Bolivia - Cordillera Real Trek

Overview

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A high-altitude trek through the heart of Bolivia's Cordillera Real

Introduction

This is a long and tough high-altitude trek across Bolivia’s Cordillera Real mountains, to the north-west of La Paz, finishing just to the west of the 6,000m peak, Huyana Potosi. This is Bolivia’s ‘Royal’ range offering breathtaking views and scenery throughout. You will trek through many wild and magical valleys and over high passes, with some big days of 8–9 hours walking. You will also have the opportunity to climb Point Austria (5,300m), a non-technical ascent. Your trip will begin with visits to Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and the Islay de Sol before driving to Cocoyu where the trek begins. As always, a careful programme of acclimatisation is built into the trip itinerary, which is suitable for fit walkers.

Join us on the Bolivia - Cordillera Real Trek

• A superb high-altitude trek through spectacular terrain
• Accessible mountains and stable weather
• Professional Bolivian mountain guides
• Group equipment carried by mules, so you only need to carry a daypack
• Over 20 years' experience in Bolivia

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Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this trek on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Experience Required

This trek is suitable for fit walkers or those with previous trekking experience. If you have completed the Inca Trail, climbed Kilimanjaro or are a regular weekend hill walker, you could consider the Bolivia - Cordillera Real Trek

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the trek or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCO Travel Advice for Bolivia on the FCO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless joining in-country.)
• UK airport taxes.
• 3 nights' hotel accommodation in La Paz, on a bed and breakfast basis
• 2 nights' hotel accommodation in Copacabana, on a full-board basis.
• 1 nights' hotel accommodation in Sorata, on a full-board basis.
• 11 nights’ accommodation in tents on a full-board basis.
• All road transport by private vehicles.
• All camping facilities.
• All porterage costs.
• All costs for Jagged Globe guides and local helpers.
• Jagged Globe kitbag.

What the price does not include

• Travel insurance.
• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Extraneous hotel bills (e.g. bar and laundry).
• Lunch and evening meals in La Paz.
• Additional hotel nights in La Paz, if the programme is changed.
• Optional sightseeing trips.
• Tips.

