Illimani (6439m) overlooks La Paz and is the highest and southernmost peak in the Cordillera Real – an imposing site and thought to be the Queen or Mother of the mountain range. Illimani has 5 peaks in total, with 3 of them being over of 6000m. It is a fairly technically demanding climb, but worth the effort to see La Paz and the Cordillera Real, and is Bolivia’s second highest peak.

Please check the gear list to see what you will need to bring for the trip.

For further general information on Bolivia please also look at our fact file.

Day 1: La Paz (3600m) – Pinaya (3900m) – Punte Roto, Base camp (4500m)

A winding drive through the Cordillera, passing lots of small villages, with some cactus filled valleys. We will drive through the Palca canyon, for a short visit. After 3 to 4 hours of driving we will get to the village of Pinaya where we will have a picnic lunch before our walk up to base camp.
3 - 4 hours driving, 2 hours walking (LD)

Day 2: Punte Roto – Nido de Cóndor, High camp (5400m)

Climbing on scree and rock will take us to the high camp. The porters will carry all the equipment and personal gear. It’s a long climb for the day, over a 1000m rise in altitude. Up at the top we can see La Paz, and at night the lights of La Paz and El Alto.
6 to 8 hours (BLD)

Day 3: High camp – Summit (6439m) – High camp – Base camp

An early start in the morning for our climb to the summit and it will be cold. We start with our crampons on and we will rope up. Climbing on ice and snowy ridges, nothing steeper then 50º. The last short snowy ridge takes us to the summit. Time to rest and take photos before our decent. Once in high camp the porters will meet us and take all the equipment and personal gear back down to base camp. We too head down to base camp.
12 to 15 hours (BLD)

Day 4: Base camp – Pinaya – La Paz

Same walk down to Pinaya as day 1, where we will meet with our transport to take us back to La Paz.
3 hours driving, 2 to 3 hours walking (BL)
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