CARGANDO

Tour and Ascent Highest Mountains of Bolivia – South America

Sun Island is the perfect place to rediscover the history and traditions of the Andean people. It is a very beautiful destination due to its cultivation terraces and Lake Titicaca as a postcard background. It is located in the middle of Lake Titicaca, on the Bolivian side. According to Andean mythology, it is a very important island; legend has it that the god Inti (sun) lived on this island and created his children Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, the first Incas who founded the great Inca Empire. On the other hand, according to chroniclers, Sun Island, during the Inca period, was a sanctuary with a temple where virgins dedicated to the Sun god lived. Currently, the island is inhabited by indigenous people of Quechua and Aymara origin who are dedicated to agriculture, rural tourism, handicrafts, and South American camelid herding. Most of these residents are trilingual, normally speaking Quechua, Aymara, and Spanish. The easiest way to get to Sun Island is from Copacabana, Bolivia. Little Alpamayo (Alpamayo Chico) is so named because of its resemblance to the face of the most beautiful mountain in the world, the Peruvian Alpamayo. The mountain is located in the Condoriri valley in the department of La Paz – Bolivia. It has a height of 5,410 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in Bolivia is located to the Northwest in the department of Oruro, in the province of Sajama. The area borders the department of La Paz and the border with Chile, its heights range from 4,000 to 6,542 meters. Sajama National Park is known for its wide plateau area, high Andean lagoons, and incredible volcanic mountains such as Payachatas Parinacota 6342 masl, Pomerape 6,248 masl, and the Sajama peak 6,542 masl, the highest mountain in Bolivia. You will be able to experience a diversified flora and fauna: queñuales forests (trees that grow at the highest altitude in the world), elegant vicuñas, llamas, alpacas, suris and, with luck, Andean cats, pumas, and condors. In addition to all this, there is a chain of geysers, where you can observe boiling water coming out of the ground and open-air hot springs, both products of underground volcanic activity.

TOUR AND ASCENT HIGHEST MOUNTAINS OF BOLIVIA – SOUTH AMERICA SUN ISLAND TOUR – ILLIMANI MOUNTAIN 6438 MASL AND SAJAMA MOUNTAIN 6542

Duration 13 days / 12 nights
Location Cordillera Real and Western Cordillera
Difficulty Non-technical
Season March to December
Departure Point La Paz City
Day 1. Arrival from country of origin to Bolivia - La Paz

Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel in La Paz 3,640 masl. After settling into the hotel, we meet to check personal mountain equipment; in case you did not bring your equipment, we accompany you to rent it, as all types of mountain equipment are available for rent in the city.

Day 2. Lake Titicaca Tour 3812 masl – Copacabana 3841 masl – Sun Island 3850 masl.

We leave La Paz at 8:00 am by transport towards San Pedro de Tiquina. From here, we cross Lake Titicaca towards Copacabana, then we go to Sun Island. We do this entire route taking advantage of the visits. The visit tour lasts approximately 07 to 08 hours. Night in Copacabana.

Day 3. Copacabana 3841 masl - La Paz City 3650 masl.

Free day today, we simply return by transport from Copacabana to La Paz city and the hotel. Then in the afternoon, you can take advantage of a cable car ride and visit El Alto city. Then return to La Paz city.

Day 4. Rest day in La Paz

Rest day to regain energy for the upcoming expeditions. You can take advantage of a cable car ride and return to the hotel.

Day 5. La Paz 3650 masl – Pinaya Village 3800 masl.

After breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 AM, we board a private transport towards the Andean village of PINAYA 3,800 masl. On the journey, we will enjoy the agriculture and Andean villages of Bolivia until reaching the village of Pinaya where we sleep in a family house. The transport takes about 05 hours.

Day 6. Pinaya Village 3800 masl - Puente Roto 4200 masl - Nido de Cóndores 5200 masl.

After breakfast at the guest house in Pinaya, we transfer for 1 hour in private transport to the base camp. From here, the ascent to the high camp Nido de Cóndores 5,450 masl begins (camping). The ascent takes about 04 to 05 hours.

Day 7. Nido de Cóndores 5200 masl - Illimani Summit 6438 masl.

At 02:00 am, we begin the ascent to the summit of Illimani mountain 6,438m. At the top, we will have a beautiful view of the peaks of the Cordillera Real. Immediately after, we begin to descend to the high camp for lunch, then continue down to the camp where our transport waits to return to Pinaya village. Night in said village. The expedition takes about 10 to 11 hours.

Day 8. Nido de Cóndores 5200 masl - Return to La Paz 3650 masl.

After breakfast at the guest house, return by private transport from Pinaya to La Paz city hotel. This day we simply transfer from Pinaya to La Paz city and rest for the next expedition.

Day 9. La Paz 3650 masl - Sajama Village 4280 masl. Lodging.