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this trek on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to La Paz
Day 3:	At leisure in La Paz (3,300m)
Day 4 - 5:	Lake Titicaca, Copacabana (3,800m) and Islay del Sol (4,080m) The team drives to Copacabana (3,800m) on the shores of Titicaca. The following day you take an early morning boat trip to the Islay del Sol. This was a principal shrine for the indigenous Incas and Tiahuanaco peoples of the Altiplano. These two days are more than just sightseeing and help build a solid foundation for your acclimatisation.
Day 6 - 7:	Drive to Cocoyu This is a long road journey. The first 3.5-4.5 hour to Sorata is on good tarmac roads, parallel to the range you trek back through. Sorata is a nice place, with all the amenities to allow a pleasant stopover. The remaining journey to Cocoyu requires 4x4 transport along mining access roads. You will set up camp either in or just above Cocoyu.
Day 8:	Cocoyu to Chajolpaya From Cocoyu the route turns right out of the village, then it is a long gentle uphill walk on a 4x4 track to Paso Sarami (4,580m). There is a nice possible camping site by some ruins at 4,275m, 1 hour before the col. From here the trail drops steeply to the remote Chajolpaya settlement and camp at 4,185m. There are excellent views of the Chiaroco Massif. 6 hours, 10-11Km.
Day 9:	Chajolpaya to Negruni In the morning it is a long ascent to reach a high mountain pass. You will climb steeply away from Chajolpaya, until the ground begins to flatten out. The trail continues gradually up the picturesque valley, before you eventually leave this valley via a path to the left. Here the walking really steepens up with the path becoming rocky and sandy. There are breathtaking views from the top of the pass at 4,950m. You then start steeply down the rocky path on the other side, before easy walking leads to a lake at 4,550m below Negruni. This is a lovely wild campsite, with trout in the lake. 6.5 hours, 12-13Km.
Day 10:	Negruni to Lloco Iloconi Another big day of trekking to Lloconi. You will descend steeply to the valley below, with excellent views of Nevado Ch'iyaruqu (6,104m) to the right, then follow Rio Chiquini more gradually down to the left through the incredibly picturesque valley to the stream junction at 4,200m (2 hours). You then follow the valley up to the right (Rio Waraco), into the open meadow of boulders and past a small settlement. The trail now hugs the left side of the valley and climbs steeply up sandy scree with some potential drops to be careful of. You will move back across to the right as you turn up towards the col (steep ground with loose rocks), to arrive at a small lake with excellent views of the 6,000m Nevados. One final rise gives access the top of the pass at 4,850m. On the other side the path winds down the valley and past a very small settlement and a lake on the left to Lloco lloconi (c4,600m). Camping here is possible just before the stream by some ruins. 8-9 hours, 12-13Km.
Day 11:	Lloco Iloconi to Plateau camp In the morning you will cross the stream and follow the track on the north side of the valley, rising gradually for 3.5-4 hours. The col is reached (c5,000m) after a further hour and you are treated to spectacular views of the Cordillera. From the top you start down the track, before hugging a path on the right side of the valley to reach a picturesque plateau for camping by a stream (c4,850m) in a further half hour. 5 hours, 9-10Km.
Day 12:	Plateau camp to Quta Thiya You'll start down the valley to the south west to reach the track around the east of Janq'u Quta to Mina Natividad in 1 hour. From the bottom of the lake you will follow the path to the west of the stream down past Quta Thiya, to reach a campsite just below this lake at 4,400m, above Q'ara Quta. 5 hours, 8-10Km.
Day 13:	Rest day A well-earned rest day at this picturesque campsite. A good opportunity to do some washing and relax.
Day 14:	Trek to Laguna Ajwani You will contour up the path on the east side of the valley to eventually reach a bleak col at 4,790m. There are great views from here of Lake Titicaca in the distance. From the col you'll contour down the path to the left, passing under some cliffs and by some small buildings in the bottom of the valley. There is a small river crossing here, which with unusually high levels of rain fall / melt could make this crossing more severe. The route rises back up to the right in around one hour to the refuge and a nice campsite by Laguna Ajwani. 5.5 hours, 7-8Km.
Day 15:	Laguna Ajwani to Laguna Janchallani It takes one hour to reach the col to the east (c4,770m). It is possible to pop up to the sub-summit with great views from 4,825m. You'll then continue across the scree plateau and up a final rise to a col. There are superb views of Illampu and Potosi from here. The route then descends to the east, ending with a steep section of scree to reach Laguna Sislana. There is a basic toilet here, which costs $1B. This is a lovely spot for lunch before a sustained climb to the next col (c4,890m), which offers yet more magnificent views. From here there may be a short snow slope to cross, before dropping down scree to a very picturesque camp at 4,690m (approx 5.5 hours total). This campsite is more rocky and trickier to find good spots for tents than some of the others. There is a small refuge and 2 toilets. From camp you can climb easily up to a sub-summit on the left at 5,020m. The views from here are even better! From the top you can cut down to the snow slope previously crossed, before dropping directly down steep scree and back to camp. 6 hours, 8-10Km.
Day 16:	Laguna Janchallani to Laguna Chair Khota In the morning you will follow the route the mules take, traversing to the east to reach a col at 4,880m (1.45 hours). From the cold there are more spectacular views, getting forever closer to Huayna Potosi. From here it is possible to contour along to the left, before dropping down to the track leading up the valley to the north to a small lake in a beautiful setting, with great views of Condoriri and Pico Austria. A more interesting extension from the col involves climbing up to the left to reach a small summit (c4,950m). From here you can follow a mostly blunt ridge down to the south east, before dropping down scree to regain the main route leading east to reach the small lake in time for lunch. It takes 1 hour from this lake to reach the larger Chair Quota and a beautiful campsite among the peaks at 4,700m. There is a water supply and 3 toilets. Don't drink from the lake, although it is nice for a wash here and gets the sun until 5pm. 4-6 hours, 5-7Km.
Day 17:	Laguna Chair Khota to Tuni Base Camp Pico Austria (5,335m) is an optional non-technical ascent. It involves a steep climb over rough scree to the top of the terminal moraine of Condoriri's western most glacier. From here you traverse southwards across a grassy slope before climbing a steep scree-filled gully to a col at 5,120m, which seprates Condoriri and Pico Austria. The views from the top are amazing on a clear day. 5-6 hours, 9-11Km.
Day 18:	Tunu Base Camp to Plaza de Llamas, return to La Paz On your final day of trekking, you'll leave base camp and trek across moraines and pathways, with w fantastic views of the the three glacier-fed lagoons. On arrival at Plaza de Llamas, you'll meet our pre-arranged transport for the 2-hour drive back to La Paz. 3 hours walking, 7-9Km.
Day 19 - 20:	Fly home

PLEASE NOTE: Please note that this itinerary is a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, unforeseen circumstances may force changes to be made at the last moment. Please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

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