Trek in Apolobamba Mountain Range

We depart in the morning by private vehicle to the village of Chuquiñapi, nestled in a pretty bay on the shores of Lake Titicaca, far from the beaten tourist paths. We settle at the José Ferrari monastery, a lovely building that overlooks the lake.

After lunch at the monastery, we start a beautiful hike to explore the small island of Sunata. Then we head north along the shores of the lake back to the monastery. Dinner on site.
Walking time: approximately 2 to 3 hours (6 km)

The morning is devoted to navigation on the lake in a traditional catamaran. A magnificent boat ride offering stunning views of the imposing glacial massifs of the Royal Cordillera.

Return to the monastery at the end of the morning.

After lunch, travel by private vehicle to the village of Santiago de Okola situated in a magnificent bay dominated by the Sleeping Dragon hill, on the edge of the lake. We are warmly welcomed by families from the Santiago de Okola community.

Then, departure for a lovely hike on the shores of Lake Titicaca to the Turtle Island, located at the other end of the bay. A very beautiful and pleasant hike along the shoreline. We take the opportunity to stroll over the top of this small island and once again enjoy the view over the bay. Return by the same route

Walking time: approximately 2 to 3 hours

Dinner with families from the community.

We leave in the morning heading north towards the Apolobamba Mountain Range. After several mountain passes and hairpin turns we arrive on the high plateaus at the foot of the Cordillère. Arrival in the afternoon at the village of Charazani. We continue our journey to the small village of Lagunillas.

We continue by 4x4 to the tiny village of Kanisaya (end of the track) which has a lodge, where we settle for the night.

We climb gently to the bottom of the valley towards a small hamlet made up of pretty stone houses. A rocky ridge closes off the valley which we must climb via a steep path, due north, above this rocky ridge. We arrive at a large plateau housing a lake, the Laguna Chuchuja, located at 4230 meters altitude.

Departure: 9:00 AM
Hiking time: approximately 3 to 4 hours
Elevation gain: +400m/-40m

Camping at the foot of the Akamani.

After breakfast, we head northwest to a pass located at 4420 meters altitude. The path continues west along a contour line, then we begin a descent into a wide valley. We then ford the river (4235m) before heading to our right, at the bottom of the valley. There remains a long climb (northwest) to a pass located at 4945m. From there appears the glacial massif of <Ullakaya (5820m). Descent into the valley on our left to the beautiful Laguna Kañuhuma, an ideal place to set up our camp.

Departure: 8:00am
Walking time: approximately 8 hours
Elevation gain: +900m/-410m

The path continues on a trail along the hillside above a marshy valley. We must cross a bofedal, a high-altitude wetland area. We need to find the best passage to reach the other bank. The valley crossed is closed to the east by a wide pass separating two beautiful glaciated peaks. We set off towards our next pass. The climb is long but gradual. We can admire a formidable glaciated landscape, composed of the massifs of Ullakaya and Condorini. We reach our pass at 5110 m.
Short descent. All that remains is a long descent to reach the end of Laguna Pujo Pujo. We pass a hamlet to reach our camp set up not far from the lake.

Departure: 8:00 AM
Walking time: approximately 7 hours (9 km)
Elevation gain: +470m/-535m

This morning we head northwest to the next pass located at 4950m. We continue along a contour line and then skirt around a rocky ridge to reach a final pass at 5000m. The view is spectacular over the Cololo Glaciers (or Anta Kjawa) and Huanacuni. We head to our left toward a wide valley. After crossing a lovely stream, we climb into a valley on our right toward these two glaciers.

We follow a river and pass several large lakes before setting up camp at the third lake around 4680m altitude. This place is one of the most beautiful in the Cordillera and the panorama is spectacular.

Departure: 8:00am
Walking time: approximately 8 hours
Elevation gain: +480m/-455m

We head quietly towards the north-east, in the direction of the valley bottom. Then we turn into a perpendicular valley on the right, due east. We pass through a bofedals zone.
We then reach a beautiful lagoon at the foot of the Cololo glacier. The true name of this summit is actually Anta Kjawa, Cololo being the name given to the valley. Camp at the foot of the glacier.

Departure: 10:00 AM
Hiking time: approximately 2 to 3 hours
Elevation gain: +280m

Quite technical and well-engaged ascent (D+/III). We set off at night to reach the glacier at around 5045m altitude. Steady climb on the glacier (slopes at 40/45°) with a few technical crevasse passages. We arrive on a large plateau after 3 hours of climbing. The main summit is then on our right. Climb on fairly steep slopes (55/60°) up to the ridges at the foot of the final wall. It takes 2 hours to reach the foot of the summit wall. Two hours are needed to climb this summit slope of 150m elevation gain, inclined at 70° and reach the summit.

Departure: 1:00 AM
Walking time: approximately 6 to 7 hours
Elevation gain: +965m

Descent by the same path to Cololo camp.

