Cordillera Real and lagoons

difficulty: 2/3

17 days

from 2001 to 3500 US$

Cordillera Real and lagoons

A trip to discover the massifs of the Royal Cordillera Condoriri (5648 meters), María Lloco (5522 meters) and Huayna Potosí (6088 meters), allowing to taste the landscapes, lagoons and fauna and flora inside the Cordillera. It is also a great acclimatization for those who would like to combine this trek with the ascent of Huayna Potosí.

Quotation request

Day by day

day 1: La Paz "wonder city"
Arrival of your international flight. The landing will be at the highest airport in the world, "El Alto".

After passing through the Bolivian customs control, you will be greeted by your guide.

Transfer to your hotel accompanied by your guide and free time (depending on the arrival time of your flight).

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Night in La Paz.

Steps: La Paz and its region Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Paz La Paz Street La Paz City Center El Alto La Paz
day 2: Lake Titicaca
Departure by bus in the direction of Copacabana.

One of the peculiarities of this trip is that just before arriving in Copacabana you will cross Lake Titicaca in the village of Tiquina on typical motor barges, because there is no bridge in this area !

Arrival in Copacabana, transfer to the hotel.

Afternoon free in Copacabana to enjoy the tranquility of Lake Titicaca.

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Night in Copacabana.

Steps: Copacabana and Titicaca Lake Copacabana Titicaca Lake
day 3: Visit of the Island of the Sun
Departure from your hotel in Copacabana to reach, by private boat, the south of the island of the Sun (Yumani), where the displacements are done on foot.

At more than 4000 meters above sea level, surrounded by calm waters and the high peaks of the Cordillera Royale, time seems to have taken a different step, in favour of a troubling tranquility.

Lunch included in the form of "apthapi".

The apthapi being a communal sharing of the products of the land and the livestock that everyone brings (potatoes, eggs, chuño, corn, cheese etc...).

At the end of the day, return to the port of Copacabana by boat.

Dinner at leisure.

Night in Copacabana.

Steps: Copacabana and Titicaca Lake Copacabana Sun Island Titicaca Lake Yumani
day 4: The community of Tuni

Departure from your hotel in Copacabana to join the Tuni community.

Tuni (4450m) is a village of the Cordillera Real, located about 2h30 from Copacabana, between Lake Titicaca and the snowy peaks of the Condoriri massif. It is a community united by its culture, its customs, its knowledge and its desire to exchange and share.

Arrival in the community at the end of the morning and meeting with the different families.

For lunch, preparation of a traditional Andean meal: the Huatia. The Huatia is prepared in an oven built with hot stones and put underground. The experience is unique.

In the afternoon, an invitation to discover nature. Discover the medicinal plants found in the surrounding area and discovery of local traditions and legends.

Lunch and dinner included in the community.

Night in the Tuni community.
day 5: Maria-Lloco Trek (Day 1)
You will get to know the team that will accompany you during these few days.

Starting from Tuni, the trek starts by going along the Tuni lagoon by the east bank before starting the ascent towards the first pass at 4900 meters.

Privileged point for the observation of the "head of the condor", the Central Pyramid of the Condoriri Massif stands at 5648 meters above sea level. From there the most courageous will try to reach the summit. Finally, descent towards the Juri Khota lagoon, and end of the day's stage.

Journey time: approximately 4h00
Positive vertical drop: +500 meters
Negative vertical drop: - 250 meters

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in camp.

Steps: La Paz and its region Royal Cordillera Tuni
day 6: Maria-Lloco Trek (Day 2)
Today's stage starts with a steep ascent towards the Congelada lagoon (frozen lake) (1h30 of ascent), these are indeed two glaciers that flow directly into the lagoon at 4900 meters.

This time, a new challenge awaits you: the ascent towards the Austria pass at 5120m (1h of ascent), before going down towards the Chiarkhota lagoon (black lake in Aymara language) to get back to the campsite.

