GoTrek Tours/Treks

 

Bolivia Mountain Climbing Guide Services

When you join an expedition to climb a mountain in South America, you'll find not only adventure in the climb, but in the colorful markets, villages and people as well. Even the names are exotic!

Go Trek's guided trips to Bolivia include a summit climb to Huayna Potosi and Illimani and if you have extra time, you can climb Bolivia's highest peak, Sajama.

Join us for any of our South American climbs, from Aconcaugua to Illimani and Huayna Potosi, and you'll have the trip of a lifetime. Join GoTrek mountain climbing guides for your next adventure!

 

Huayna Potosi and Illimani Mountain Climbing Guide

Members who wish to take advantage of their acclimatization and climb Bolivia's highest mountain, Sajama (21,486 feet), can do so on a supplemental basis. The cost for this additional five days of climbing depends on the number of participants

Includes: Guides, porters, group equipment (kitchen, tents, etc.), all climbing permit fees, airport transfers, ground transportation and lodging starting with your arrival in La Paz until our return to La Paz. Welcome dinner and continental breakfasts in La Paz are included.

Does Not Include: International airfare to and from Bolivia, taxis, food and lodging (should you arrive in La Paz early), alcoholic beverages during the trip, personal shopping and snacks. Once you've decided to go, we'll put you in touch with our travel agent who can coordinate your flights. Lunch and dinner in La Paz are not included except for the welcome dinner.

This amazing 16-day adventure includes a guided climb of two great peaks in Cordillera Real - Huayna Potosi (19,980 feet) and Illimani (21,200 feet) - as well as an opportunity to enjoy Bolivia's magnificent scenery, inspiring ruins and lively markets. We fly into La Paz, which is 13,000 feet above sea level, and spend two days getting acclimated and seeing the sights. Craig Van Hoy has been leading Bolivian climbs since 1984 and combines fluency in Spanish with knowledge of the country and the mountains. If you have extra time and want to take advantage of your acclimatization, we also offer a guided climb of Bolivia's highest peak, Sajama at 21,486 feet.

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Flights from home to Miami. Connect for overnight flight to LaPaz, Bolivia.
• Day 2
  Arrive Bolivia early morning. Transfer to hotel in LaPaz at 11,900 feet. Group dinner that evening. Overnight in hotel.
• Day 3
  City tour visiting the local markets and lounging around getting used to the altitude. Overnight at Hotel.
• Day 4
  Visit Lake Titicaca at 12,400 feet. Casual acclimatization hiking near the lake. Overnight at the Copacabana.
• Day 5
  Boat ride to the Island of the Sun to visit the ruins. Overnight at the Copacabana.
• Day 6
  Travel to our base camp near Zongo Lake at 15,000 feet.
• Day 7
  Acclimatization day and training day (review fixed rope travel, etc.).
• Day 8
  Acclimatization climb of Charquini at 17,690 feet.
  
• Day 9
  Hike to High Camp on Huayana Potosi at 17,880 feet.
• Day 10
  Summit Climb of Huayana Potosi at 19,974 feet.
• Day 11
  Return to LaPaz
• Day 12
  Drive to Illimani base camp at 15,000 feet.
• Day 13
  Climb to high camp on Illimani at 18,000 feet.
• Day 14
  Summit day on Illimani at 21,200 feet.
• Day 15
  Optional day for extra acclimatization if needed.
• Day 16
  Return to LaPaz.
• Day 17
  Flights home to the United States.

The schedule may vary according to mountain conditions, weather patterns, group abilities, etc. A final detailed itinerary will be e-mailed to enrolled participants 30 days prior to departure on international trips and 14 days prior to departure on domestic trips.

Culture & Sightseeing

Bolivia has been called the "Tibet of the New World" because of its impressive history and ancient civilizations. You can still see the ruins of the massive Inca and Amayra empires.

When we arrive, we spend an afternoon getting to know La Paz while we acclimate to the high altitude. We wander through colorful outdoor markets where the locals sell everything from fruit to musical instruments.there are even charms from the "witches market" guaranteed to bring you health, wealth and happiness.

We also take a short day trip to see the Tiahuanaco ruins built in 1600 BC. These are reported to be among the most important archeological finds in South America and one of the most advanced civilizations to exist in South America. When the civilization vanished it left behind many questions and much mystery. Much of it remains underground because Bolivia has few funds to spend on an archeological dig.

Our visit to Bolivia is completed by a trip to Lake Titicaca where a fresh trout lunch is provided. We then charter a small boat to take us to the Island of Suriki where we visit the Amayra Indians who helped Thor Heyerdahl build his famous reed boats, Ra II and Tigress, for his exploratory expeditions. We overnight at the lakeside resort Copacabana.

