La Paz, Mountains in Bolivia
CODE : LPTK3C
One of the most impressive, not to mention important Inca trails in the Andes, Takesi is a 40 kilometre road linking the vast Altiplano plateau with the sub-tropical Yungus.
Used by the Incas as a communication and transport link, the road is a masterstroke of pre-Colombian engineering, featuring water channels and retaining walls built to protect the road from riverine flooding. Today, Takesi remains one of the finest remaining Hispanic paved roads in the region, a testament to the fine work of the original build.
Takesi trekking, available from April to October (minima 2 persons)
This is one of the most impressive and popular downhill walks in the Andes amongst travelers and locals. This trail links the barren Altiplano with the lush subtropical Yungas. It also gives you the rare opportunity to witness amazing landscapes. There are spectacular views of the Mururata Peak and you will pass abandoned mines, cascading rivers, exquisite lagoons and quaint villages. This is one of the best preserved pre-Inca trails and almost half of the trail consists of extraordinary stonework-paving making this trip incredibly accessible without taking away from the adventurous river crossings and camping in the great outdoors. Your trip will come to an end in one of Bolivia’s oldest towns, Yanacachi.
Note: Trek available daily with minimum of 2 people. Treks can be arranged as 2 or 3 days.
Time taken will vary on ability.
Included
- Prívate transportation: La Paz – San Francisco.
- Transport: Yanacachi – La Paz.
- Professional guide.
- Cook, breakfast, lunch & dinner.
- Tent.
Not Included
- Personal equipment.
- Personal medical kit.
- Personal porter ($12 per day).
Essentials
- Light, warm clothing.
- Trekking boots.
- Sunglasses.
- Sun block (high factor).
- Waterproof clothing.
- Sleeping bag.
- Insect repellent (high DEET content).
- Photocopy of passport.
Optional
- Camera.
- Binoculars.
- Pocket knife.
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Destination
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Departure
Ruins. La Paz, Bolivia | Altitude: 3640 – 3600 m. -
Dress Code
Clothes for the trek, Raincoat, Trekking shoes, Sleeping bag
Day 1 :
La Paz – Puente Takesi
We will depart from La Paz through the Illimani road. We will pass the valley de las animas, the Palca canyon and more of the attractive rural landscapes. We will also pass small villages close to La Paz city, such as Choquekkota. The drive from La Paz will last around 2, 5 hours until we reach Ventanilla at 3600 Mt. Later we will continue to the San Francisco mine at 4200 Mt. Our trek will start at the mine, and in after about 2 hours walking through this Pre Inca trail we will arrive at the Apacheta High Pass 4700 Mt. From this pass you can see spectacular views of the Mururata peak, and a distant cloud forest in the lowland valleys. We will pass abandoned mines and High –Andean lagoons such as Luru Kheri at 4405 Mt and Wara Warani at 4090 Mt. Arrival to the picturesque Takesi River at 3580 Mt. Dinner and overnight. B, L, D.Day 2 :
Puente Takesi – Choklla mine
This day we will descend to the Bolivian Yungas following the Takesi River, the trail contours the Cerro Quimsa Chata, where the pre Colombian trail disappears. There are small villages along the trail such as Kakapi at 2880 Mt. On clear days, you might see the Mururata snow peak contrasting with the green Yungas forests. We will then arrive to Choklla Mine at 3370 Mt, where wolfram and tin are still extracted. We will pass the mining area and head to the campsite. Here we will have dinner and spend the night. B, L, D.Day 3 :
Choklla mine – Yanacachi- La Paz
More views of the Takesi River and valleys and fully covered by continuous cloud forests, the weather is warm. Arrival to Yanacachi at 2080 Mt, one of the oldest towns in Bolivia. This was important during colonial times to trade coca leaves and subtropical crops. This town has the oldest existing Catholic Church built in the Yungas. We will then return to La Paz. B, L.Tour Location