The snowy peaks invite fans to practice trekking and mountain climbing, besides seducing them with their beautiful scenery of pristine lakes. It is one of the few places where visitors can find condors in their natural habitat. The most prominent peaks are the Huayna Potosí, Illimani, Mururata etc.

Bolivia has great wealth in store for us, with its wildlife, its sceneries and nature. An adventurous attitude is required to visit many of the remote and unspoiled sceneries which we still find in the Andean country. Our acclimation starts in La Paz (3,665 masl), the highest capital city in the world, while visiting the markets and the old indigenous neighborhoods where the aymara culture is still palpable.

Our first target will be the HUAYNA POTOSI (6,088 masl). First to Zongo by road. The camp will be set up at Campamento Argentino (5,600 masl). The following day, we will climb to the summit, with little technical difficulties and moderate effort. Thanks to the porters and after a walk of around four hours, we reach Puente Roto, the base camp for climbing the ILLIMANI (6,462 masl). Effort and a good technique are indispensable for climbing up this important summit. After camping at lake Condoriri we can access the PEQUEÑO ALPAMAYO (5,400 masl) and the CONDORIRI (5,650 masl), which are both greatly appreciated for their beauty and their difficulty. The Huayna Potosí (6,094 masl, 19,974 feet) is probably the most popular glacier in Bolivia. Hardly any travel agency in La Paz offers guides to climb this prominent pyramid-shaped peak. Huayna Potosí means “young wealth” and indeed, it is a source of wealth for tourists when climbing this young mountain.

Starting point

The city of La Paz is the natural gate to the many mountains of the Cordillera Real. A good opportunity to get to know the city streets and people, the markets and fairs, the varied handicrafts and the churches in the city. After resting there one night, it is time to leave for the mountains.

The adventure

The distance to most mountains of the Cordillera Real from La Paz is less than 50 kilometers. A gravel road from La Paz brings you to the mountains. From there, there is a different point of access to each mountain.

The Illimani, which is like the city sentinel, is located at only 35 Km. The mountain can be seen in all its grandeur from the city. This mountain of 6,460 meters above sea level is the highest mountain of the Cordillera Real. The normal ascent route is moderately difficult though there are also technical routes for true ice-mountain climbing experts. Anyhow, a very attractive possibility is a 1 or 2-day hike if time is short or if you want to continue on to other mountains of the mountain chain.

More time is needed to get to the base of the 6,088 meter high Huayna Potosí, a classical mountain and a constant challenge for climbers. Among other things, it has good routes for rock and ice climbing. The normal route is fairly straightforward, but other routes are very difficult, just like on the Illimani. Anyhow, beyond the degree of difficulty, you must have sufficient technical and physical preparation to climb the Huayna Potosí. The reward for reaching the summit of this majestic mountain is the spectacular view of Lake Titikaka. From the mountain top, you can also see the city of La Paz.

Further north, at 70 km from the city is the Condoriri mountain at 5,680 masl. You can climb to the summit and back again in around three to four days, which means that it is a very interesting mountain of moderate difficulty. Moreover, it allows you to test your knowledge of mixed climbing – rock and ice -, with certain difficulties though not insurmountable.

Skiers can go to the Charquini mountain at 5,390 meters above sea level near the Huayna Potosí with simple climbing routes. A good training for beginners and to acclimatize before climbing up above 6,000 meters in the Cordillera Real. The mountain at the greatest distance from the city of La Paz, which is at the same time one of the most important ones and which without any doubt has the most difficult normal ascent routes, is the Illampu at 6,368 masl.

These are but some of the possibilities offered by these mountains full of options for adventure and which cross a large part of the Bolivian territory as a backbone. It is also possible to do some simple trekking near the base of these mountains, to reach the glaciers and to set up camp by some non-technical sections of the normal routes. After climbing these mountains, trekking or skiing, you could even end your adventure with a visit to one of the most important places around which Bolivia’s history has evolved for centuries: Lake Titikaka, the highest navigable lake in the world.

Level of difficulty

The Cordillera Real offers varying levels of difficulty. The easiest option is trekking to the lakes at the mountain bases. There are intermediate routes such as the normal ascent route to the Huayna Potosí or to the Condoriri and even to the Illimani. The most complicated trekking is the normal route to the Illampu and some technical routes in Huyana Potosí, Illimani and Condoriri, where in some cases you have to climb areas with an inclination over 60 degrees.

Equipment

Depends on the activity. In general, you will need warm clothes, hiking boots, and a high-mountain tent. For climbing in ice to summits such as the Illimani, Condoriri, Huayna Potosí and Illampu, you will need double boots with crampons, poles, ice axes and equipment for ice climbing.