Walking time: approximately 5 to 6 hours
Elevation loss: -1245m

From our Cololo base camp, we climb up the hillside along a llama trail to an altitude of 4850m. Then we head left towards a pass at 5250m which allows us to descend into the next valley. Before the pass, we set up camp on a plateau located at 5020m altitude.

Departure: 10:00
Walking time: approximately 2 hours
Elevation gain: +340m

Ascent that is somewhat technical and well-committed (AD+/III).

We head to our right towards the glaciated massif. We must cross a rocky ridge before reaching the glacier (approximately 1 hour of walking). Steady progression on the glacier up to a pass located at 5330m, then we climb to the right on steeper slopes (45/50°) up to the ridges located at 5500m (approximately 2 hours from the start on the glacier). Magnificent views over all the ridges up to the main summit. We continue along the ridges, with another good climb before reaching a plateau at 5615m, at the foot of the summit peak (2 hours).

Continuation along the arêtes before climbing the last meters on steep rock faces (65°). Arrival at the summit one hour later, at 5790m altitude

Departure: 3:00 AM
Walking time: approximately 6 hours
Elevation gain: +870m/-100m

Descent by the same path to the pass located at 5330m then descent to Cololo camp.

Walking time: approximately 3 hours
Elevation gain: +100m/-1210m

We reluctantly leave behind this magnificent Cololo valley. We head north to reach the pass located at 5250m at the foot of the Huanacuni glacier. The climb is done peacefully on the mountain's slopes. We then begin a long descent into a wide valley heading north-west.
The descent starts in a good scree slope then in a chaos of poorly stabilized rocky blocks. On our right, we can observe the splendid ridges of the Huanacuni glacier. We pass magnificent lakes of turquoise color and we continue our way at the bottom of the valley. We then arrive at another perpendicular valley which we climb on the right heading north-east up to a large lagoon where we establish our camp (4750m).

Departure: 8:00 am
Walking time: approximately 7 hours (10.5 km)
Elevation gain/loss: 580m/-510m

We start this day with a long climb to a pass located at 5120m altitude. The slopes are regular and the walk easy, in the midst of herds of llamas and groups of vicuñas.

We descend towards lakes located near the Pelechuco pass (4850m). Magnificent view of Cerro Presidente, Azucarani and Palomani Grande, an alignment of peaks, exceptionally oriented East/West. Picnic by the lake before starting our second climb, due North, towards a pass located at 5230 meters altitude. As we approach the pass, we enjoy an exceptional panorama of Palomani Grande and especially Azucarani. After a steeper slope we reach our pass, on a mineral plateau.

In the distance, the summit of Chaupi Orco, the highest point of the Cordillera, begins to appear. A beautiful descent towards our camp. Then, we catch sight of the eastern end of the gigantic Lake Suches, which marks the border with Peru and houses a major gold mine. We reach a very beautiful valley. The place is ideal and bucolic for setting up our camp, in a wide meadow at the foot of the Palomani glacier.

Departure: 8:00am
Walking time: approximately 9 hours
Elevation gain: +780m/-800m

We start this day with a river crossing. We begin a gentle climb into a very beautiful valley. We walk along two magnificent turquoise lakes with the Chaupi Orco massif as a backdrop.

We pass along a cliff edge above a rocky ridge before descending into the valley at the foot of the glacier (Chaupi Orco base camp located at 4895 m altitude). Climb towards the glacier up to a lake situated at 5135 m altitude at the foot of a pass allowing access to the glacier.

Departure: 9:00 AM
Walking time: approximately 5 to 6 hours
Elevation gain: +605m/-200m

Ascension somewhat technical and well-engaged (AD+/III).

We first head into the rocks up to a pass located at 5300m altitude. We continue on the moraine then along the seracs. We then climb to the foot of the glacier tongue below the south summit of Chaupi Orco (5315m) (approximately 3 hours from camp). We progress on the left of this plateau then move to the right via steep ridges. Steeper climb (55°) which brings us to ridges at the foot of the summit at 5850m (3 hours of climbing on the glacier). From the ridges, climb to the summit in 2 hours from arrival on the ridges.

Departure: 1h00
Walking time: approximately 8 hours
Elevation gain: +910m

We descend on the ridges down to 5850m. Instead of descending directly into the steep slopes and ridges, we head left to skirt around via the glacial valley (ascent possible via this route, less technical). Descent to camp in 5 hours from the summit.

Walking time: approximately 5 hours
Elevation gain: +160m/-1310m

The morning is dedicated to discovering this magical place. In the afternoon, we need to retrace our steps to return to Palomani Grande camp. We take an alternative route. From the rocky ridge, we follow the corniche path which brings us directly back to our campsite. This is actually the only passage accessible by our mules.

Departure: 9:00 AM
Walking time approximately 3 to 4 hours
Elevation gain: +115m/-280m

We leave early in the morning in a 4x4 vehicle from Camp Palomani Grande to reach the road near the Pelechuco pass. We then begin a long crossing of the high plateaus. The views over the entire Apolobamba mountain range are superb.

We then descend to Lake Titicaca, then reach La Paz at the end of the day.