This is the base camp for the ascent of the Condiriri and the Pequeño Alpamayo. It is possible to climb to the Austria Peak at 5300 meters (45 minutes from the Austria Pass) to enjoy a privileged view of the Condoriri and the Cordillera Real.

Walking time: about 6 hours
Positive vertical drop: + 645
Negative vertical drop: - 670

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in camp

Steps: La Paz and its region Royal Cordillera Pequeño Alpamayo
day 7: Maria-Lloco Trek (day 3)
Today, the Condoriri remains behind you; next stage, the Jallayko pass (5025 meters), at the foot of the "Aguja Negra" (Black Needle).

The Jistaña valley opens up in front of you. A new pass awaits you: the Tillipata at 5000 meters.

The efforts will be rewarded by the view of an infinite number of small lakes at the foot of the María Lloco massif(5522 meters); then down to the Wichu Khota lagoon where you will set up your camp.

Walking time: about 7h00
Positive vertical drop: + 845
Negative vertical drop: - 935

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in camp

Steps: La Paz and its region Royal Cordillera
day 8: Maria-Lloco Trek (day 4)
The road leads between the lagoons passing by the abandoned mine of Santa Fé; small detour on the road to have a panoramic view of the mine camp as well as the lagoons.

Back on the trail, heading for the day's stage, in the hollow between the peaks of Imilla Apachita, María Lloco and Huayna Potosí. Camp.

If the wind allows it, a round trip is possible to the Huayna Potosí glacial lagoon through an old stone canal that has now dried up. (2 hours round trip).

Walking time: about 6 hours
Positive vertical drop: + 320
Negative vertical drop: - 200

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in camp

Steps: La Paz and its region Huayna Potosi
day 9: Maria-Lloco Trek (Day 5)
Beginning of this last stage to reach the Milluni Pass at 5000 meters, so as to enjoy the view of the valley of the same name.

You will then go around the Huayna Potosí massif by its northeast flank to reach a valley that leads to the Huayna Potosí base camp.

The valley seems to be slipping away under your feet to finally lead to the Yungas, the vanguard of the Amazon.

Return to the city of La Paz (about 2 hours drive).

Walking time: about 6 hours
Positive vertical drop: + 200
Negative vertical drop: - 300

Lunch included. Dinner at leisure.

Night in La Paz.

Steps: La Paz and its region Huayna Potosi La Paz
day 10: La Paz and its cable cars
Visit of the Bolivian administrative capital: located at the bottom of a trough, the city is spread over more than 1000m of difference in altitude.

Discovery of the city from belvedere to belvedere to better understand its topography, then visit the museums of the "calle Jaén", a colonial street in the historic center of the city.

You will also discover La Paz from a new angle with its exceptional panoramic view, taking the cable car.

Located in Plaza Murillo, the 19th century La Paz Cathedral impresses with its gigantic size, the height of its dome and the size of its pillars.

Afterwards, a walk through the witch's market. Here one finds most of the ingredients needed to make traditional Andean remedies to influence the Aymara spirits as well as offerings for the Pachamama, the mother earth.

In the afternoon, discovery of the Moon Valley, located 10km from the center of La Paz. This geological formation, composed of gorges and rocky peaks on the hillside, punctuated by cactus, is a very pleasant walk.

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Night in La Paz.

Steps: La Paz and its region Jaén Street and its museums La Paz The Witches' market Valley of the moon
day 11: Train journey on the Altiplano
Departure from your hotel in La Paz for a transfer to Oruro.

On the way, you will stop for an outdoor visit of the church of Calamarka. Some stops are also possible to take pictures of the altiplano and to visit the village of Sika-Sika and its beautiful Romanesque church ( exterior visit).

Arrival in Oruro.

Departure by train to Uyuni in mid-afternoon

Train journey through the landscapes of the altiplano (about 7h).

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Arrival in Uyuni and transfer to the hotel.

Night in Uyuni.

Steps: La Paz and its region Calamarka Oruro Sika Sika
day 12: The wonderful "Salar of Uyuni"
You will take the direction of the Salar de Uyuni.

