAN TRAIL from PELECHUCO to CURVA (9
days) Tour Code: TREK-APOLO-9 Rating:
Moderate
This trek begins in the northernmost town of Pelechuco near the Peruvian
border in the northernmost remote corner of the Apolobamba range. A truly
impressive region with peaks over 20,000’ and many solitary summits
and deep Andean valleys. We begin with a drive across the Altiplano and
Lake Titicaca and into Ulla-Ulla National Park until we get close to the
Peruvian border. The trek heads south, the length of the range and crosses
passes close to 17,000’ providing us with truly impressive views
of the remote Andes. The history of gold mining in the region dates from
the time of the Incas and continued with the Spanish as evident of the
old mining centers we will pass by along the way. We finish the trek in
the southern point of the Apolobamba in the town of Curva, the home of
the itinerant medicine men known as the Callawaya. A final drive across
the Andes, Altiplano and Lake Titicaca will deliver us to the city of
La Paz. One of the most impressive tours we offer in a truly remote location.
DAILY ITINERARY
Depart U.S.: Flights to Bolivia depart late in the evening from
Miami and arrive at 6 AM or 8 AM the next day in La Paz. We recommend
our ticketing agent GEO Travel 1-800-938-7285 for this. International
airfare is not included in this itinerary.
Day 1: La Paz - City Tour
Arrival in La Paz early in the morning. We’ll pick up at the airport
and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the morning is free for you
to rest and acclimatize. We will get together for lunch at noon and at
2 PM begin a city tour for a complete view of La Paz and it’s many
interesting neighborhoods and open-air markets. After the city tour, the
rest of the day is free for you to rest and enjoy. Dinner is on your own
to enjoy the many different culinary options that La Paz offers. We recommend
rest, drinks lots of water, drink mate de coca (coca tea), eat lightly
and stay away from caffeine and alcohol. Hotel in La Paz. (L)
Day 2: La Paz - Tiwanacu - La Paz
In the morning, we will depart to the ancient port city of Tiwanaku. These
impressive ruins date back from 800 BC to 1200 AD! These little-known,
but very important ruins pre-date the Incas by many hundreds of years.
This city actually had various periods of evolution until about 1200 AD
when the population disappeared with no trace. Interestingly, many Gods
worshiped by the Tiwanaku culture are the ancestors of the Gods revered
by the Incas. We will return to La Paz after lunch. The rest of the day
is free for you to rest, acclimatize and go shopping for the many fine
Bolivian handicrafts found in La Paz. Dinner on your own. Hotel in La
Paz. (B,L)
Day 3: La Paz - Pelechuco
An early departure from La Paz begins the journey into one of the most
impressive and least visited regions of Bolivia - the Apolobamba Range.
We drive north next to Lake Titicaca - the world's highest navigable lake
at 12,500 ft. The road goes by Escoma and the plains of Ulla Ulla, a highland
Bolivian National Park home to vicunas and Andean wildlife flanked by
Andean peaks. We arrive in the town of Pelechuco (11,800’) late
in the afternoon. Pelechuco is an old Spanish colonial town that bears
likenesses to the towns of Castilla in Spain during the 16th century.
Many of the locals are fair skinned (their Spanish ancestry is evident
from their facial features and stature) and speak Quechua the regional
language. When you walk into Pelechuco…you walk into another time.
Basic accommodations in town. (B,L,D)
tk-apo-9
Day 4: Pelechuco – Apacheta Pampa
Camp
The first day of the trek. While the mule drivers and porters are sorting
the loads out and organizing the animals we will have time to visit the
town and enjoy traveling into another time. Once loaded we begin the journey
as the trail winds its way out of the town into the heart of the Apolobamba
Range. We will ascend almost 3,000 ft up to a pass close to 15,000 ft.
We will continue up and over this pass and make camp at the foot of the
mountains next to an Andean stream cascading from the glaciers above us.
Camp for the evening. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Apacheta Pampa Camp – Ilo-Ilo
Valley
Today will be a tough portion of the trek because we'll cross a high pass
at close to 15,350 ft. and descend another 2,500 ft by the end of the
day. The trek takes us into the heart of the range, next to glaciers and
steep rock escarpments, the glaciated summits of peaks high above our
heads. We'll finally arrive in the Ilo Ilo valley where alpacas and llamas
are raised for wool. The camp will be in the valley at almost 12,850 ft.
