Condoriri – Huayna Potosí 8-day hike

We leave from the hotel at 8:30AM by private transfer, heading to the Cordillera Real and the Laguna Totoral. It’s a 3-hour drive to the start of the trek, (4470m) the Laguna Totoral. We will visit the peñas villages.
Walking time: none
D +300/-150m (4×4)

We meet the mule carrier team and start hiking by the right shore of the lake, on the southwest of the Cordillera. We reach the Michini pass (5060m) in the afternoon. Then we go back down to the Laguna Kotia (4720m).
Walking time: 5-6 hours
D +340/-640m

We go by the right shore of the lake, on the southwest side of the Cordillera. We reach Contador pass (4760m) before crossing a marshy area, near the Laguna Surakhota. After 4 hours walking we reach the Laguna Ajwani, “the birds lake” (4720m).
Walking time: 4-5 hours
D +500/-300m

Today we reach the Milluni pass (4900m) after 1:45 hours hiking. Then we continue easily during 45 minutes until Laguna Sistaña (4650m). Next, we reach the Janchallani pass (4950m) in the afternoon. We go back down to the splendid Laguna Jurikhota.
Walking time: 5-6 hours
D +665/-560m

From the lake we go up a steep hill to reach the small Laguna Congelada. Here, two glaciers literally fall in the frozen water. It’s a jewel at 4900m, at the foot of Condoriri (5650m). Then we reach the Austria pass (5120m) and we go back to the Laguna Chiarkhota (4670m). It’s the base camp for the ascent of Condoriri and Pequeño Alpamayo. Before the pass, we can ascend the Austria peak (5300m), which offers sublime views over Condoriri and the Cordillera Real (45 min ascending and 20 min descending).
Walking time: 6 hours
D +645/-670m

We leave Condoriri behind and start at the foot of the Black Needle until the Jallayko pass (5025m). We are in a beautiful valley, Jistaña. Then we go up to the Tillipata pass (5000m). From there, we enjoy amazing views of the lakes, a great reward for all the effort. Then we descend to the Laguna Wichu Khota, where we set camp at the foot of María Lloco (5522m).
Walking time: 7 hours
D +845/-935m

We move around the lakes until the old camp of the Santa Fe mine. A short detour to the small summit dominating the camp allows us to admire the lakes one more time. We ascend until the camp, surrounded by the summits Imilla Apachita, Maria Lloco and Huayna Potosi (6088m). The views are breathtaking!
Optional: continue until the Huayna Potosí glacial lake. The path here is a true belvedere.
Walking time: 6 hours
D +320/-200m

Today we reach the Milluni pass (5000m). The Milluni valley opens up. We go around the Huayna Potosi to our left before reaching the valley, that we follow until the refuge (4700m).
We return to La Paz by private transfer (2-hour drive).