Cordillera Real

The Cordillera Real in Bolivia is one of the finest places to climb anywhere in the world. Just a few kilometers from the town of La Paz, Bolivia's capital city, it offers a complete experience to both the intermediate and advanced climber.

It is the ideal trip for mountaineers looking for the next level of skill, difficulty and compromise after having climbed either Mexico's Volcanoes, or the main summits of Ecuador.

In the Cordillera Real Expedition we offer you the chance to climb the beautiful Pequeno Alpamayo at 5,337 meters, Tarija at 5,334 meters, the famous Huayna Potosi at 6,094 meters and Bolivia's Highest Mountain, Sajama at 6,580 meters.

The qualifications required for this trip are: previous experience at altitude to at least 4,270 meters (14,000ft), some experience with the use of ice axe and crampons, self arrest and glacier traveling and to be in good physical condition.

The first mountaineers to visit Boliva were Austrian climbers and they said that the Cordillera Real was the "Himalaya of the New World".

Day 1: Our expedition will meet in the capital city of Bolivia, La Paz. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in downtown La Paz City. The city sits at an elevation of 3,640 meters (12,000ft) which is only slightly lower than Lhasa at 3,700 meters (12,140ft).

Day 2: Visit Tihuanaco ruins and Lake Titicaca. We enjoy some sightseeing which helps with our acclimatization.

Day 3: Drive to Tuni Lake at 3,963 meters (13,000ft). We drive 1.5 hours to Tuni Lake where we start the trek to Pequeno Alpamayo Base Camp (Condoriri Lake) at 3,390 meters (14,400ft). Llamas carry our gear and we trek for around 3 hours to reach Pequeno Alpamayo Base Camp.

Day 4: Acclimatization hike to the glacier of Condoriri at 4,600 meters (15,100ft). Here we will review the techniques required for our upcoming summit attempts including roping up for glacier travel and crevasse rescue. We spend the evening back at Pequeno Alpamayo Base Camp.

Day 5: Ascent of Tarija and Pequeno Alpmayo. It's an very early morning start. We climb to the summit of Tarija at 5,334 meters (17,500ft) and the summit of Pequeno Alpamayo at 5,425 meters (17,800ft). The climb will take around 8 to 10 hours up and back down to base camp.

Day 6: Trek back to Tuni Lake and drive to La Paz. We head back to civilization for some rest and relaxation at our hotel.

Day 7: We drive 1 hour to Huayna Potosi Base Camp at 4,572 meters (15,000ft). Then we climb a well-marked trail leads to a large glacial moraine, which leads onto ice fields, to our high camp at 5,090 meters (16,700ft). The climb from Base Camp should take around 4 hours.

Day 8: Climb to the summit of Huayna Potosi at 6,094m (20,000ft). Another early start sees us climb easy slopes that give way to a large bergshrund with a short steep slope beyond. The route continues with easy slopes until we reach the exposed northern ridge of the mountain, just before we reach the summit. The climb will take around 10-12 hours up and back down to base camp.

Day 9: Drive back to La Paz and enjoy a rest day. More rest and relaxation at our hotel with clean sheets, soft beds and hot showers.

Day 10: Drive 5 hours to the town of Sajama and spend the evening in a hotel.

Day 11: Trek for around 4 hours to Sajama base camp at 4,633 meters (15,200ft). The trek to base camp will take us around 4 hours.

Day 12: Climb to high camp at 5,456 meters (17,900ft). High camp is located right above a prominent rock tower. The route crosses a steep snowfield onto the northwest ridge where it takes the easiest line up the tower. The climb to high camp will take around 4-6 hours.

Day 13: Climb to the summit of Sajama at 6,568meters (21,550ft). From high camp the route continues up steeper slopes and the terrain switches from snow to mixed rock and ice. The summit is a big snow cone, convex, and flattens out only at the very top. We return to high camp or back to base camp if possible. The climb to the summit and return should take between 10-12 hours.

Day 14: Trek to base camp and out to Sajama. Drive back to La Paz and the comforts of our hotel.

Day 15: Extra day in case of bad weather. If we have had good weather, we continue to celebrate our successful climb.

Day 16: Depart La Paz.

Hector Ponce de Leon, who has reached the summit of Tarija, Pequeno Alpamayo, Huayna Potosi and Sajama multiple times will be the expedition leader and this will be his ? Cordillera Real expedition.

Cordillera Real Gear List     Cordillera Expedition Dispatches     Cordillera Expedition Leader

The expedition cost includes:
· Shared accommodation in La Paz as itinerary
· All transportation and meals in Bolivia as itinerary
· Mules or llamas for personal gear to base camp and return
· All meals at base camp
· Group cooks at base camp
· Expedition permit, peak fee, highway and conservation fees
· Base base camp and high camp tents
· Group climbing equipment, stoves and fuel
· Two-way radios
· Medical kits, portable altitude chamber and medical oxygen
· High altitude freeze-dried meals
· 1:2 guide to climber ratio

The expedition cost does not include:
· Airfare to and from Bolivia
· Meals and drinks in La Paz
· Alcoholic beverages
· Bolivia visa costs
· La Paz airport departure tax
· Evacuation costs, medical and rescue insurance
· Personal climbing clothing and equipment
· Staff gratuities

Contact us: info@altitudejunkies.com