Explore Bolivia, Climb Sajama & Condoriri – Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – International flight to La Paz, Bolivia.
Day 2 – Arrive in La Paz. You will be met by our staff and transferred to a first-class hotel in La Paz. One of the most scenic and fascinating cities in South America, La Paz is located at more than 12,000ft. (3650m) above sea level. Your flight will arrive in the morning and you will have the day to relax and begin acclimatizing. Team meeting in the evening. Welcome dinner.
Day 3 – Morning departure for Copacabana on Lake Titicaca (3800m / 12,500ft.). It is hard to imagine a lovelier spot to continue our acclimatization. This historic, relaxed city is seeped in native and colonial cultural. Its cathedral has been the scene of pilgrimages for more than 400 years. We will stay at a hotel along the lake shore and walks around town will provide a warm up for the more vigorous activities at altitude to come.
Day 4 – In the morning we will travel by boat to
Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). This island was believed by ancient peoples
to be the birthplace of the sun, and so it seems to be on most days when
we hike here beneath the clear Andean sky. There are no roads or cars and
the 5000 inhabitants of the island live much as they have for centuries.
We will visit the Chincana Inca ruins during our walk.The small clean villages
of the present day inhabitants are friendly and very scenic. In the evening
we will be picked up by boat again and return to the hotel in Copacabana.
Day 5 – We will depart early in the morning for the Cordillera Real. We reach the end of the road at the village of Tuni Condoriri,where the mules or llamas we will use to transport our gear to base camp will be waiting.After a four-hour walk, we will reach base camp (4600m / 15,092ft.).
Day 6-7 – Acclimatization days; we will hike up
Cerro Austria (5000m / 16,400ft.) and other peaks in the region -perhaps
Mirador (5226m / 17,139ft.)
Day 8 – Today we will move onto the glacier for review and instruction of roped team glacier travel and alpine ice climbing techniques.
Day 9 – We will head to one of the prettiest peaks in the Condoriri range, Pequeño Alpamayo (5370m / 17,618ft.) or Tarija (5000m / 16,600ft.). Both these climbs are classic, moderate glacier climbs, with beautiful views.
Day 10 – Today we will hike out of what has been our home for the last five nights at Condoriri Base Camp. We will drive back to La Paz for the night.
Those on the Condoriri-Pequeno Alpamayo only program will return to La Paz and depart the next day to their home country.
Day 11 – Morning departure to the village of Sajama where we will spend the night.
Day 12 – Today we will hike up to base camp; it should take us 4 to 5 hours to reach our camp. The base camp is located at 4700m /15,400ft.
Day 13 – Move up to high camp; 5450m / 17,900ft. The hike to high camp should take us 4 to 5 hours.
Day 14 – Today we will attempt to reach the summit of Sajama via the Northwest Ridge. Summit day will be long, but it is a straightforward glacier climb that presents some technical difficulty. We will return to base camp for the night.
Day 15 – Alternate summit day
Day 16 – We will leave our base camp and hike back to the Sajama Village and start our drive back to La Paz.
Day 17 – Return flights to North America