(B,L,D)
Day 6: Ilo-Ilo Valley – Sunchulli
Valley
Today's portion will be the toughest because we cross our highest pass,
close to 16,300 ft. and have a lot of distance to cover. We'll pass through
a potato-growing valley and next to glaciers cascading off the high peaks.
We descend through a valley into the Sunchulli valley where we’ll
have lunch and rest. This was a mining center since before the Incas and
once the Spaniards arrived they took the mines from the Incas and continued
to exploit the mineral riches. It is said, a curse was placed on the Spaniards
by the Inca priests. The Spaniards nonetheless established a town at the
foot of the mountain and continued mining. A seismic movement dislodged
millions of tons of ice, rock and mud and destroyed the town some years
later. Even today, small mining co-operatives are still looking for the
entrance to the famous mine of the Incas. We'll camp at around 14,400
ft., in view of abandoned mines from the times of the Spaniards. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Sunchulli Valley – Mt. Akamani
Today's portion will bring us through a narrow and steep canyon where
the infamous 'hill of the 100 turns' is located. The trail zig-zags down
into a hidden couloir and emerges into the rolling hills of the southern
Apolobamba. We descend about 1,600 ft at this point to our camp, which
will be around 13,120 ft. and is located at the bottom of a steep rock
escarpment between two small rivers cascading off the glaciers of Mt.
Akamani (18,590'/5666m) - the sacred peak of the Callawayas. Camp for
the night. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Mt. Akamani – Curva - Charazani
The last day of the Apolobamba trek. After crossing the last pass we will
pass through a canyon and end up at the base of Mt. Akamani (18,590'/5666m).
A long traverse of extensive fields of potato, oca, quinua and medicinal
plants will bring us to the town of Curva located at 11,500 ft. We will
be picked up by our vehicles here and continue our journey overland to
the town of Charazani located on the other side of the river of the same
name. There are hot springs here and we will definitely take the time
to enjoy their rejuvenating and medicinal benefits. We will have basic
accommodations in Charazani for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Charazani – La Paz
After an early breakfast we begin our drive up and over the Andes heading
south towards Lake Titicaca. Our route winds its way slowly across the
foothills of the region and continues until we reach the vast Altiplano
and beautiful Lake Titicaca. Lunch en route. We should arrive in La Paz
in the late afternoon. Upon arrival we will drop you off at your hotel.
(B,L)
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TREKKING IN THE ROYAL MOUNTAIN RANGE
2. HIGH ALTITUDE TREK from MT. CONDORIRI to ZONGO VALLEY
(4 days) Tour Code: TK-CNDR.ZNGO-4
Rating: Moderate
This trek is designed to introduce you to the Cordillera Real. We begin
the trek at the end of the road from the Condoriri reservoir in the heart
of the Cordillera Real and trek into the Condoriri basecamp. We will cross
valleys and high passes that lead us into the Zongo valley – a deep
v-shaped valley at the foot of Mt. Huayna Potosi. A great trek for acclimatization
if you plan on trekking through the higher regions and preparing yourself
for climbing in the Bolivian Andes.
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1: La Paz - Tuni Condoriri - Condoriri
Basecamp
We will depart early in the morning from La Paz and head north to the
Cordillera Real. After three hours we reach the end of the road at the
village of Tuni Condoriri. Our porters will be waiting for us with burros
or llamas to transport our gear to basecamp – an easy four-hour
trek east into the mountains. The trek meanders through a typical Andean
valley as we pass next to two alpine lakes and a small creek that originates
off Mt. Condoriri looming in the background. Our altitude gain is minimal
yet necessary in order to acclimatize properly. Arrival at basecamp next
to Lake Chiar Khota in the early afternoon and prepare our campsite. Dinner
and camping. (L,D)
Day 2: Condoriri – Liviñosa
Lagoon
Today is the hardest day because we will cross two passes over 16,400’
asl. The trail from Condoriri basecamp meanders up and over the first
pass where we will have spectacular views of Mt. Condoriri behind us and
the cirque of mountains below its lofty summit. We head into another valley
and once again climb out of it over the second pass and finally weave
our way down to our camp for the night. We should arrive at Llivinosa
Lagoon in the late afternoon. Upon arrival we will rest before having
dinner. Our cmap will be situated at the foot of the north face of Mt.
