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Bill 'n' Al's Big Trip to Bolivia (and Margaret's, but the alliteration
didn't work)
Places still available - 2
Date of trip - beginning of July 2001
Duration - 5 or 6 weeks.
Cost - $809 + flights + insurance + personal expenses.
This grew out of an idea Alan and myself had to attempt some previously
unclimbed peaks. Considerable research narrowed us down to Bolivia on
grounds of cost and lack of irksome bureaucracy.
Much valuable advice was provided by John Tinker of OTT Expeditions
(http://www.ottexpeditions.co.uk)
who pointed us in the direction of Juan Villarroel (azimexbo@caoba.entelnet.bo)
our absolutely invaluable Bolivian agent.
What follows is a slightly edited email from Juan which lays out the
basic plan of the trip. To this we intend to add another week to allow
for, say, a quick dash up Illimani (6,450 m) in the Cordillera Real via
the Normal Route (500) or whatever else might take our fancy.
Plus another week of general frigging about. If you are interested in
joining us please contact me, Bill, at bill.magowan.water@nics.gov.uk Dear Bill:
Finally now I send the quotes for your expedition and a more realistic
itinerary which , of course, is similar to what I proposed you before.
You
know that the program after Pelechuco can be altered according to the
motivations of the people and physical conditions.
Here my final itinerary for Apolobamba and prices:
1° DAY: Transfer In from the airport to Hotel. Someone from us will wait
for you at the airport. Late in the afternoon we will have a meeting
to
present to people the expedition logistics by means of slides projection,
and why not! a short time welcome chat with a little red wine.
ACLIMATIZATION TWO DAY TOUR AND SHORT HIKES NEAR LAKE TITKAKA
2°DAY: Today, you will go to visit the famous Lake Titikaka (the highest
navigable in the world. From La Paz we travel in regular tourist bus
at
08:00 (3 hour trip) as far as Copacabana, a small town on the shores
of
Titikaka. Accommodation in a reputable hotel called Playa Azul; nice
restaurant with good meal. In the afternoon we sail (1.30 hrs.) to visit
the Sun Island and its archaeological sites like Pilkokaina or the
Residence of the Incas, the Incas Garden.
3°DAY: In the surrounding hills going up to the Inks Gallows there is
an
astronomic observatory that was erected in pre Inca times. We will
participate in traditional ceremonies on the Calvary or the mountain
of the
Via Cruces. We will also visit the room of the famous Brown Virgin of
the
Lake. After lunch we return to La Paz.
TRIP TO APOLOBAMBA NORTH (THE FAR WEST OF BOLIVIA)
4° DAY: LA PAZ-PELECHUCO. 12 hrs. of trip in 4WD car in a sinuous and
sandy/dusty road but very spectacular, passing in the way the national
park
Ulla Ulla to see uncountable herds of Vicuñas (wild cameloids
of the
Andes). Accommodation in a simple lodge in Pelechuco village. The environment
has a temperate climate and the vegetation is somewhat tropical AT AN
ALTITUDE OF 3.700 mts high. A bilingual mountain guide and an experienced
cook who did also some mountaineering courses.
5° DAY: TREK PELECHUCO- RINCONADA. 7 hrs. hiking as far as La Rinconada
at
4.650 mts. high which is the base camp for many peaks of Katantika and
Soral groups of mountains. some mules will help us with our extra luggage.
6° DAY: CLIMB TO HIGH CAMP KATANTIKA GROUP. 4 hours of climb by unstable
rocks and easy glacier as far as an altitude of 5.350 mts. high to set
up a
camp over a snow field. 2 porters and the cook will come with us to help
us
with our extra luggage as far as this high camp. the base camp will be
watched by a guardian.
7° DAY: CLIMB. Today, we will deduce the different mountains and the
diverse routes in the group of Katantika chain and we can open a new
route
or climb an unclimbed mountain which can be decided by the group.
8° DAY: CLIMB. We climb another mountain. In the afternoon, we return
to
the base camp.
9°DAY: Rest Day
10°DAY: TREK TO CHIRIMASAYA. With a trek of 6 hrs. we arrive eastern
side
of these mountains, passing in the way the Col Sanches (4.700 mts. high),
to reach then the Chirimasaya lagoon (4.300 mts. high).
11°DAY: TREK CHIRIMASAYA-LAGOON CELESTE. 5 hrs. of hike with ups and
downs
as far as the base of the huge mount Chaupi Orcko(the only one that rises
up to 6.000 mts. high in Apolobamba range).Camp
near the Lagoon Celeste (4.400 mts. de altura).
12°DAY: CLIMB. A long day (12 hours round trip)to climb the Chaupi Ortcko
summit or trying a different route to any of the lower peaks of this
huge
massif.
13° DAY: RETURN AS FAR AS NEAR COL SANCHEZ. 7 hours descent. Camp near
a
black lagoon before some meters to the col.
14° DAY: RETURN TO LA PAZ. A short descent (3 hours) as far as Pelechuco,
where we catch again our 4WD car to return to La Paz.
15°DAY:FREE DAY (SECURITY)
16° DAY: Fly out from La Paz.
PRICE IN USD PER PERSON (BASE 4 PASENGERS) =
Transfers In and Out From/to airport...................... 16 $
Two day tour/hike in Lake Titikaka........................ 83 $
Expedition of Apolobamba (11 days) from La Paz to La Paz..710 $
----------------
Total payment in USD per person...................... 809 $
PRICES INCLUDE:
Transfers: Transportation, receptive guide.
Lake Titikaka: Bilingual guide, all meals, private motor boat, 1 night
lodge in hotel Playa Azul, Regular tourist bus round trip, entrance fees.
Apolobamba Expe: 1 mountain guide, 1 cook, all meals out of La Paz, 2
comfortable strong mountain tents for you to sleep, 1 kitchen little
tent,
1 little dining tent, 1 little base camp camping table, 4 camping tools
for
base camp, dining and cooking gear, a private 4WD car for trip
LP-Pelechuco-LP which is a Toyota Land Cruiser with 7 seats +the driver,
mules for extra luggage as far as base camps, 2 days of guardian for
base
camp in Rinconada, 2 days of 2 porters for high camp Katantika, 1 night
of
lodging in Pelechuco.
NOTES:
1) These prices are the most reasonable that I managed to do for you
specially considering that the logistics in the expe demands to use many
basic assistance of organisation but, anyhow I am giving you as service
the
most important basic things that are necessary to be organised formally
for
your kind of explorative expedition.2)
2) This year I will go to explore a bit more this area and for sure I
will
be in more possibilities to inform you about names of peaks, routes
difficulties. The disappeared Mr. Yossi Brain ( renown English mountain
guide)made some good routes in there and in my case I must go to check
which ones have not been made by him or some other climbers.
3) I think I will go with you as mountain guide to assist to your expedition.
4) In our service we do not include mountain sport insurance for you
except
when you are travelling in our cars where you have insurance - Mountain
insurance does not exist in Bolivia. To avoid this questioning I propose
you to bring your excellent Alpine Club Insurance.
5) Lake Titikaka at 3.850 is considered by mountain sport doctors as
an
ideal place to get acclimatised or at least to discover your hidden symptoms.
6) Of course, the number of 11 days of the expedition can change according
to your decisions and it will also make change roughly the price. |