Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Encompassing a wide variety of landscapes - including subtropical valleys, expansive
plains and soaring Andean peaks - the beautiful high-altitude region surrounding La
Paz can seem like a microcosm of the country as a whole, and is sometimes known as
“Little Bolivia” because of it. Its focal point is the stunning, shimmering blue of Lago
Titicaca, held sacred by the Incas and venerated to this day by local indigenous com-
munities. The nearby Cordillera Real, Cordillera Apolobamba and the Yungas are dot-
ted with tranquil towns, many with balmy temperatures and stunning views, which
make them perfect places to relax or to escape the chill of the Altiplano. There are also
innumerable options for exploring the diverse countryside on hiking, mountain-bik-
ing or climbing excursions. Moreover, with regular transport links to both La Paz and
across the border to Peru, the area is easy to access and incorporate into a wider trip.
Lyingsome 75kmnorthwest ofLaPaz,
Lago Titicaca
isavast, high-altitude lake. Straddling
the border with Peru it dominates the northern section of the Altiplano, the rolling, 3800m-
high plateau that stretches between the eastern and western chains of the Andes - the c+or-
dilleras Oriental and Occidental - as they march south through Bolivia. The best base from
which to explore the Bolivian side of the lake is
Copacabana
, which is home to the country's
most revered religious image, as well as the jumping-off point for boat trips to Isla del Sol
and Isla de la Luna, two idyllic islands dotted with Inca ruins.
Further north, on the Peruvian border, the isolated
Cordillera Apolobamba
(also part of
the Cordillera Oriental) offers great trekking and climbing opportunities in a far more remote
setting. South of here and just east of Lago Titicaca is the
Cordillera Real
, the highest and
most spectacular section of the Cordillera Oriental within Bolivia. Stretching some 160km
along the edge of the Altiplano, from
Mount Illimani
(6439m), southeast of La Paz, to the
Illampu massif
(6370m), which towers over the eastern side of Lago Titicaca, the Cordillera
Real can easily be explored from La Paz or the town of
Sorata
, at the northwestern end of
the range.
The Yungas' rugged, forest-covered mountains, rivers and warm, fertile valleys offer a stark
contrast to the nearby Cordillera and arid Altiplano. With a new highway inaugurated in
2006, the old hair-raising route down to the Yungas from La Paz - dubbed the
most danger-
ous in the world
- is now largely the domain of mountain bikers. The most popular Yungas
destination is
Coroico
, a resort town set amid beautiful scenery. Within easy striking distance
of Coroico are the diverse ecosystems of
Parque Nacional Cotapata
, through which the
rewarding
Choro Trail
passes. The
Takesi Trail
, which also follows a pre-Hispanic paved
path, is one of the most popular treks in the region.
Chulumani
, a peaceful town, is less
touristy than Coroico but boasts equally good views, while the
Yunga Cruz Trail
is the re-
gion's most scenic trek.
