Green Toad Bus

This is a good trek for those wanting to get some high altitude walking in before attempting summits in the area. Fantastic views of the surrounding Cordillera Real mountain range and on clear days you can see as far as Lake Titicaca and Sajama Mountain near the border of Chile.

Chacaltaya to Zongo valley / Huayna Potosi Refuge

At 8.30am you will be picked up from your hostel/hotel. . The 2 hour drive passes through El Alto and onto the Altiplano where you start to see the Andean landscape and mountain ranges. We arrive at Chacaltaya Ski refuge (5200m) and warm ourselves with a Coca tea and take in the scenery.

From the refuge we will climb up to the first peak of Chacaltaya (5300m) and see what used to be the world's highest commercial ski area, unfortunately now the glacier has receded so much due to global warming there is very little skiing possible but the views are still worth the effort. There is a second peak we head to before making a descent to the left side and down towards the Zongo valley

Once into the valley we will pass along llama pasture and the Zongo dam where there is a hydro-electric plant that supplies electricity to La Paz. All this time we will be walking towards the majestic figure of Huayna Potosi Mountain standing at 6088m.  Some distance after the dam we will walk up the trail to the Huayna Potosi Refuge where we will rest with a hot drink to savor the views and meet with our return transport back to La Paz.

EMERGENCIES AND SAFETY: Our guides carry a first aid kit, portable oxygen cylinder, cell phone and long range radios. Also for your convenience the guide will have available 'gaffa' tape for repairs or patching skin hotspots (pre blister areas on your feet) shoe laces, disinfectant hand wash.

Extra Option: If this trek is being done as acclimatization before climbing Huayna Potosi we can arrange for you to stay at the refuge and start your climb the following day (2 or 3 day options). Please ask for details.

IMPORTANT: This trek is all at high altitude ranging from 4500m to 5300m and also involves some difficult sections with steep lose shale rock descents. We strongly advise good trekking boots and the use of trekking poles for this trek and some prior acclimatization to high altitude.

INCLUDED IN TOUR

Private transportation to and from the trek in quality vehicles (vehicle type depends on group size)

Qualified & Licensed English and Spanish Speaking Guide

Packed lunch and snacks, hot drinks

Souvenir Postcard

Also available for use upon request (no extra charge - deposit required): Waterproof ponchos and/or Trekking poles

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR

Travel Insurance

Water Bottles (refills available during the trek though using water filter or steripen)

Breakfast

Sunglasses and Sun Cream

 * The return time can vary due to fitness, acclimatisation and traffic.

The El Choro trek is the most popular trek with tourists due to its easy accessibility from La Paz, stunning views and varied scenery. Ranging from chilly Andean mountains, down through cloud forest to semi tropical rainforest it offers a range of conditions to deal with but is also a fantastic introduction to the varied environments of Bolivia and the different conditions you can encounter trekking here.

 DAY 1 - La Paz to  Challapampa - Mountains and Inca Paving

You will be picked up from the hotel at around 08:00 am.  in private transport for the 45 min to 1 hour drive to  La Cumbre (4.700 m.a.s.l.) which is the starting point for the trek. Here it can be very cold in the mornings and it is not uncommon to find snow and ice on the ground so you will need warm clothing for this section where you will start the trek which is going to lead us to the warm valleys of Los Yungas.  We will walk up to 4.900 m. and here we will find the pre Inca Trail and then we start to descend.  After around a 6 hour walk, we will arrive to the village of Challapampa where we will set up camp.

DAY 2 - Challapampa to Sandillani - Cloud Forest Views

Today is a longer walking day and involves several up and down sections. As the day goes on the vegetation becomes denser and the climate more tropical. The views are stunning and very typical of the 'Yungas' cloud forest area. After around 8 hours walk we will arrive at the small settlement of Sandillani where we eat and spend the night camping

DAY 3 - Sandillani to Coroico - Semi Tropical Jungle Trails

The last day involves around 5 or 6 hours walking and is mostly very hot so you will need plenty of water and it is advisable to use insect repellent. The trek ends at the village of Chairo where we will return in private transport to La Paz.

INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Pick-up from your Central La Paz Hotel/Hostel
• Private Transportation to the start of the Trek
• Cook to prepare all meals - Meals/snacks included during trek
• Camping Equipment: Quality branded Tent, Foam Mattress, Kitchen/Eating Equipment, etc..

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Trail fees (we don't include this as this is subject to change - usual cost is around bS/10)
• Bottled water / soft drinks or alcoholic beverages - water purifying light pen or filter available for use
• Insect repellent & Sun cream
• Personal clothing / footwear (although we can lend you a poncho for free if you require)

• Personal porter - we can arrange a porter to carry up to 20kg for you for 175bs per day (if available) - (N.B You must carry your own equipment: tent split between people, mattress, sleeping bag etc)

There are many companies in La Paz offering various trekking trips & when we decided to start running trekking tours we wanted to make sure we were the best company around. So we have invested in high quality branded equipment, we obtained the services of the  best licensed English speaking guides and we also offer a number of things that no one else in Bolivia offers (see below). We aim to offer the best treks available & we want you to have the best experience in this incredible country - in our opinion one of the best places for trekking in the world. Get out there & enjoy!

EXTRAS

• Sleeping bag - Don't have your own, then we will provide you with one free of charge (quality brand) *deposit required
• Trekking pole - We can provide you with one for free of charge * deposit required
• Head torch - Don't have your own, then We will provide you with one (you supply batteries) *deposit required
• Water purifying UV light pen and/or water filter so you can purify water during the trek
• A portable DVD player and some movies for you to watch in the evenings after dinner!
• Portable solar charger (USB connector) for charging camera batteries should they run out!

* The return time can vary due to fitness, acclimatisation and traffic.

* To do this trek you must be at least 2 people.

This is fantastic trek amongst the Cordillera Real Mountain Range passing through valleys of Llama pasture and by pristine lakes. Although at high altitude, it is not a difficult trek and can be achieved by most people without any problems.

Lago Tuni to Laguna Chiar Khota

At 8:30am you will be picked up from your hostel/hotel. The 2 hour drive passes through El Alto and onto the altiplano where you start to see the Andean landscape and mountain ranges. We arrive at Lago Tuni (4200m) and after a hot drink of mate de coca we prepare for the trek.

The trail first winds clockwise around Lago Tuni and immediately you will be witnessing stunning mountain landscape. The path then turns northwards and heads through Llama pastures towards the Condoriri range. The walking is easy and gradually climbs in altitude. After a few hours you will pass by a small lake called Isca Khota which offers a good view of Condoriri. From here you continue along the trail until arriving at Laguna Chiar Khota (4700m) where you will have a well-earned rest and eat lunch surrounded by stunning snowcapped peaks. It should take around 3 to 4 hours to arrive here. The return trek to Tuni should be 3 hours or less. You should arrive back to La Paz around 6pm (depending how fast you walk).

EMERGENCIES AND SAFETY - Our guides carry a first aid kit, portable oxygen cylinder, cell phone and long range radios. Also for your convenience the guide will have available 'gaffa' tape for repairs or patching skin hotspots (pre blister areas on your feet) shoe laces, disinfectant hand wash. There will also be a Steripen UV light pen for sterilizing water when you require refills.

INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Private transportation to and from the trek in quality vehicles (vehicle type depends on group size)
• Qualified & Licensed English and Spanish Speaking Guide
• Packed lunch and snacks, hot drinks

• Souvenir Postcard

•  Also available for use upon request (no extra charge - deposit required): Waterproof ponchos and/or Trekking poles

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Travel Insurance
• Water Bottles (refills available during the trek though using water filter or steripen)
• Breakfast
• Sunglasses and Sun Cream

 * The return time can vary due to fitness, acclimatisation and traffic.

* To do this trek you must be at least 2 people.

Cerro Mankilisani, 5392m is an ideal peak located to the east of La Paz, for those with little prior climbing experience, and it also allows you to acclimatize to the high altitude if you want to combine this with other mountain climbs in the area. The Pass of La Cumbre (4700m) will take you up to the Cordillera Real where Mankilisani is located. Mankilisani may also become Bolivia's next ski slope, ensuring Bolivia continues to have the highest ski slope in the world.

