13-Day Bolivia Trekking and Climbing Expedition

Join us for a 13-day trekking and climbing expedition to the heart of the Cordillera Real in Bolivia where perfect climbing weather, peaks up to 20,000 feet in elevation, and fascinating ancient cultures await you.

By joining San Juan Mountain Guides for your Bolivia trekking and climbing experience you will benefit from several qualities that set us apart from others.  We offer smaller group sizes for more personal attention, flexibility, and safety; our AMGA certified guides have many seasons of experience climbing and guiding in Bolivia; and our dedicated local support staff is committed to the highest level of service.  These qualities ensure your trip with San Juan Mountain Guides will be safe, educational, enjoyable, and a better value than anyone else!

We begin with a 3-day scenic trek to facilitate acclimatization, and to serve as an introduction to the age-old cultures of the altiplano region. Our path follows a pre-Incan trade route that dates back thousands of years, and is still in use today by indigenous communities. We travel through pristine forests, over high passes, and through small villages of stone homes, capturing a glimpse of the rich history and beauty of the Bolivian highlands.
The trek segment of the expedition is optional for participants, however we highly recommend it for it’s diverse beauty – from a rocky 15, 000’ pass to a lush temperate cloud forest – and for it’s ideal elevations that enable proper acclimatization.

Once acclimated, we travel deep into the heart of the Cordillera Real to a 15, 000’ basecamp, nestled in an amphitheater of glacier-covered peaks. This region, known as the Condoriri Valley, will serve as our location for climbing skill instruction and two spectacular, traditional mountaineering ascents.

We begin by making a day trip onto a nearby glacier to learn and practice mountaineering skills such as rope team travel, crampon use, ice axe self belay and arrest, protection placement, and rescue techniques.

Once our group has gained proficiency in team travel and safety, we will undertake our first climb, Pyramida Blanca (17,159'). The route we typically choose crosses vast, moderately angled glaciers interspersed with short steps of steeper cramponing, thus serving as a good introduction to mountaineering in the Andes.

After several days on the glacier our skills are sharp. Excited and well prepared, we attempt the gem of the valley and a classic known throughout the Andes: Pequeno Alpamayo (17,618'). With slopes to 50 degrees and a picturesque summit ridge, Pequeno Alpamayo is a centerpiece achievement for any climber.

For the culminating days of the expedition, we travel south to our final climbing goal, Huayna Potosi. At 20,002’ (6000 m), and blanketed with glaciers, Huayna Potosi is a true high altitude mountaineering objective. After establishing a high camp at 18,000 feet, we set out early the next morning for the summit. The route negotiates large crevasses and several short, steep headwalls – all at high altitude – but our preparation and acclimatization in the previous days of the program ensure all participants a high chance of success. The final steps to the summit follow an exposed ridge with views to the Amazon basin on one side and the altiplano on the other: a memorable conclusion to this special expedition.