Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in La Paz
You'll land in La Paz at over 4,000 meters above sea level, which means you're starting pretty high up. After checking into your hotel, take it easy for the rest of the day and let your body adjust to the altitude. Depending on when you arrive, there might be time to wander around the city a bit, but mostly this day is about settling in and resting.
Optional Activities
- Explore La Paz city
- Day 2
Tiwanaku
Head out early for the drive to Tiwanaku, about 70 km from La Paz. You'll spend the day exploring one of Bolivia's most significant pre-Columbian sites with ruins dating back to 400-1000 AD. Walk through stone monoliths, check out the Kalasasaya temple, climb Akapana hill, and see the Intipunco or Sun Gate. After exploring, you'll head back to La Paz for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiwanaku archaeological site
- Guided tour of Kalasasaya temple
- Guided tour of Akapana hill
- Guided tour of Intipunco (Sun Gate)
Landmarks Tiwanaku Kalasasaya Akapana Intipunco (Sun Gate) - Day 3
Muela de Diablo
This morning you'll hike to Muela de Diablo, a rocky outcrop standing at 3,995m in south La Paz. The trail goes up a wide farm road with some narrow shortcuts, and as you gain altitude, you'll see surrounding peaks like Huayna Potosi, Mururata, and Illimani. Once you reach the viewpoint between the twin rocks at the summit, you'll have panoramic views across La Paz below.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Muela de Diablo viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Sport climbing on Muela de Diablo summit (for experienced climbers)
Landmarks Muela de Diablo Huayna Potosi Illimani - Day 4
Comanche (Puya Raimondi)
Drive about 3 hours from La Paz to Comanche National Park. You're heading there to see the rare giant bromeliad Puya Raimondi plants growing on Cerro Comanche, a distinctive granite boulder. You'll climb via stone steps and keep an eye out for Andean foxes, eagles, and sometimes storks. The views of the Cordillera Real are great from up there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike up Cerro Comanche
- View Puya Raimondi plants
- Wildlife viewing (Viscachas, eagles, Andean foxes)
Landmarks Cerro Comanche Cordillera Real - Day 5
Mina San Francisco to Mountain Lake
This morning you start a multi-day mountain crossing from Mina San Francisco above Ventilla, roughly 2 hours from La Paz. You'll hike moderately uphill beneath steep cliffs of Cerro Takesi until you reach a deep green alpine lake surrounded by four 5,000m peaks. Camp here for the night by the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek from Mina San Francisco
- Alpine lake camping experience
Optional Activities
- Summit one of the nearby 5,000m peaks
Landmarks Cerro Takesi - Day 6
Pass to Laguna Serkhe
After breakfast, the trek continues with gentle descents on wide farm roads under black mountain peaks. Then you'll ascend steeply through a forgotten side valley and cross a scenic pass that exceeds 5,000m. If time allows, summit an additional peak before descending to camp at Laguna Serkhe alpine lake under Cerro Serkhe Khollo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trekking with luggage transport
- Alpine lake camping
Optional Activities
- Summit nearby peak at pass
Landmarks Cerro Serkhe Khollo Laguna Serkhe - Day 7
Around Serkhe Khollo
Cross another scenic pass with deep views down to Serkhe Lake, then summit an unnamed 5,300m peak. You'll circle around the Serkhe Khollo massif and descend to camp at another alpine lake. This lake is surrounded by numerous distinctive 5,000m peaks, so the scenery is really something.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trekking with luggage transport
- Alpine peak summit
- Alpine lake camping
Landmarks Serkhe Khollo Serkhe Lake - Day 8
Cumbre Coroico Pass to La Paz
Early on, summit one of the surrounding high peaks with about 500m of ascent through manageable scree slopes. From the top, you'll see deep views toward Unduavi and the Coroico road. After descending, traverse to Cumbre Coroico Pass with about 400m of climbing via wide plateau and farm roads, then drive back to La Paz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided mountain trek with peak summit
- Pass crossing
Landmarks Cumbre Coroico Pass - Day 9
Approach to Condoriri Base Camp
You'll drive early from La Paz along the main road to Copacabana, then turn into a side valley toward the scenic village of Tuni on Tuni Lake, which is a water reservoir for La Paz. Trek about 3 hours with pack animals through a beautiful valley to reach the high camp positioned beneath the ice and rock peaks of the Condoriri group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek to base camp
- Pack animal transport
Landmarks Condoriri Tuni Lake - Day 10
Pequeño Alpamayo Summit
