Climbing

Huayna Potosi

This programme gives you the opportunity to acclimatise better and also has the chance to practise on the ice before tacking the mountain itself. This option will give you a greater enjoyment of the climb and a better chance of making the summit than the 2-day option, offered by many agencies.

Itinerary

DAY ONE

Depart La Paz for Laguna Zongo (4,750m) where we will set up camp. We then take a short trek to the base of the glaciar, where we will spend the afternoon practising many different techniques on the ice (walking, climbing, abseiling, rescue techniques etc.). Return to the camp and sleep.

DAY TWO

After breakfast we will start the ascent (mostly on rock) to the Rock Camp (5,150m), where we will set camp on the glaciar. Trekking time 3-4 hours.

DAY THREE

An early start (4am) towards the summit of the mountain (6,088m). From the peak we will be able to enjoy views of the altiplano, La Paz, the valleys entering into the jungle, Lake Titicaca and the entire Cordillera Real. We will then start our descent back to base camp and onward to Laguna Zongo, where our vehicle will be waiting for us to return to La Paz

Did you know?

Huayna Potosi is an indigenous Aymara term meaning "Thunderous Youth". Local folklore tells us that this mountain was the first and most cherished son of the king and queen mountains Illampu and Illimani. Its glacial meltwater feeds one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in Bolivia, providing electricity for much of the city.

I was impressed at how professional Bolivian Mountains was, looking at some of the other guides on the route this was in stark contrast! If I manage to get some more time off work I'll use you again to try some of the other peaks.
Chris McFaul, Huayna Potosí April 2005

read more testimonials