Huayna Potosi (19,970’ asl). Dinner and camp. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Liviñosa Lagoon –
Chacapampa or (Botijlaca)
After breakfast we will begin the trek once again through the puna of
the Andean valley while looking at the imposing north face of Mt. Huayna
Potosi above us. The trek is relatively short today so we have time to
wander and to really take in the scenery. Lunch en route. We should arrive
in the village of Chacapampa (or Botijlaca) in the early afternoon. This
valley is the Zongo valley and it is the transition zone from the puna
of the highlands to the cloud forest of the Yungas valleys just a few
hundred feet lower in altitude. Upon arrival we will be met by our vehicles
that will take us up to the basecamp of Mt. Huayna Potosi which overlooks
this valley from a promontory next to a glacier-fed lagoon. Dinner and
camp at the south face of Mt. Huayna Potosi. Dinner and camping. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Huayna Potosi Basecamp –
La Paz
After a leisurely breakfast we will load up into our vehicles and begin
the spectacular drive to La Paz – two hours away on a dirt road.
The drive goes through a scenic valley and crosses the Altiplano before
dropping into the canyon where La Paz sits. We will take you to your hotel*
once in La Paz. (B)
* this hotel is not included in the price of the itinerary.
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TREKKING AROUND LAKE TITICACA
3. LAKESIDE TREK along COPACABANA PENINSULA & ISLAND of the SUN
(4 days) Tour Code: TREK-TICA-4 Rating:
Moderate
This trek is designed as an acclimatization trip that will prepare you
for the higher Andean regions where other treks and mountaineering trips
begin. We visit Inca ruins and the modern day descendants of the Tiwanaku
culture - the Aymara. This circuit begins with easy trekking along the
peninsula of Copacabana, continues across the spine of the Island of the
Sun and along the lakeshore and finishes on the Copacabana peninsula through
ancient villages. The trails are moderate, the views breath-taking and
the fresh air a wonderful way to start a journey in Bolivia.
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1: La Paz – Copacabana - Yampupata
An early departure out of La Paz. We will head to the biggest part of
the lake via the straights of Tiquina and continue northwest to the lake
town of Copacabana. We should arrive on the shores of Lake Titicaca and
Copacabana in approximately 3 hours. We’ll have lunch first then
prepare for our trek. We depart from Copacabana north along the Peninsula
of Copacabana and continue via seldom-used tracks, local trails and Inca
road segments. We’ll arrive in the village of Yampupata in approximately
4 hours where we will camp for the night. (L,D)
Day 2: Yampupata – Island of the Sun
In the morning we’ll take a short boat ride from Yampupata across
to the southern shore of the Island of the Sun to visit the ruins of Pilco
Kaina and further east, the Inca Stairs which after a breath-taking climb,
will bring us to the Fountain of the Three Waters. The further we climb
up the more incredible the views become - the Royal Mountain Range showing
off its’ majesty over 40 miles to the east. We continue along trails
on the western side of the Island and progressively get higher the further
north we go. Lunch en route. We continue north and finish our trek at
the northern end of the Island at the “Chincana” Inca ruins.
Our camp will be situated on a spectacular hill overlooking mythical Lake
Titicaca and the Royal and Apolobamba Ranges to the east. Sunsets here
are truly spectacular! Camping for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Island of the Sun
After breakfast and a visit to the Chincana ruins we will head down to
lake level and continue our trek along the shores and coves of this island.
Our route is on the eastern side of the Island where we will have stunning
views of the Cordillera Real all day long. We’ll pass by small fishing
villages and have lunch in a secluded cove along the way. We finish the
trek on the southeastern shore and go to a sheltered cove overlooking
the lake and the Island of the Moon. Rest in the afternoon and camp for
the night. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Island of the Sun – Copacabana
– La Paz
For those that like sunrises don’t miss this one in the morning
- the views south to Illimani and the Cordillera Real are stunning! After
a leisurely breakfast we will meet our boat that will take us back to
the northern end of the peninsula of Copacabana. In a short time we will
land on the eastern side of the peninsula below the stone village of Sampaya.
A short tour of this ancient village will give you insight into what it
was like to live here hundreds of years ago - before modern-day influences.
Lunch en route. After lunch we’ll head back over the crest and rendezvous
with our vehicles, which will take us back to Copacabana. After a quick
stop we continue our journey back to La Paz where we will arrive late
in the afternoon. Upon arrival we drop you off at your hotel. (B,L)
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