Climb the Illimani Massif in 4 days

The Illimani massif, at the southern end of the Cordillera Real, has the second highest summit in Bolivia with a height of 6442 meters. Today I want to invite you to conquer it during this 4 day program.

This expedition begins in La Paz from where a transfer will take us to Pinaya, a town at 3800 meters above sea level. On the way we will cross the Palca Canyon, one of the highlights of this trip. Once in Pinaya we will walk 3-4 hours (+600 meters of altitude change) to the base camp which is at 4400 meters.

On day 2, we'll have breakfast and leave for the camp "Nido de Condores", 5450 meters high. The first trail will take us to the "Maikibirri" col. This ascent of 1000 meters will take us about 6 hours. The rest of the day will be dedicated to set up camp, hydrate our bodies and prepare the climbing equipment.

On day 3 we'll leave early in the morning towards our final goal. First we must follow a route which is not technically difficult but quite exposed. After a break we will cross the glacier before starting to climb the "stairs to the sky" for about 200 meters with a slope of 50º.

At the final ridge the terrain becomes easier. Finally we'll be at the southern summit of the Illimani massif at 6442 meters above sea level. The same day we can descend 2600 meters and take the vehicle that will return us to La Paz. However this option is quite exhausting.

That's why I propose to sleep one more night in the base camp and enjoy a delicious lamb cooked under hot stones by local people. The next morning we will return to Pinaya where our transfer will be waiting for us to take us back to La Paz.

Please note that this route to the Illimani's southern peak has an intermediate technical difficulty with slopes of up to 50 degrees. We must walk about 6 kilometers in total with an elevation gain of 6100 meters. Therefore, if you want to join this trip you should have an excellent fitness level as well as some basic mountaineering knowledge.

My brother Juan and I also lead other expeditions in Bolivia, such as this 4-day climb in Huayna Potosí. Take a look at it if you'd like to know more about it.

And if you're ready to climb the Illimani Massif please fill out the form and get in touch with me now. It'll be my pleasure to be your guide in the Cordillera Real.