Bolivia
A four-day pre-Inca traverse from the high Andes at 4,859 meters down through five ecosystems to the cloud forest of the Yungas, finishing at UMA Experience above Coroico
Bolivia Tour Overview
A four-day pre-Inca traverse from the high Andes at 4,859 meters down through five ecosystems to the cloud forest of the Yungas, finishing at UMA Experience above Coroico
This four-day trek follows the original pre-Inca paving stones from Apacheta Chukura at 4,859 meters down to the cloud forests of the Yungas, descending more than 3,500 meters through five distinct ecosystems in three trekking days. The route is fully supported by a muleteer team carrying tents and equipment, a cook preparing meals over a wood fire each evening, and a bilingual mountain guide. Camps are set in the historic villages of Challapampa and Buena Vista, with the Casa Tamiji Hanamura Japanese garden as the cultural high point of the final descent. The trek finishes at UMA Experience above Coroico, an architect-designed property of six cabins in the cloud forest. Maximum 10 guests.
El Choro Trek
Pickup from your La Paz hotel after breakfast. The drive to La Cumbre at 4,650 meters takes around an hour, climbing out of the city and onto the high plain where the muleteer team is waiting with the loads. The first task is the climb to Apacheta Chukura at 4,859 meters, the high point of the trek and the marker stone where pre-Inca travelers added a stone to the cairn as an offering to the mountain. From the pass the trail begins its descent on original Inca paving through the Aymara communities of Samaña Pampa and Chukura, where the community fee is collected in exchange for trail maintenance. The path drops steadily for the rest of the afternoon, the alpine grasslands giving way to the first scrub of the cloud forest. Camp is set at Challapampa at 2,800 meters after approximately seven hours of walking. Tents and sleeping bags are provided by the trek team and dinner is prepared by the cook on a wood fire under the stars.
Meals L / D
The longest and most varied day of the trek. Vegetation thickens steadily as the trail drops into cloud forest and the temperature climbs. The Inca paving reappears in long sections through the village of Choro and across the Coscapa River on a suspension bridge. After Choro the trail climbs back out of the river valley to Buena Vista, the undulating ridgeline that gives the camp its name. The view back to the snow line of the Cordillera Real and forward across an ocean of green Yungas is the visual signature of the trek and the reason this is where the second night is spent rather than further down. Approximately five to six hours of walking. Camp at 2,270 meters with dinner prepared at the campsite by the trek team.
Meals B / L / D
The final descent of the trek passes through Sandillani, where Casa Tamiji Hanamura, the meticulous Japanese garden built by a Japanese settler who arrived in the 1960s, is the cultural high point of the descent. The garden is maintained today by his descendants and the Sandillani community. From Sandillani the trail drops 1,100 meters through dense cloud forest to the village of Chairo at 1,300 meters where the vehicle is waiting. Approximately five hours of walking. A short drive brings the group to UMA Experience above Coroico, an architect-designed property of six individual cabins in the cloud forest with an infinity pool and birdsong as the only soundtrack. The afternoon is free for the pool, the gardens, or rest. Dinner is available a la carte on site or in town and is not included in the trek rate.
Meals B / L
Late breakfast at UMA before the transfer back to La Paz on the new Cotapata-Santa Bárbara highway. The drive takes approximately three hours, climbing back through the cloud forest and over the Andes for a final view of the trail descended over the previous three days. Drop off at the La Paz hotel of choice or at Plaza Murillo in the city center.
Meals B
Bolivia Tour Details
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Bolivia Tour Details
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Per Person
$435
Based on group of 10
Deposit to book $131
Your deposit is 30% of your final trip price, which may differ from the price shown.
| Group Size | Per Person |
|---|---|
| 2 travelers Per person | $895 |
| 3 travelers Per person | $765 |
| 4 travelers Per person | $625 |
| 5 travelers Per person | $565 |
| 6 travelers Per person | $510 |
| 7 travelers Per person | $485 |
| 8 travelers Per person | $465 |
| 9 travelers Per person | $445 |
| 10 travelers Per person | $435 |
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How departures, pricing, and group size work on this trek.
It runs in the dry season, May to September, when the high pass has the best footing and the weather is clearest. The cloud forest lower down stays humid year round, but these months give the most reliable conditions on the trail. Dates are set with you when you book, and the trek can also be arranged as a private departure.
The trek is capped at ten guests. Small numbers keep the camps manageable, tread lightly on the community-managed trail, and let the guide keep the group together on the long descent.
The rate covers transfers from and to your La Paz hotel, the private vehicle to La Cumbre, a bilingual mountain guide for all four days, a cook and support team, the muleteer team and pack mules, tents, sleeping bags and mats for the two camping nights, all meals as listed, the park and community fees, and the final night at UMA Experience above Coroico.
Travel insurance, your La Paz hotel before and after the trek, drinks beyond those included, the a la carte dinner at UMA on Day 3, tips for the crew, and the single supplement of $130. Full details are in the inclusions and exclusions on the tour page.
What the three trekking days actually ask of you.
It rates as moderate to demanding. There are three full trekking days of roughly six to eight hours on foot, and although the route descends overall, the long drop of more than 3,500 meters is hard on the knees, and the old stone paving is uneven. Day 2 is the longest and most varied, with a climb back up after the Coscapa River.
No technical skills are needed, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours over consecutive days on rough ground and sleeping in a tent for two nights. A good base of fitness and some downhill conditioning make a real difference.
Only a daypack with water, layers, sun protection, and your camera and personal items. The muleteer team carries the tents, sleeping bags, mats, kitchen, and all group gear, so you walk light for the whole trek.
Yes, strongly recommended. The sustained descent on stone steps puts a lot of load on the knees, and poles take much of the strain. Well broken-in boots with good grip are equally important.
Preparing for a very high start and a long descent.
The high point is the Apacheta Chukura pass at 4,859 meters on the first day, reached after a drive to La Cumbre at 4,650 meters. From there the trek descends steadily, so altitude eases with each day, and the first day is the one to take slowly. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, discuss the altitude with your doctor before booking.
Arrive in La Paz, at around 3,600 meters, at least two days before the trek to adjust. Hydrate well, take it easy on arrival, and keep a steady pace over the pass on Day 1. Many trekkers find coca tea helps, and you can ask your doctor about preventative altitude medication.
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and must cover trekking at altitudes to around 4,870 meters and remote medical evacuation, since parts of the trail are far from road access. Evacuation costs are not included in the trek rate.
The descent ends in the warm, humid subtropical Yungas, so the lower sections are hot and can have biting insects, a sharp contrast to the cold start. Pack light long sleeves, sun protection, and repellent alongside your warm layers for the high pass.
Where you sleep, the conditions, and what to bring.
Two nights are spent in supported tent camps in the trail villages of Challapampa and Buena Vista, with tents, sleeping bags, and mats provided and meals cooked fresh in camp. The final night is at UMA Experience, an architect-designed lodge of individual cabins with an infinity pool above Coroico, a comfortable end to the descent.
Expect cold, possibly freezing conditions at the high pass, then steadily warmer air as you drop into the cloud forest. Rain is possible in the Yungas even in the dry season, so a good rain jacket and layers that cover both extremes are essential.
Well broken-in walking boots, layers including a warm hat and gloves for the top, a waterproof jacket, sun protection, trekking poles, a daypack, a refillable water bottle, and personal items. The mules carry everything else, so keep your daypack light.
Coverage on the trail is patchy to none, while La Paz, Coroico, and UMA Experience have signal. Treat the three trekking days as a genuine disconnection and let people know your schedule in advance.
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