 La Paz (3600m) / La Cumbre (4700m) / Cerro Makilisani (5392m) / La Paz

Pick up at hotel early in the morning. A drive out to La Cumbre from where we start our climbing and we will have one hour on the moraine before we need to put our crampons on. Up the ice and for those with some technical experience, we can try an 80 degree slope of ice. Then we will climb up a small ridge which will take us to the summit. After a short break we will take the same route down. 7 to 9 hours climbing, 2 hours driving.

INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Professional Bolivian Mountain Guide (1 guide to 2 clients)
• Meals as mentioned, including drinks at lunch
• Private transport
• Hard wear for climbing: e.g. Boots, Crampons, Ice Axes, and Harness

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Extra services not mentioned in the program
• Tips

* To do this trek you must be at least 2 people.

Don't believe how easy the guidebooks make this climb seem. Anything over 6000 meters is difficult and climbing for 7 or 8 hours is tiring for anyone at high altitude. That said if you are well acclimatized, quite fit and very determined then there is a good chance you will make it and have an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. If you underestimate it, have not spent at least several days at altitude, try to save a few dollars by attempting a  2 day trip - then you will likely not make it to the top (it's possible but your chances are much slimmer). Make no mistake - you need determination to climb this mountain and although physically demanding the mental challenge is just as tough if not tougher!

 WARNING - SOME AGENCIES TRY TO GET YOU TO CLIMB IN 2 DAYS -THEY MAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IN 2 DAYS THAN 3 DAY TRIPS. MAYBE 50% OR MORE OF PEOPLE FAIL ON 2 DAY TRIPS AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO ASCEND SO HIGH SO QUICKLY -ON 2 DAY TRIPS YOU LEAVE LA PAZ (3600M) 8AM, ARRIVE AT THE FIRST REFUGE (4700M), HAVE LUNCH, TREK TO THE HIGH CAMP (5200M) ARRIVING AROUND 6 PM. THIS IS ALREADY A HEIGHT GAIN OF 1600M. YOU THEN SLEEP UNTIL 1AM (ONLY 7 HOURS MORE) BEFORE STARTING TO CLIMB TO 6088M IN APPROX 7 OR 8 HOURS. IF YOU MAKE IT YOU HAVE ASCENDED NEARLY 2500M IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR YOUR BODY TO ADJUST. BEST CASE SCENARIO -YOU WILL FEEL TERRIBLE, WORST CASE ? SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.

DAY 1: Climbing School and Acclimatization - Set off from La Paz around 8.30 AM you will head off towards the mountain range but first with a stop off at the equipment store to try on boots, jackets and trousers etc that you will need on the climb. Arrive after 2 hours or so driving to the refuge and have some lunch before heading off for some practice/training on the lower glacier. You will learn how to fall correctly with an ice axe, climb/walk using crampons and general mountain safety. Guides are Spanish speaking only so it is advisable to have some Spanish to get the best from this but they can instruct you in these techniques visually to some degree.

DAY 2: A simple day that involves a short trek of 2 or 3 hours up to the high camp at 5200 meters. You eat around 5 or 6 pm here and then sleep early before the early start for the climb.

DAY 3: Wake up around 1am and start the climb. It is cold, dark and slow progress but you will experience some great moments along the way including seeing the night lights of El Alto and La Paz from above, climbing a 30 meter ice wall, jumping over a crevasse or two . The last 200 meters involve forcing yourself up a 45 degree wall of compressed snow which will be tough going after the climb up and the altitude effects - this is where you need your mental toughness.

INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Transportation and pick up from La Paz
• Qualified Mountain Guide
• Climbing Equipment: Boots, Crampons, Ice Axe, Mountain jacket and Trousers, Harness, Rope, etc..
•  Meals & Accommodation in refuges: both low camp and high camp in refuges

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR

• Head Torch
• Sleeping Bag
• Thermal under Trousers, Fleece Jacket and Thermal upper body Wear
• Warm gloves for wearing inside Mountain Gloves, Warm Hat
• Water (2 to 4 liters), Chocolate or high calorie sweets/snacks
• Sunglasses, Sun cream and Lip balm

 * The return time can vary due to fitness, acclimatisation and traffic.

* To do this trek you must be at least 2 people.