6d5n Apolobamba, Pelechuco-Charazani trekking

6d5n Apolobamba Trekking: Pelechuco – Charazani

Highlights:

• Trek along the Mountain range of Apolobamba.
• Great scenic beauty with imposing mountains.
• Diversity in fauna and flora.
• Visiting the kallawaya communities, famous herb and healer doctors.
• Archaeological places and pre-Colombian roads.

This is one of the most spectacular treks we offer in terms of landscape, fauna and flora all packed into one. The trail has been used since ancient times, by the Inca, and is today still used by the Chasquis, Kallawaya people and some local inhabitants preserving their ancestral traditions. The area displays a great diversity of ecosystems with varying altitudes between 800 and 6200m. It is also home to many well preserved archaeological sites. Finally, this area is known as the origin of the “Kallawaya” culture, the famous Andean shamans.

 

Day 1: La Paz – Pelechuco 7 ½ hours to 8 hours trekking

With an early departure from La Paz begins the journey into one of the most impressive and least visited regions of Bolivia – the Apolobamba Range. We drive north next to Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest navigable lake at 12,500 ft. The road goes by Escoma and the plains of Ulla Ulla, a highland Bolivian National Park which is home to vicunas and Andean wildlife flanked by Andean peaks. We arrive in the town of Pelechuco (11,800 ft.) late in the afternoon. Pelechuco is an old Spanish colonial town that bears likenesses to the towns of Castilla in Spain during the 16th century. Many of the locals are fair skinned (their Spanish ancestry is evident from their facial features and stature) and they speak Quechua, the regional language. When you walk into Pelechuco, you walk into another time. Basic accommodations in town. (B,L,D)

 

Day 2: Pelechuco – Ilo Ilo Valley 7 ½ hours to 8 hours trekking

The first day of the trek. While the mule drivers and porters are sorting the loads out and organizing the animals we will have time to visit the town and enjoy traveling into another time. Once loaded we begin the journey as the trail winds its way out of the town into the heart of the Apolobamba Range. We will ascend almost 3,000 ft up to a pass close to 15,000 ft. We’ll cross a high pass at close to 15,350 ft. and descend another 2,500 ft by the end of the day. The trek takes us into the heart of the range, next to glaciers and steep rock escarpments, the glaciated tops and peaks high above our heads. We’ll finally arrive in the Ilo Ilo valley where alpacas and llamas are raised for wool. The camp will be in the valley at almost 12,850 ft. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Ilo Ilo Valley – Sunchulli Valley 7 ½ hours to 8 hours trekking 

Today’s portion will be the toughest because we cross our highest pass, close to 16,300 ft. and have a lot of distance to cover. We’ll pass through a potato-growing valley and next to glaciers cascading off the high peaks. We descend through a valley into the Sunchulli valley where we’ll have lunch and time to rest. This was a mining center since before the Incas and once the Spaniards arrived they took the mines from the Incas and continued to exploit the mineral riches. It is said, that a curse was placed on the Spaniards by the Inca priests. The Spaniards nonetheless established a town at the foot of the mountain and continued mining. A seismic movement dislodged millions of tons of ice, rock and mud and destroyed the town some years later. Even today, small mining co-operatives are still looking for the entrance to the famous mine of the Incas. We’ll camp at around 14,400 ft., with a view of abandoned mines from the times of the Spaniards. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Sunchulli Valley –Incacancha 7 ½ hours to 8 hours trekking

Today’s portion will bring us through a narrow and steep canyon where the infamous ‘hill of the 100 turns’ is located. The trail zig-zags down into a hidden couloirs and emerges into the rolling hills of the southern Apolobamba. We descend about 1,600 ft at this point to our camp, which will be in around 13,120 ft. and is located at the bottom of a steep rock escarpment between two small rivers cascading off the glaciers of Mt. Akamani (18,590′/5666m) – the sacred peak of the Callawayas. In the afternoon we will find our camp for the night. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Incacancha - Lagunillas 8 ½ hours to 9 hours trekking 

An early start is suggested for the last day of the Apolobamba trek. After crossing the last pass we will pass through a canyon and end up at the base of Mt. Akamani (18,590′/5666m). A long traverse of extensive fields of potato, oca, quinua and medicinal plants will bring us to the town of Curva located at 11,500 ft. We will spend the night in a basic lodge in Lagunillas.

Day 6: Lagunillas – Charazani – La Paz 

After an early breakfast we will be picked up by our vehicle and continue our journey overland to the town of Charazani located on the other side of the river, of the same name. There are hot springs here and we will definitely take the time to enjoy their rejuvenating and medicinal benefits. Then we re-start our drive heading south towards Lake Titicaca. Our route winds its way slowly across the foothills of the region and continues until we reach the vast Altiplano and beautiful Lake Titicaca. Lunch on the way. We should arrive in La Paz in the late afternoon. Upon arrival we will drop you off at your hotel. (B,L)

The tour includes: 

-English speaking guide

-Private transportation for the round trip

-Mules and muleteer to carry most of the gear

-Complete food and cook 3 meals per day (continental breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and hot soup and main course in the evening), according to the program day by day: B=Breakfast/L=Lunch/D=Dinner

-Inflate mattress

-Dining tent, tables, chairs and kitchen utensils.

-Good quality 3 season tents

-4 days of trekking + 2 day’s transportation

-2 nights of basic lodge + 3 days of camping

 

The tour does not includ:

-Extras not specified in the program

-Tips/gratuities

-Bottled drinks

-Sleeping bag

-Medical/Evacuation trip insurance

-Charges incurred as a result of delays and itinerary changes beyond the control of Pukina Travel, we recommend travel insurance to cover any unforeseen costs.

 

Prices depend on the number of clients

Please contact us at this email to discuss budget: info@pukinatravel.com or WAPP +591 73088333