TREKKING
The trek to Laguna Chilata and Laguna Glacial normally takes 3 days. You go up to Laguna Chilata, where you put up your tent, the next day you go only with your daypack to Laguna Glacial and come back to Laguna Chilata to spend another night there before you come down to Sorata on the third day. The physically fit can do it in 2 days. There is also the possibility to do Laguna Chilata in one day (5-6 hours up, 3 hours down) and you can shorten the way up by taking a taxi to Khollani (Bs. 40 to 50). Last year some shoes went missing at Laguna Chilata, so make sure you put everything inside your tent and avoid taking any valuables.
LAGO CHILATA (KHOTAPATA)
Khotapata means the lake above in Aymara and at 4226m above sea-level that’s about right. It takes about 8 hours to get there from Sorata – if you’re relatively fit and carrying your pack. Foreigners only just discovered the lake in 1995 where the kalawayas carry out secret rituals at the full moon - you won’t be welcome then though. Spend a night at the sacred lake and then carry on up to the Glacial Lake at 5025m.
Take a hat, sunscreen, a tent, a warm sleeping bag and enough food for 3 days.
It is highly advisable to take a guide from the village.
GLACIAL LAKE (LICHIKHOTA)
The Glacial Lake lies between the Illampu and Ancohuma mountains and is a further couple of hours high-altitude trekking.
The ILLAMPU CIRCUIT takes 7 days, the scenery is fantastic and last years it was quiet, which means there were no more thefts.
Two other treks lead you down to the jungle. CAMINO DE ORO goes over the Chuchu Pass or Lakatia through Ancohuma village down at the riverside into a mining area.
The MAPIRI TREK is for the tough!
The longest Trek (10-12 days) goes along the Cordillera Real, it is very good for acclimatisation and if you want you can climb Huayna Potosí at the end of this trip.
CLIMBING
The Cordillera Real offers a lot of challenging peaks. For several the access is from Sorata.
Ancohuma is one option at 6,427m high beside the technically very difficult Illampu (6,368m) and lots more over 5000m, for example Pico Schulze.
This is for experienced climbers only. You can organize porters and mules to base- and high camps, but if you need a guide and climbing equipment it is easier to organize that with an agency or guide in La Paz.
BIKING
GRAVITY BOLIVIA
info@gravitybolivia.com
Tel. 2 - 231 38 49
Check what Alistair has to offer
ANDEAN EPICS
info@andeanbiking.com
Tels. 2 - 215 22 32, 712 76 685
RIDE AND RIVER TRIP: SORATA TO RURRENABAQUE
(2 days 4000 metres descent on bikes, 3 days by river through the wild jungle)
Watch Travis go!
www.youtube.com
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