17-day Cordillera Real expedition with hikes around Lake Titicaca

Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Availability of the rooms from midday, unless other arrangements are made. Rest of the day free.

Departure to K’Illi K’Illi to enjoy a magnificent panorama of La Paz and the majestic Illimani mountain (6,400 meters/21,100 feet in elevation). Then we visit Ramon Tito’s studio, a sculptor and watercolorist from La Paz. He works mainly with stone he finds in the surrounding mountains, like basalt, marble, sandstone, alabaster, granite. Then we go to the Pedregal Canyon, where we can enjoy fairy chimneys, and finish the walk at the foot of the Muela del Diablo. For those that want to walk more (1h30 additional walk), you can go for a trek down the ridge to the edge of Calacoto. In the afternoon, we explore the colorful markets and historic center of La Paz city by foot.

Departure to the small village of Santiago de Okola, on Lake Titicaca shore, nested in a gorgeous bay overlooked by a hill named “Sleeping dragon”. It is a heavenly and magical place, with its beach and crystal clear waters. Lunch break with the community, a delicious Apthapi, a traditional meal of the Andean countryside collectively prepared by local families. It includes pancakes, donuts, shortbread quinoa, corn, potatoes, and small fried fish from the lake. After lunch, we visit a traditional weaving workshop. Then we walk to the Sleeping Dragon mountain overlooking the bay, hike up to the top and visit cave paintings in the rock.

We hike in the morning along the shore of Lake Titicaca to Tortuga Island, on the other side of the bay. It is home to many birds like ducks, Andean geese, and pink flamingos. We hike to the top of this small island to get a beautiful view of the bay. We return to Santiago de Okola to have a quinoa-based Andean lunch and then drive back to La Paz.

Departure towards the Royal Cordillera. We arrive at Khotia Lake then start walking, we ascend to the “Contador” pass (4760 meters / 15 616 feet asl.), which offers a pretty view of mountain peaks. We then descent to the valley, crossing a semi-swampy area close to the Surakhota lake (4410 meters / 14 468 feet asl.), and then go up towards the mountain to the Ajwani Lake (Lake of the birds, 4615 meters / 15 141 feet asl.), home to many ducks.

We start walking until we cross the Milluni pass (4910 meters / 16 108 feet asl.), where Huayna Potosi seems very close, then we descend to Sistaña Lake (4670 meters / 15 321 feet asl.). We then reach the Janchallani pass at 4885 meters (16 026 feet asl), from where we have an amazing view of the Condoriri Massif. We descend to Jurikhota Lake (4700 meters / 15 419 feet asl.), nested in a narrow valley.

We walk until the Congelada lake (4880 meters / 16 010 feet asl.), where the view is splendid, the Condoriri glacier seems like plunging into turquoise waters. Then we take a steep slope up to the Austria pass at 5140 meters / 16 863 feet above sea level. A steep trek up screed terrain to its peak (5330 meters / 17 486 feet asl ) is optional before starting the descent. The Austria peak offers the best view of the Condoriri massif. We descend towards to Chiarkhota Lake (4680 meters / 15 354 feet asl), where we set up camp.

AD+/II
Departure in the night. Non-technical approach taking us through a valley to the glacier at 4805 m asl ( 15 764 FT). We climb to the dome and a pass (5245 m asl. / 17 208 FT) just above the bergschrund. The ascent to the Tarija Peak (5320 m asl / 17 454 FT) is steep (50º/55º). The view from here of the summit ridge is gorgeous.
Descent on a rocky part (about 50m) before climbing the impressive final slope (55 / 60º).We descend by the same path.

We walk to the Rinconada, where the car awaits us to go to Janq’u Quta Lake ( 4715 m asl. / 15 469 FT) at the foot of Mullu pass, where we set up the camp. We climb through rocks, on a steep slope, follow the ridges and then we reach the summit of Cerro WilaLluxita at 5245 m asl ( 17 208 FT). We have a beautiful view of 3 glaciers, the Janq’u Uyuand, the Janq’u Laya and the Mullu Apacheta.

PD / I and IV / V in rock / Departure in the night. The path is rocky until we reach the edge of the glacier, where our trail becomes smoother. We climb up from the glacial dome until the summit. Non-technical ascent with gradual slopes (35º/40º). The summit of Janq’uUyu is overlooking the ridges of this massif, as well as Chachacomani, Cerro Jakocire, Imasiña and Huayna Potosi. We camp at Leche Khota lake, nested at the foot of Jach’aPata peak.

AD + / II
We walk up to a rocky barrier and continue through rocks passing a lake. We gradually ascent to a pass at 5510 m asl (18 077 FT) , with some steeper (45º-50º) slopes. The final approach to the summit is steep (65º-70º). The view is breathtaking, we can admire several massifs of the Royal Cordillera, the Illampu and Ancohuma, Chearoco and Chachacomani as well. We also see the Janq’u Uyu ridge, where we were the previous day and the face of Wara Warani.

PD /II and IV / V on rock – We walk through a plateau and continue to the edge of the glacier at 5310 m asl. (17 421 FT) We arrive at a small peak at 5455m asl (17 896 FT), with an amazing 360º panoramic view. Further away, we continue along the crest, passing another peak at 5505 m asl (18 061 FT) and an exposed rocky section. We go down to a glacial valley (5410 m asl / 17 749 FT) and climb up again to a last pass at 5600 m asl (18 372 FT). To descend, 2 options: through the glacier to Chachacomani valley or climb to the ridges and descend above the base camp of Chachacomani, which is more exposed and technical.
Anyone preferring not to cross the glacier can accompany the cook by vehicle to the Chachacomani base camp.

We walk through a perpendicular valley and arrive at a hollow with a meandering stream (4700 m asl / 15 419 FT). Further away, the path is more steep and rocky. We arrive at the glacier and set up camp.

PD/III

Departure in the night. We walk around crevasses to the foot of the Chachacomani ridges. The slopes become a bit steeper (45º). The view from the summit is stunning, overlooking all the Cordillera. We descend by the same route and return to base camp.

We go back to the village of Cruz Pampa and drive back to La Paz.

Day free to discover the highest capital of the world, La Paz city.

Drop off at El Alto’s international airport (3 hours before the international flight departure time).