Departure for the summit push happens at 1:00 AM, which gives you time to reach Cerro Tarija before sunrise. You'll cross a relatively harmless glacier and descend about 100m through light rock before tackling the steep final ascent. The alpine scenery is dramatic, and from the summit you'll catch the sunrise. After that, return to base camp for another night in tents.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided glacier crossing and rock climbing
- Peak summit ascent
Landmarks Pequeño Alpamayo Cerro Tarija - Day 11
Cabeza de Condor Summit to La Paz
Another 1:00 AM start for the challenging Cabeza de Condor summit. Climb through easy mountain paths with jumbled rock formations to the glacier, then cross it in multiple switchbacks. The summit ridge is steep and exposed with one 50-meter climbing section. After enjoying panoramic views, pack animals meet you at camp to carry the tents. Trek back to Tuni where your taxi waits for the drive to La Paz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided glacier and rock climbing
- Peak summit ascent
- Pack animal transport
Landmarks Cabeza de Condor - Day 12
Rest Day in La Paz
Take today to rest and recover in La Paz after those intense climbing days. Browse the colorful local markets and pick up souvenirs to bring home. It's a good day to just relax and explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore La Paz markets
- Shop for souvenirs
- Day 13
Approach to Huayna Potosi Hut
Drive by 4WD vehicle to Zongo Pass about 1.5 hours from La Paz, ascending roughly 500m with full packs. You'll reach a basic mountain hut, and from here Huayna Potosi is easily recognizable by its ice-covered summit pyramid rising above the pass. The hut offers unforgettable panoramic views of the Andes, and you'll use this as your base for the summit attempt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Simple evening meal)
Included Activities
- Guided trek to mountain hut
- Acclimatization walk
Landmarks Huayna Potosi Zongo Pass - Day 14
Huayna Potosi Summit
Wake in the middle of the night, have breakfast, then head out immediately. Put on crampons in front of the hut and start the laborious glacier ascent. Navigate a steep ice section of 60-70 degrees which gets easier after about 50 meters, then traverse a moderately inclined ice ridge to the final ice wall at about 250m and 50 degrees. Catch the spectacular sunrise and panoramic views from the summit overlooking Titicaca Lake, La Paz, and countless Andean snow peaks. Descend back to the pass where your taxi waits.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided summit ascent
- Glacier climbing and ice axe/crampon use
Landmarks Titicaca Lake - Day 15
Rest Day in La Paz
Rest and recover in La Paz after the intense mountain climbing. Take it easy and let your body bounce back from the high altitude exertion.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Approach to Illimani Base Camp
Travel from La Paz toward Pinaya by bus or private vehicle depending on group size. Stop before reaching the village where pack animals await to accompany you to the first camp at 4,500 meters. Illimani at 6,439m is Bolivia's second-highest peak and the highest in the Cordillera Real, featuring five summits above 6,000m with Pico Sur being the highest point.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek to base camp
- Pack animal transport
Landmarks Illimani Pico Sur 
- Day 17
High Camp Illimani (Nido de Condores)
Climb with full packs approximately 1,000m to reach Nido de Condores, which translates to Condor's Nest. This is a remote and dramatic high camp, and the reward for getting there is a beautiful view of La Paz sprawling below in the valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek to high camp
Optional Activities
- Arrange porter for approximately 300m of the climb: 20-30 EUR per porter per day
Landmarks Nido de Condores 
- Day 18
Illimani Summit to La Paz
Begin the summit push at midnight and trek about 6 hours over magnificent rock and ice landscapes at high altitude. Most of the scenery is visible during the descent. From the highest point of the Cordillera Real, you'll enjoy sweeping views over roughly half of Bolivia. After summiting, descend the same day all the way to Pinaya and the road where a vehicle takes you back to La Paz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided summit ascent
- Full descent to road
Landmarks Cordillera Real - Day 19
Reserve Day
This is a reserve day in case weather at Illimani prevented the summit attempt on the previous day. If conditions allowed the summit and you don't need this extra day, spend it exploring or relaxing in La Paz instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore La Paz
- Day 20
Departure from La Paz
Head to La Paz airport for your return flight home. You'll leave with many beautiful memories and photos of Andean ice peaks from your time in Bolivia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
