Bolivia

 

The Tibet Of The Americas

 

Despite its status as one of the poorest countries in South America (she's constantly overdrawing her checking account and losing her ass on overdraft fees), Bolivia is a magnificent country rich with the treasures of ancient history, culture, and breathtaking mountain grandeur. Indeed its isolated, landlocked, high altitude location – it boasts the highest mean elevation in South America – inspired pioneering mountaineers to call Bolivia “The Tibet of the Americas” and even “The Himalayas of the New World”.

Our expeditions begin in the 500-year-old city of La Paz; the world’s highest capital city. We spend the first few days acclimatizing around town as we explore La Paz’s varied architecture and excellent shopping, including the Witches’ Market, where you can buy dried llama fetuses for luck, or statues of naked couples for getting lucky. Leaving the city behind, we visit the altiplano, the high plains area around Lake Titicaca, and bask in the hospitality of the “Cholos,” direct descendants of the ancient Tiahuanaco people who dominated the southern valley and controlled the western and northern side of Lake Titicaca between A.D.400-500. In fact the Tiahuanaco cultural and economic network eventually covered the greater part of the Southern Andes by 700 A.D. Our time on Lake Titicaca includes visits to the islands of Kalahuta, Suriqui, Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol.

The Cordillera Real, the Royal Range, is a premiere mountaineering destination of international renown; its great number of moderate snow and ice ascents over glaciated terrain offer challenges to climbers of all abilities, and are a great way to experience the breathtaking thrill of high altitude mountaineering. This mountain range is the rugged backbone of Bolivia and the largest glacier complex in the Bolivian Andes.

Our climbs in the Cordillera Real include Ilusion (16,897’), Tarija (17,272), Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482’), Huayna Potosi (19,996’), Huayna Potosi (19,996’), Nevado Illampu (20,867’), Nevado Ancohuma (21,090’) and Illimani (21,122’).

The Cordillera Occidental is a range of isolated, dormant volcanoes rising just west of the altiplano along Bolivia's western border with extreme northeastern Chile, a continuation of the volcanic region found in southwestern Peru. The Cordillera Occidental is home to some of the most desolate yet beautiful scenery in the Andes. It is a land of contrasts with high altitude lagoons rich in bird life, and eerie volcanic formations such as fresh lava flows, sulfur vents, and cinder cones.

Our climbs in the Cordillera Occidental include Pomerape (20,413’), Parinacota (20,807’), and Sajama (21,463’).

Click on the links below to learn more about our Bolivia expeditions, view itineraries, prices and dates, and to submit an Online Application. Join us for an exciting mountaineering adventure in Bolivia!