Bolivia Climbing Tours 2021 - 2022
Posted by Vivianne Cuq, March 05, 2021
Bolivia is known for its tall and majestic mountains, covered by ancient glaciers. Two mountain regions of Bolivia stand out for concentrating several peaks over five and six thousand meters high. The first is the southern section of the Cordillera Real, located near the city of La Paz. Here we can climb the peaks of Huayna Potosi, Illimani, and Little Alpamayo, among others. The second is the Sajama National Park on the border with Chile. This highland park includes the summits of the Parinacota, Pomerape, Sajama, and Acotango volcanoes. The Salar de Uyuni's proximity allows us to offer expeditions in 4X4, including the salt flat plus one or 2 summits of 6000 meter.
Huayna Potosi (6,088m / 19,973ft) 2-day climbing tour from La Paz
Huayna Potosi climb is an excellent alternative for those who want to climb their first 6000 meters summit. The expedition starts in La Paz, and, in just one hour by 4x4 vehicle, you will reach Zongo pass, at 4700m (15.420ft). Another 2 to 3 hours trek, following a good trail, you arrive at the high-camp (hut) where you overnight. The next day, the summit's attempt and return to the road and to La Paz will take the full day. Previous acclimatizing required.
Features: Climb a very accessible and popular 6000-meters peak. Moderate difficulty. Use of ropes, crampons, and ice ax. Approach with porters. You bring only your small daypack—overnight in a hut.
Nevado Illimani (6,439m / 21,125ft) 4-day climbing tour from La Paz
Known by the local traditions as the Mother Mountain of the Cordillera Real, Nevado Illimani is the highest summit of this range and the second summit after Nevado Sajama. It lies so close to La Paz that you can see it from all over the city. And now the great news: you would be able to climb it in only 4 days from La Paz if you have done some previous acclimatizing.
Features: Climb a 6000-meter peak. Moderate difficulty. Use of ropes, crampons, and ice ax. Approach with porters and mules. You bring only your small daypack—overnight in tents, with a base camp and a high camp.
Pequeno Alpamayo (5,370m / 17,618ft) 3-day climbing tour from La Paz
The Pequeno Alpamayo summit is one of the 13 peaks of the Condoriri Massif. It is also one of the most beautiful and accessible mountains to summit in just 3 days from La Paz. It provides a great acclimatizing option to attempt later other summits in the area. Being such a beautiful climb, we also propose it as a unique summit to be climbed from La Paz, the closest city. You may also decide to include it in your itinerary after a multi-day trek in the Cordillera Real.
Features: Climb a 5000-meter peak. Low difficulty. Use of ropes, crampons, and ice ax. Approach with mules. You bring only your small daypack—overnight in tents, with a base camp.
Austria Peak (5,300m / 17,388ft) 1-day climbing tour from La Paz
Climbing Austria Peak on one day from La Paz, you will have a small taste of mountaineering in the Cordillera Real. You will reach the Condoriri base camp and have a close view of the massif, with its 13 heavily glaciated summits.
Features: Climb a 5000-meter peak. Low difficulty. Need hiking boots and trekking poles. You bring only your small daypack.
Acotango volcano (6,052m/19,856ft) 1-day climbing tour from Sajama National Park
The Acotango volcano climb is an excellent alternative for those who want to climb their first 6000 meters summit. The expedition starts in Sajama village. In just 90 minutes by 4x4 vehicle, you will reach the volcano's foothill at 5400m (17.716ft). In 4 to 5 hours of climbing, you arrive at the summit of this giant mountain following a good trail. The return to the vehicles and the drive back to Sajama village will take four more hours. Previous acclimatizing required.
Features: Climb a very accessible 6000-meters peak. Low difficulty. Use of crampons and trekking poles. You bring only your small daypack.
Parinacota volcano (6,340m/20,800ft) 1-day climbing tour from Sajama National Park
The Parinacota volcano climb is an excellent alternative for those who wish to go a step further after climbing Acotango. Great to acclimatize before climbing Sajama volcano. The expedition starts in Sajama village. In just 2 hours by 4x4 vehicle, you will reach the volcano's foothill at 5400m (17.716ft). In 7 to 8 hours of climbing in lava terrain and snow slopes, you arrive at the perfect round crater. The descent and the drive back to Sajama village will take other 5 to 6 hours. Previous acclimatizing required.
Features: Climb a very accessible 6000-meters peak. Low difficulty. Use of crampons and trekking poles. You bring only your small daypack.
Sajama volcano (6.549m/21,486ft) 4-day climbing tour from La Paz
The Nevado Sajama is a massive glaciated volcano in the heart of the Bolivian highlands, the highest summit in Bolivia and an exciting climb. It lies in the Sajama National Park, 5 hours by car from the city of La Paz. It is a famous mountain but little visited. It is an excellent alternative to stay away from the crowds and climb one of the 6000 most challenging in Bolivia. The expedition starts in La Paz and goes to Sajama village. From there, in a 20 minutes transfer by car and 2 hours hike, you will reach the base camp, at 4500m (14.760ft). The next day you will move to the high camp, at 5.700m/18,700ft. You will find some climbing challenges on summit day, a small couloir, a narrow rock ridge to follow before getting to the glacier. The conditions of the glacier are changing: you may find hard ice, or snow, or penitents. It is not a climb to be underestimated, and we strongly recommend an experienced local guide or, even better, a fully certified UIAGM guide. Previous acclimatizing required.
Features: Climb a challenging 6000-meters peak and the highest summit in Bolivia. Difficulty: Northwest ridge II/AD, 50°. Use of crampons, ropes, ice ax. Mules and porters for the loads. You bring only your small daypack. Base camp plus one high camp.
Nevado Chachacomani (6.074m/19,927ft) 4-day climbing tour from La Paz
Chachacomani is still one of the rarely visited mountains in the Cordillera Real. The area has been open to tourism only recently. Since 2010 the local communities have realized tourism could bring additional income for their families. The mountain remains unknown to tourism. Therefore, it offers another excellent opportunity to climb a not-crowded mountain just two hours from La Paz. It’s just a matter of time to see more people attempting to climb this mountain. Previous acclimatizing required.
Features: Climb a challenging 6000-meters peak in Bolivia. Difficulty: Southwest route AD+ - 45°, . Use of crampons, ropes, ice ax. Mules and porters for the loads. You bring only your small daypack. Base camp plus one high camp.
Nevado Illampu (6.368m/20,892ft) 5-day climbing tour from La Paz
Illampu (6356m) is the northernmost mountain in the Cordillera Real. According to indigenous folklore, it is considered the King of the mountains. Despite being 6356m, nearly 200m shorter than Sajama (6549m), Bolivia's tallest peak, Illampu is one of the most challenging climbs in Bolivia. Both physically and technically. This climb offers steep snow and ice climbing and spectacular views of the Cordillera Real, Lago Titicaca (3810m), the Amazon Basin, and to the north, Cordillera Apolobamba. The expedition takes 5 days, round trip from La Paz.
Features: Climb the most challenging 6000-meters peak in Bolivia. Difficulty: North west headwall, South west ridge III-/AD 65°. Use of crampons, ropes, ice ax. Mules and porters for the loads. You bring only your small daypack. Base camp plus one high camp.