We hope to get an early start this morning, in order to make the most of the day and have time for some short stops as we travel overland to Apolobamba National Park. We pass through the city of El Alto and along the coast of Lake Titicaca as we head north and begin to climb up into the Cordillera. Our destination is the tiny village of Qutapampa, about 6 hours from La Paz (not including stops). The village is inhabited by llama and alpaca herders and is located at an altitude of 4,480 meters above sea level (14,698ft). Qutapampa is also a member of PachaTrek, a community-based tourism company and ours hosts-guides while visiting the protected area. A local guide will be waiting for us at the first lodge, where we will enjoy a typical Andean lunch. From there we set off on the first leg of our journey, en route to the community of Kaluyo (4,056m / 13,307ft). Along the way, we will see beautiful landscapes and stop at Suraqucha lagoon, a sanctuary for Andean birds, surrounded by beautiful mountains and landscapes. After a 4-hour walk, we arrive in Kaluyo, a Quechua community and home of the Kallawayas, herbalist doctors who possess an enormous apothecary of medicinal plants that they manage in the landscape. The village has its own museum to share the cultural history of the doctors and after our visit, we will share a meal and have a special visit from a local shaman.

We hope to get an early start this morning, in order to make the most of the day and have time for some short stops as we travel overland to Apolobamba National Park. We pass through the city of El Alto and along the coast of Lake Titicaca as we head north and begin to climb up into the Cordillera. Our destination is the tiny village of Qutapampa, about 6 hours from La Paz (not including stops). The village is inhabited by llama and alpaca herders and is located at an altitude of 4,480 meters above sea level (14,698ft). Qutapampa is also a member of PachaTrek, a community-based tourism company and ours hosts-guides while visiting the protected area. A local guide will be waiting for us at the first lodge, where we will enjoy a typical Andean lunch. From there we set off on the first leg of our journey, en route to the community of Kaluyo (4,056m / 13,307ft). Along the way, we will see beautiful landscapes and stop at Suraqucha lagoon, a sanctuary for Andean birds, surrounded by beautiful mountains and landscapes. After a 4-hour walk, we arrive in Kaluyo, a Quechua community and home of the Kallawayas, herbalist doctors who possess an enormous apothecary of medicinal plants that they manage in the landscape. The village has its own museum to share the cultural history of the doctors and after our visit, we will share a meal and have a special visit from a local shaman.

After breakfast at the community lodge in Chari we descend along a winding, mostly downhill road to the regional capital of Charazani (3,905m / 12,812ft). The landscape is dramatic as our altitude decreases, more and more agricultural plots and farming villages appear and the mountains extend ever upward to the sky. We reach “town” at about 11:00 am and after lunch in Charazani, our private transportation will take us back to La Paz (around 6 hours). Dusty and dirty trekkers are welcome to visit the town hot springs before departing.