First stop at the train cemetery, close to the town, where old steam locomotives from the beginning of the last century finish their lives quietly. Their golden age saw them transporting the silver ore extracted from the surrounding mines.

You will then continue to the village of Colchani on the edge of the Salar. Here we exploit... the salt, an abundant resource of the surroundings.

After this visit, we will get to the heart of the matter, the Salar, "white and geometric expanse" as far as the eye can see, which turns into a perfect mirror during the rainy season.

In the distance you can see the outline of the island of Incahuasi, which you will also discover. On this island lost in the middle of a sea of salt, hundreds of giant cacti grow indiscriminately.

After lunch, departure in the direction of Jirira, at the foot of the Thunupa volcano.

Lunch and dinner included.

Night on the edge of the Salar.

Steps: Uyuni and Lipez's desert Train's Cemetary in Uyuni Colchani Incahuasi Jirira Uyuni Salar
day 13: The Thunupa volcano
Departure to the Thunupa volcano.

On the way, visit the archaeological site of Coqueza, containing mummies of the Inca period.

Possibility of climbing the Thunupa volcano up to the 1st, 2nd and/or 3rd belvedere.

After the volcano, you will make another stop in the swamps at the foot of the volcano to observe the typical flamingos of the region.

At the end of the day, you will head towards San Juan.

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in San Juan.

Steps: Uyuni and Lipez's desert Coquesa San Juan Thunupa
day 14: The lagoons of North Lipez
Departure from the refuge to the Ollague volcano.

You will go around the volcano by the salar of Chiguana.

Then you will head due south and climb to altitude to reach the first altiplanic lakes: Lake Cañapa, Lake Hedionda, Lake Honda and Lake Chiar Khota.

These shallow lakes change color depending on the time of day and are home to pink flamingos. This bird rather associated with the heat and the seaside has adapted here in the form of three distinct species (flamingos of Chile, James and the Andes).

You will then continue to the Siloli Desert, populated by strange natural sculptures. Stop near one of the most spectacular of them, the stone tree.

Finally, arrival at the Colorada lagoon, unique for its bright red color due to the algae and plankton that thrive in this water rich in minerals (sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum).

Lunch and dinner included.

Night in Huyallajara.

Steps: Uyuni and Lipez's desert Siloli's Desert Huayllajara Laguna Cañapa Laguna Chiarkota Laguna Colorada Laguna Helionda Laguna Honda
day 15: The beauties of the South Lipez
Today, departure at dawn in order to reach the geysers of Sol de Mañana, located at more than 4850 m of altitude: bubbling craters, fumaroles of sulfurous vapors await you.

After this spectacle of the Earth, you will descend to the Polques thermal baths, where volcanic activity presents a calmer face: thermal baths, characterized by mineral-rich water at a temperature of about 30ºC. After swimming, a comforting breakfast will be served to help you fight against the very low temperatures at this altitude.

Continuation of the visit to the Salar de Chalviri, populated by pink flamingos, under the benevolent gaze of the volcano Licancabur (5960 m). You will also cross the desert of Dali, which takes its name from its gigantic stones with strange shapes.

Then you will arrive at the Laguna verde, which owes the color of its waters to the high concentration of lead carbonate, sulfur, arsenic and calcium, a color that changes according to the winds.

You will then take the road to the village of Uyuni.

Lunch included. Dinner at leisure.

Transfer to the bus terminal of Uyuni. Night bus to La Paz (about 10h30 drive).

Night in the bus.

Steps: Uyuni and Lipez's desert Dali's desert Sol de Mañana's Geysers Laguna Verde
day 16: Back to La Paz
Arrival in La Paz and transfer to your hotel accompanied by your guide.

Day at leisure.

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Night in La Paz.

Steps: La Paz and its region Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Paz La Paz Street El Alto Ilimani La Paz San Pedro's Typical Market
day 17: End of the trip
According to your flight schedule, transfer to La Paz airport accompanied by your guide.

Help with check-in.

End of your stay.

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