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel at 8:00 am with destination to the Andean village of Sajama 4200 masl. On the way, we will cross the Bolivian highlands with stops in the village of Curahuara de Carangas, where we will visit the colonial church known as the Sixteenth Chapel of the Altiplano. We will arrive at Sajama village around the afternoon to sleep in a lodging. The transport trip takes about 5 hours.

Day 10. Sajama Village 4280 masl – High Camp 5700 masl.

After breakfast at the lodging, we leave at 8:00 am in a 4x4 truck to the base camp. From here, the ascent begins to the high camp with the help of porters. After crossing the outer side of the mountain, we will take a ridge to the northwest; the entire ascent is dirt and stony. Once we reach the camp, we will have lunch and dinner to rest early, to wake up early the next day for the summit of the highest mountain in Bolivia 6542 masl.

Day 11. High Camp 5700 masl - Sajama Summit 6542 masl.

At 2:00 am, the ascent begins through inconsistent dirt and loose rock. After that, we will take a stony ridge until reaching the snow. Depending on the weather, the glacier may have different sizes of penitentes. After crossing these difficulties, we will reach the summit of Sajama mountain 6542 masl. The top is immense and flat, a crater full of snow and ice. From the summit, there is a wonderful view of the Pomerape, Parinacota, Acotango volcanoes and other volcanoes of the western cordillera (Bolivian Andes). After enjoying the beautiful views, we descend via the same route to the high camp for lunch. After lunch, we continue down to the base camp where our transport waits to transfer us to Sajama village, then we go to the hot springs to relax the body. Night in Sajama village lodging.

Day 12. Sajama 4280 masl - La Paz 3650 masl.

After breakfast at the lodging, return from Sajama village to La Paz city in a private hotel transport. In La Paz city, we will have enough time to shop for souvenirs.

Day 13. La Paz - Airport.

According to your flight time, we transfer from the hotel to the El Alto international airport - Bolivia. End of our services.

What’s Included

  • FRANPISCO ADVENTURE personal waiting at EL ALTO airport and transfer to La Paz city hotel.
  • Last day transfer from hotel to the airport for destination to country of origin
  • Expedition meeting at the hotel
  • Transport for Tarija and Little Alpamayo peak transfer
  • Ascent of 1 of Bolivia's large mountains
  • Entry tickets to Illimani mountain
  • Entry tickets to Sajama mountain
  • Transfer from La Paz for the Sajama mountain ascent
  • UIAGM Guide for 2 mountain ascents
  • Authorized and specialized high mountain cook
  • Porters to carry camping equipment to Sajama high camp
  • One staff member to lead the mules
  • Full meals during the expedition; breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • All camping equipment
  • Personal tent (3-person tent for 2 people)
  • Rope for roping up
  • Snow stakes
  • All personal utensils
  • Stove and gas
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Portable oxygen.
  • We comply with biosafety

Not Included

  • Airfare tickets
  • Hotels in La Paz
  • Food in La Paz city
  • Food during the first days of the expedition
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad or mat
  • All personal technical expedition equipment
  • Mountain accident insurance
  • Personal tip for expedition staff
  • Among others not described in the package.

Recommended Gear

  • 50L attack backpack.
  • Sleeping bag
  • Helmet
  • Cold weather hat
  • Sun hat
  • Snow goggles
  • Sunscreen
  • Down jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Thermal shirts
  • Waterproof pants
  • Thermal pants
  • Snow gloves
  • Harness
  • A pair of technical ice axes
  • A pair of snow shoes
  • A pair of crampons
  • A 70 L backpack to carry your things

Booking Conditions

We recommend making a reservation in advance to ensure a better price for you. Prices may vary according to the reservation date and the number of people. After we have reached an agreement on the total expedition price for each program we offer, you may book with a 40% deposit of the total agreed sum for the services.

This reservation will cover the following:

  1. Securing your spot for the scheduled date.
  2. Making transfer ticket reservations for Lima - Huaraz / Huaraz - Lima.
  3. Making hotel reservations for the scheduled dates of your arrival in Lima and Huaraz, according to the itinerary.
  4. Making reservations for guides, assistants, and/or staff for the scheduled date.

The remaining 60% will be paid in Huaraz after you have checked into your hotel. To begin the organization of your expeditions, please contact us for more information.

There are 02 rescue units in Huaraz
  1. National Police Rescue Squadron, based in the city of Yungay (very close to Huascarán mountain). Phone numbers: 043-493292 / 043-493333. They also have 02 helicopters available.
  2. Casa de Guías Rescue Unit, based in the city of Huaraz (Parque Ginebra s/n). The rescue cost must be budgeted beforehand, and if a helicopter is required, it will also be necessary to pay for the service in advance. Website: agmp.pe

For more information, please contact us.

Reservation Form

Price from:
$995 €847.74

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