Transcordillera Trek Tour North

This trek is a shorter version of the Transcordillera trek which during 11 days takes you through some of the most amazing landscapes of the Cordillera. The trek is solely in high altitude and filled with multicolored high altitude Lagunas and flora and fauna specific to this area. A truly amazing trek that is going to take your breath away – in more than one sense!!

Day 1. La Paz - Sorata (2700m/8.858ft)

We leave La Paz in a private vehicle around 8h00. Our destination is the small village of Sorata situated at the bottom of a green valley at the foot of the imposing Illampu Massif (6368m/20.892ft). When the weather permits we can see its snow-clad peak from the main square in Sorata. We spend the night in Sorata.

Day 2. Sorata - Lacatiya (3900m/12.795ft)

In the morning, after breakfast, we meet our group of mule drivers, and after having charged the animals our trek starts. This first day of hiking will not be easy and we start with a long ascend to the Estancia Lacatiya which will be our first campsite.

Day 3. Lacatiya - Laguna Illampu - Laguna Chilata (4200m/13.780ft)

From our camp, we hike up to the Laguna Illampu (4300m/14.108ft), and from here we move onwards on the slopes of the massif Illampu until the Laguna Chilata, where we set up camp.

Day 4. Laguna Chilata - Laguna Glaciar (5038m/16.529ft) - Laguna Chilata

We leave in the morning to hike up to the Laguna Glaciar, which gets its name from the glacier that literally falls into its shore (4/5h). From here we have an excellent view of Lake Titicaca, the Sorata Valley, and the Andes Mountains! In the afternoon we walk back down to our camp close to the Laguna Chilata.

Day 5. Laguna Chilata - Sorata (2700m/8858ft)

We walk down to Sorata in the morning and the rest of the day is free to discover this nice little village.

Day 6. Sorata - Charazani – Lagunillas (3780m/12.402ft)

A long day awaits us before we reach the Cordillera Apolobamba and we are going to rest our legs while a private 4x4 brings us to our destination. We leave the hotel, after breakfast, at 07h30 and we drive parallel to the legendary Lake Titicaca before driving through multiple villages typical of the Altiplano. Our route brings us to the chapels of the villages Carabuco and Escoma also called the “Sistine” of Bolivia.

After lunch, we pass several mountain passes which take us high enough to be able to admire the Cordillera Apolobamba and its magnificent summit Akamani (5666m/18.589ft). Mid-afternoon we arrive at the Ulla Ulla national park which shelters close to 3000 vicuñas and a multitude of Condors. We arrive at the Charazani where we can take a swim in the thermal waters (if time permits). Another couple of hours and we arrive at the village of Lagunillas.

Day 7. Lagunillas - Curva - Jatunpampa - Incacancha (4100m/13.451ft)

We start our hike from the inn around 07h45 and walk in the direction of Curva (3780m/12.402ft), a village in the traditional style of the region. We visit the hospital of the healers where they still heal with the regional plants and after another 2 hours, we arrive at Jatunpampa where we’ll have lunch. We continue our trek by passing the two sacred mountain passes Moyokaka (4500m/14.764ft) and Tambillo (4700m/15.420ft) where the Bolivians give offerings during the carnival in February.

Behind us, we are able to see the Cordillera Real. For approximately 1 ½ hours we walk down through the valley until Incacancha (meaning “Inca ruins”) where we set up camp on the river bank.

Day 8. Incacancha - Mil Curvas - Paso Viscachani - Sunchulli (4600m/15.092ft)

On our second day of hiking in the Cordillera Apolobamba, we leave our camp around 07h45 and start off with a quite rough ascend of almost 2 hours to the Mil Curvas mountain pass at 4585m/15.043ft (Mil Curvas meaning “a thousand curves”). We arrive at a small high-altitude lake where peace reigns and we’ll have lunch in the valley at the foot of the goldmines. After lunch we start the ascend of the second mountain pass of the day; the Viscachani at 4825m/15.830ft.

In front of us, we can see the Huayna Sunchulli that bashfully shows itself. We walk down for approximately one hour to reach the goldmine Virgen del Rosario where we can meet the miners in their own environment and maybe buy a bit of gold dust. In the late afternoon, we stroll around in the “Pueblo Perdido” close to the mine.

Day 9. Sunchulli - Paso Koppe - Pauchi Cocho (3700m/12.139ft)

From our camp, we hike along a steep slope to reach the mountain pass Sunchulli (4905m/16.093ft). Again we stumble across a small lake at the foot of an imposing glacier. After a small descent, we take a break and have our lunch.

After lunch a 2-hour hike brings us to the Koppe mountain pass (4930m/16.175ft), here we can appreciate the lunar landscapes of the Azanjoce Valley and we have a surprise panorama of the Andes. We arrive at our campsite Pauchi Cocho after a long descent of 2 hours.

Day 10. Pauchi Cocho - Paso de Quimza Cruz - Pelechuco (3993m/13.100ft)

Today we pass 3 consecutive mountain passes: Pichuara 4370m/14.337ft, Quimza Cruz 4550m/14.928ft, and Pelechuco 4700m/15.420ft. We walk down into the valley of Hilo Hilo by a small trail before we climb for almost 5 hours to the Pelechuco mountain pass. We pass several small villages typical of the region with their hay roofs, and maybe we’ll also see some Condors.

After a descent of 2 hours we can observe the majestic Katantica (5560m/18.241ft) which overhangs the valley, and we’ll arrive in Pelechuco late afternoon.

Day 11. Pelechuco - La Paz

We have a long day ahead of us, and we’ll leave Pelechuco already at 7h45. We cross the Ulla Ulla national park passing by the lake Cololo, and we’ll be able to see plenty of animals typical to the Altiplano like vicuñas and lamas. After 9h00 we finally reach La Paz. End of our services

Important: The itinerary can change as a result of weather conditions and some sights are not accessible at all times – Lipiko Tours cannot be held responsible for any changes in itinerary and sights not visited as a result.

General Information:

Highlights: Royal Cordillera

Support Team: Specialised Spanish or English-speaking guide depending on the chosen option

Accommodation: 6 nights in a tent (2 people per tent), 2 nights in a hostel, and 2 nights in a shelter

Attention: No possibility for a single tent during this tour

Guaranteed Departure: from 2 people

Group Size: 2 to 8 people

Porterage: Your luggage will most likely be carried by mules or in some cases porters. Your personal equipment should not exceed 10kg/22lb. You will have to carry the personal equipment you need during the day.

Included in the Price:

- Transfers and transport as indicated in the day-to-day program
- Private trek with a local Spanish-speaking guide or local English-speaking guide (depending on the availability of Spanish speaking guide and English-speaking translator) depending on the chosen option
- Porterage
- Camping
- Collective camping equipment
- Meals mentioned

Not Included in the Price:

- Obligatory personal travel insurance
- Entrance fees to parks, sites, and museums (allow for approx. 50 Bs, Bolivian national currency - this is an estimate and actual prices may vary)
- Meals not mentioned, tips, drinks, and other personal expenses
- Personal equipment
- Accommodation not mentioned