Bolivia’s High Route: Cordillera Real Traverse & Huayna Potosí Summit

Welcome to Bolivia. We meet in La Paz, one of the world’s highest cities, settle into our first home base, and give our bodies a little time to catch up with where we are. Hydrate, eat well, take it easy—the mountains start working on you before the hiking does.

We drive north to Sorata, tucked beneath the Cordillera Real. This is the last proper reset before we head into the range: final gear checks, food sorting, group equipment handout, and one last sleep with walls before twelve days of mountain life.

This is the heart of the expedition.

For twelve days, we travel through the Cordillera Real under our own power—linking remote valleys, crossing high passes, and camping where the trail leaves the road far behind. Everyone carries their own personal equipment, sleeping system, and a share of food and group gear. We have one planned mid-traverse resupply by van around Day 6 or 7; otherwise, what is in your pack is what comes with you.

Expect big days, cold mornings, dusty boots, weather that keeps you honest, and more than a few moments where the only sensible question is: how is this place even real?

By the end, we will have covered approximately 155 km, climbed around 8,500 m, and reached high points near 5,400 m. 

We finish the traverse, meet the van, and roll straight toward Huayna Potosí. The packs get lighter, the food gets better, and there is just enough time to take in what we have done before turning our attention to the next mountain.

Today we move up to Huayna Potosí. We settle into high camp, check equipment, eat, drink, and try to sleep before the kind of alarm that only makes sense when there is a 6,000 m summit above you.

The big one. We start long before sunrise and climb into the dark toward the summit of Huayna Potosí at 6,088 m.

It is a serious glaciated mountain day: cold, steep, physical, and completely unforgettable. The summit is never guaranteed, but we give ourselves the best possible chance through the acclimatization and work we have already put in. After the attempt, we descend to the refuge—tired, proud, and very ready for a proper meal.

We leave the high mountains behind and descend into the Yungas. Within a few hours, down jackets become an unnecessary memory and the landscape turns green, warm, and almost unreal after weeks in the high Andes. Coroico is our landing pad for the recovery phase.

There is nothing to summit today. Sleep in. Find a good coffee. Swim, wander, eat, stare at the mountains, or do absolutely nothing at all. You earned it.

We make our way back to La Paz for one final night together. There will be a celebratory dinner, stories from the trail that somehow get better each time they are told, and one last chance to take in the full scale of the journey.

Airport transfer and onward travel from El Alto International Airport (LPB). You leave with tired legs, a very full camera roll, and the kind of trip that will keep showing up in conversation for years.

This is a serious high-altitude expedition designed for hikers with excellent fitness and previous multi-day backpacking experience. Over 12 consecutive days, you’ll cross Bolivia’s Cordillera Real on foot, carrying your personal equipment, sleeping system, and a share of food and group gear between planned resupply points.

The route covers approximately 155 km with around 8,500 m of elevation gain and reaches high points near 5,400 m. Expect long days on rough mountain trails, sustained climbs and descents, cold nights, rapidly changing weather, and the cumulative effect of living and moving at altitude. The terrain is demanding; the altitude makes everything harder.

After the traverse, the expedition continues with a summit attempt on Huayna Potosí at 6,088 m. This is a glaciated mountain objective led by qualified local high-altitude guides. It requires an early start, solid endurance, good balance, and the ability to keep moving efficiently when tired and cold. Reaching the summit is never guaranteed—conditions, acclimatization, and individual performance all matter.

You do not need to be the fastest person in the mountains, but you should arrive confident carrying a loaded pack for multiple days and ready to stay positive through sustained physical effort. This trip is for people who want to earn a big objective as part of a capable team.

A 25% deposit is required to secure all bookings.

Cancellation Schedule

• More than 90 days before departure: Full refund less a 4% payment processing fee and $100 CAD administrative fee
• 90 to 61 days before departure: 25% of the total trip cost is non-refundable
• 60 days or less before departure: 100% of the total trip cost is non-refundable

If you are unable to attend your trip, please contact us as soon as possible. Subject to availability and operational considerations, we may be able to offer a trip transfer, participant substitution, or trip credit.

Please Note
Trips operate in remote wilderness environments where weather, wildfires, transportation disruptions, medical emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances may impact itineraries or trip operations.

Yusquatch Mountain Adventures reserves the right to modify, delay, reroute, postpone, substitute activities, or cancel trips when necessary for safety or operational reasons.

We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance, including trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, and evacuation coverage.

For full details, please refer to our complete Cancellation & Terms Policy.