La Paz – Araca

We will leave La Paz and immediately follow the trail that will take us to Araca going around the Illimani massif dominating La Paz. What is particularly interesting about this circuit are the amazing differences in altitude we experience constantly, going from over 10,000 ft, down to less than 6000 ft. in very short distances. The changing landscapes go from rugged stone deserts to humid, green, fruit-covered valleys, where warm air currents make you forget the cold winds you have just left behind up there, and where you are headed off to again, only to later come back down, etc. Trails that border unbelievable chasms, going over water flows, crossing typical Andean villages. Everything comes together in order for you to never forget this day.
Accommodations will be provided in Araca with the local inhabitants, very kind people who happen to have a mechanical workshop with a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscapes. Our host will spoil us with his homemade products, as well as with his interesting stories.

Araca and its surroundings

This second day is dedicated to those who desire in discovering the valley of Araca. According to plan, we can visit village miners at work below a desert valley, high mountain lakes whose crystalline waters contain trout, rides around the countryside on mule trails. For those who prefer to stay close to the boarding house, which is perfectly understandable, a nap under the shade of the trees and a game of cards. Finally, for the more romantic ones, we could spend the day searching for gold pots buried by Spaniards in the time of the colonies, during the mine rebellions in the XVIIIth century, somewhere in our host’s lands…

Araca – Inquisivi

Road back to Inquisivi. On this day we will leave the valleys and mountain peeks to descend for almost the entire way toward the foothills of the Cordillera. Magnificent landscapes and the pleasure of letting yourself go. Accommodations will be provided in a pension.

Inquisivi– Tamampaya

This next phase, without being technically difficult, is somewhat more delicate: careful not to miss the turn, the chasm is steep – very steep… We continue the descent, even though not as markedly as the day before and enter the Yungas, the valley at the foot of the Andes, with its mild temperatures and luxuriant vegetation. This is the region where legal coca culture can be found. Change of scenery, we arrive to Chulumani at a hotel lost in the vegetation, where the pool will be waiting for us.

Tamampaya– La Paz

We will leave Tamampaya in order to return to La Paz. This part of the journey is again astounding. After having followed a narrow, winding and sometimes vertiginous trail, we will find asphalt again and reach the pass at over 16,000 ft. From there, we still have about 20 miles before reaching our point of departure – La Paz at 10,500 ft.