Cordillera Real Trek: Sorata Circuit

Welcome to La Paz, Bolivia. Spend one night in this vibrant, high-altitude city preparing for your upcoming trek. Take time to rest, adjust to the elevation, and get ready for the adventure ahead.

Depart from your hotel at 08:00 AM in private transport with your guide and cooks, heading toward Sorata, 150 km from La Paz. The drive takes you from the high-altitude capital down to this temperate valley village at the base of the towering Illampu Massif (6,368 meters / 20,892.39 feet).

Sorata serves as both an agricultural hub and a gateway for trekkers and is home to around 3,500 residents. Its relaxed atmosphere and dramatic mountain backdrop set the stage for the adventure ahead.

In the morning, meet your muleteers at the edge of town and begin the trek. Begin with a steady ascent toward Kilambaya (3,300 meters / 10,826.77 feet), a hike lasting about three hours. Continue uphill for another four hours to reach the small hamlet of Lacatiya (3,900 meters / 12,795.28 feet), where camp is set for the night.

If the skies are clear, Illampu rises in full view, its massive, snow-covered summit towering dramatically above the valley.

Walking time: 7 hours
Slope: +1,200 meters / 3,937 feet

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Leave Lacatiya and continue with a gradual, steady climb. The ascent takes about three hours to reach Illampu Pass (4,730 m / 15,518 ft), and the altitude becomes noticeable as you gain height.

With clear skies, the reward is spectacular: the snow-covered Illampu looms majestically over the entire route. From the pass, rising to around 4,750 m, spot Schulze Peak (5,950 m / 19,521 ft) and Illampu North Peak (6,370 m / 20,898 ft) cutting sharply across the horizon.

Begin the descent to Utjaña Pampa (3,890 m) to set up camp for the night in the wide, open highlands.

Walking time: 6.5 hours
Slope: +830 meters / -840 meters (2,723 ft / -2,755 ft)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

In the morning, climb toward Kharahuasi Pass (4,450 m / 14,599 ft). From the top, begin your descent into Cocoyo, a mountain valley known for its dramatic scenery and wide-open landscapes.

Upon reaching the valley floor, cross the Cocoyo River. Its milky color reveals its glacial origin. Continue to the small mining village of Cocoyo (3,510 m / 11,515 ft), then move beyond the settlement into the Sarani Valley. Set up camp here, surrounded by rugged Andean terrain and quiet highland views.

Walking time: 6 hours
Slope: +560 meters / -940 meters (+560 ft / -3,083 ft)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Depart from the Sarani camp and begin a long climb toward Sarani Pass (4,500 m / 14,763 ft). From the top, descend briefly into the Chajolpaya Valley (4,100 m / 13,451 ft). Set up camp near the village, in a peaceful meadow surrounded by the dramatic Andean landscape.

Walking time: 7-8 hours
Slope: +990 meters / -400 meters (+3,248 ft / -1,312 ft)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Walk through the Chajolpaya Valley toward Calzada Pass (5,050 m / 16,568 ft), the highest point of the entire circuit, located between the glaciers of the Kasiri and Calzada mountains. From the pass, descend for about an hour and a half along the southwestern slope of the range toward Carizal Lagoon (4,770 m / 15,649 ft) and Chojña Khota Lagoon to set up camp.

Walking time: 6-7 hours of walking
Slope: +620 m / -280 m (+2,034 ft / -918 ft)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Today, enjoy breathtaking views of the Ancohuma Massif. The walk begins on relatively flat terrain as you make your way to Laguna Ajoyan (4,670 m / 15,321 ft). From here, take in wonderful views of Calzada Mountain before continuing to Laguna Cacha. The trail then follows the mountainside, leading into a beautiful valley that shelters the turquoise waters of Laguna San Francisco (4,500 m / 14,763 ft). Near the camping area, you will find natural hot springs where you can relax and enjoy a peaceful soak.

Walking time: 6-7 hours

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Ascend to the Chotanlona Pass (4,910 m / 16,108 ft), where sweeping views await. To the west lies the vast expanse of Lake Titicaca, while to the north rises the towering Ancohuma Mountain. Looking east, you will see the dramatic peaks of the Cordillera Real, including the Calzada and Kasiri glaciers. From the pass, the trail continues along the mountainside, weaving up and down past a series of small lagoons until reaching Lojena (4,360 m / 14,304 ft), where camp will be set for the night.

Walking time: 5 hours
Slope: +410 m / -550 m (+1,345 ft / 1,804 ft)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.

Walk to the small town of Milipaya (3,490 m), where the circuit comes to an end. Here, your transportation will be waiting to take you on the approximately 3-hour drive back to La Paz. Upon arrival in the city, transfer to your hotel.

Walking time: 1 hour
Driving Time: Millipaya to La Paz (3 hours)

Note: Walking times each day are only indicative and might vary from client to client.