Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coroico to pick you up for less than that. Infrequent minibuses also run the route, or you
can arrange transport with an agency in La Paz prior to departure.
Tours
A growing number of La Paz outfits (
Click here
)
offer organized El Choro treks. Most
include meals, guides and camping equipment; some include the services of porters.
Takesi Trek
Also known as the Inca Trail, the Takesi trek is one of the most popular and impressive
walks in the Andes. The route was used as a highway by the early Aymará, the Inca and
the Spanish, and it still serves as a major route to the humid Yungas over a relatively low
pass in the Cordillera Real. The 45km trail still conserves expertly engineered pre-Inca
paving, more like a highway than a walking track. It has been suggested that this paved
section was part of a long road that linked the La Paz area with the Alto Beni region.
The walk itself is demanding and takes two days, but plan on longer because of trans-
portation uncertainties to and from the trailheads. On the first day you ascend to 4650m,
so spend a few days acclimatizing in La Paz before heading off. The trail is hiked by
about 5000 people annually, more than half of whom are Bolivians, and suffers from a lit-
ter problem due to its growing popularity.
The May to October dry season is best for this trip. In the rainy season the wet and
cold, combined with ankle-deep mud, may contribute to a less-than-optimal experience.
Since the trail's end is in the Yungas, plan on some rain year-round.
The entire route appears on a single 1:50,000 IGM topo sheet:
Chojlla - 6044-IV
. A
good source of information is
Fundación Pueblo
(
212-4413;
www.fundacionpueblo.org
; Casilla 9564, La Paz)
, an NGO that supports rural develop-
ment projects that encourage local self-sufficiency. The group has done a lot of work with
villagers along the trail to improve facilities. The foundation can organize a package that
includes transportation to and from the trailheads, meals, accommodations and a guide for
B$500 to B$700 per person.
With a fully serviced lodge two-thirds of the way along the route, the hike is easily
done with just a daypack, but agencies and Fundación Pueblo can arrange guides and
mules if you want them.