Experience Requirements

The Bolivian peaks are challenging climbs even up the standard routes. Running belays, fixed lines and repelling may all be needed on any given climb. Climbers must have competed a sound mountaineering seminar using these techiques beforehand. We will spend some time reviewing the basics on our first climb. Please include a brief climbing resume with your registration forms.

Additional Information

You are quickly reminded that you are at a high altitude when you step off the plane at 13,000 feet. A prime factor in a successful trip to the mountains of Bolivia is the ability to acclimate. Go Trek designs the 16-day program to give you the time to acclimate as well as get additional mountaineering instruction. Illimani deserves this "expedition style" approach. We also place an additional camp at 16,100 feet. Every effort is made to give you time to achieve the trip to the summit.

When in La Paz, you become very aware of Illimani. At 21,200 feet, it dominates the skyline. After three days in La Paz we feel adjusted to the altitude, so we pack up and head to the mountains of the Cordillera Real through colorful Bolivian towns where we enjoy meeting the locals who are very curious about us!

First we climb to the summit of Huayna Potosi (19,974 feet) for acclimatization and training. This is a very rewarding climb and one of the loveliest mountains on the continent. The climb normally requires the use of fixed lines and running belays and solid basic snow and ice climb skills. This climb is a good warm up for Illimani! After our ascent we return to La Paz for the night.

Route description
Our trip begins with a drive east over a 16,500-foot-pass to Illimani. After loading our gear onto pack animals, we start the hike to base camp (15,000 feet). The next day, we hike from base camp to our high camp, Nido de Condores (the Condor's Nest) at 18,000 feet. The route from base camp takes us onto a rock ridge and involves some very minor rock scrambling.

Following our hike up to Nido de Condores we can either climb to the summit or wait until the day after, depending on weather, route conditions and team strength. From Nido de Condores we have a stunning view of the entire Cordillera Real to the north. Sajama, Bolivia's highest mountain, can be seen to the west near the border of Chile. When the sun begins to set we see the lights of La Paz glittering below and Lake Titicaca glistening in the distance. As darkness descends, the spectacular Southern Cross is revealed.

We go out of our high camp heading on a narrow snow ridge where we do some exposed climbing, using running belays and fixed lines to safeguard the team. We practice this technique before departing for the summit. We climb over a series of ramps involving standard glacier travel with the exception of a few short, steep stretches. After several hours of climbing, the summit comes into sight. We climb one final ramp up along the narrow ridge that leads to the summit of Illimani.

Equipment List

Clothing:
• Double plastic boots with high altitude liner
• Three pairs of socks
• Gaiters
• Crampons
• Light hiking boots (for our approaches)
• Synthetic long underwear top
• Synthetic long underwear pants
• Climbing Pants
• GORE-TEX® pants (with full side zips)
• Hiking shorts
• Hiking pants
• Fleece jacket
• GORE-TEX® jacket
• Down parka (heavyweight with insulated hood)
• Light cotton shirt
• Fleece hat (ski cap)
• Baseball hat or sun visor
• Headlamp with two extra sets of batteries
• Ski gloves
• Light fleece gloves
• Glove liners
• Mittens (insulated overmitts)
• Sunglasses (wrap around style)

Gear:
• Backpack, 6000-cubic-inch capacity
• Sleeping bag, rated 0 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit
• Sleeping pad (inflatable or closed cell foam)
• Toilet paper (two rolls, sealed in Ziploc baggies)
• Bic lighter
• Lightweight toiletries
• Two large plastic garbage bags
• One package Potable Aqua (iodine tablets for water purification)
• Personal First Aid Kit: aspirin, personal medications, antacids, Imodium, Cipro
• Ice axe (70 cm is a great length)
• Harness
• Three locking carabiners
• Four non-locking carabiners
• Belay / rappel device
• One pair ascenders (with webbing)
• One rescue pulley
• One pair collapsible ski poles
• Extra lunch foods for our summit days
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Two Nalgene water bottles (wide mouth recommended)
• Insulated water bottle covers
• Ice hammer (optional)

Ready to go Trekking or Mountain Climbing?

If you are ready to get going and want to speed the process along, complete the steps below.

• Step 1: Complete & submit the Online Contact Form below
• Step 2: Download & complete the Medical Information Form
• Step 3: Download & complete the Release of Liability Waiver
• Step 4: Reserve your space. Mail the Medical Information Form, Release of Liability Waiver, Online Reservation E-mail Confirmation and Trip Deposit to:

  GoTrek & Mountain Climbing Expeditions
  3110 Judson Street #107
  Gig Harbor, WA 98335
  USA