This trek deserves to be classified with the "great Treks of the Andes"!
We start by a hike on the shores of Lake Titicaca (acclimatization necessary), before skirting the impressive Illimani (el. 6432 m.a.s.l.), one of the Giants of the Cordillera Real.
For 5 days, we follow the slopes of this mountain range. The atmosphere is very Andean, the scenery stark. We are in the Heart of the Aymara legends...
The second part of the trek takes us along the Inca trail of Yunga Cruz, leading towards the fertile valleys of the Yungas. A five-day descent, along which we discover new ecosystems for every ecologic layer, takes us all the way to the village of Chulumani (el. 1700 m.a.s.l.) capital of the South Yungas and a real paradise for butterflies.

Airport pick up (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (around 3h30). From there a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (island of the Sun), a 3-hour trip.
From the ruins, we start the trek following the crest of the island until we reach the village of Yumani in the South (a 3 to 4-hour hike).
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Maria and Ismaël’s house (Basic comfort).
Note: During the following 2 days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the backpacks during the walks. Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +200m / -100m

In the morning we descend the 500 steps to the pier of the Fuente del Inca (Fountain of the Inca), where our boat awaits us to take us to the peninsula of Yampupata (20 minutes). Trek along the peninsula to the Virgin of Lourdes, by way of the remote village of Zampaya (about 4 to 5h). We then get back on our boat for the return journey to Copacabana and then to La Paz with a private vehicle (3h30).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +100m / -200m

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in private vehicle for Pinaya (3h30), isolated village on the slopes of Illimani, at 3900 m of altitude. We meet our team of muleteers and start trekking towards the base camp of Illimani, known as Puente Roto.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 3h; Elevation gain: +650m
Note: mules and porters for the 3 days of the ascent.

We follow an old path on the hillsides of the West face of Illimani (summit symbol of La Paz). The glacier is nearby. After a hike of about 6 hours and a pass at 5000 meters of altitude, we will arrive at our camp, next to the ancient mine of Mina Aguila, at 4400 m.a.s.l.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +450m / -600m

We climb up the Illimani foothills to a pass at en altitude of 4800 meters, from where we descend to camp at Tutural Pampa, at the foot of Mururata (6/7h walk).
Cold lunch. All included. Camping or lodging with local host (basic comfort).
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +400m / -800m

We first descend to the village of Tres Ríos where is located the mine of Bolsa Negra (el. 3700 m.a.s.l. / 2h walk). We then turn towards the Valley of Pasto Grande, a long uphill that leads us to the pass dominating the mine of Bolsa Blanca, resembling a condors nest where men keep coming to try their luck (el. 4800 m.a.s.l. / 3-hour walk). We then descent to the beautiful valley of Río Malpaso where we set up camp.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac..
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +1100m / -1200m

We descend for about an hour and a half before we reach the track at Estancia Totoral (el. 3400 m.a.s.l.). We pass the small community of Challiri and the river of the same name, before following a trail that climbs on the right. We clear a pass at 3900 m.a.s.l., then descend to the quiet village of Lambate.
Note: Supplies of fresh products.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +500m / -980m

We meet our team of muleteers at the start of the trek in the village of Lambate. We start the long descent where we loose 1000 meters in altitude, first through the “Chacras” (corn fields) and the different traditional cultivations, to then reach Río Chunga Mayu (el. 2250 m.a.s.l.), before climbing to the quiet and preserved hamlet of Quirocoma, our destination of the day. We will be able to admire the impressive North East face of Illimani, very different from the view we get from La Paz.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +290m / -1170m

We start early in the morning for the difficult climb we have to accomplish that day (1400 meters of elevation gain!). The trail follows the crests before slowly entering the forest. We leave Río Kasiri below, to which we return a few hours later, just before reaching its spring. We stop in a beautiful grass field to cool ourselves in the crystal clear pools before starting the ascent of an arete where we find a portion of paved pre-Hispanic trail we follow to our camp, on the shores of Laguna Kasiri. We find ourselves in the center of a mountain circ, surrounded by the summits of Cerro Khala Ciudad, in an atmosphere of mystery.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 8h; Elevation gain: +1410m

We skirt the lake and follow the trail to the pass (el 4180 m.a.s.l.) from where we enjoy an astounding view over the Cordillera and the Yungas, transition area between high plateaux and the Amazonian basin. Shortly after, we return to a well preserved Inca trail that we follow to a place called Solaka, on the border of a forest.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +230m / -710m

After crossing the last stream (and the last water point) of the day, we finally enter the jungle and a thicker and thicker vegetation. Vines invading the trail force us to use our machetes. We may encounter on the way a few gold miners gone to try their luck in some of the yet unexplored valleys of the area.
We set up camp on a flat spot with amazing views before reaching Cerro Duraznuni,. In the evening, pay attention as it is not rare to have the visit of a jucumari (small Andean bear).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: -860m

We travel deeper and deeper into the suffocating heat before brutally exiting the jungle and finishing the trek amongst coffee, coca and citrus plantations until we reach the Estancia Sikilini (el.1850 m.a.s.l.). There we meet the dirt road that leads to Chulumani, located on the other side of the valley. We are now surrounded on all sides by coca plantations
After taking our lunch in the “Butterfly Capital”, our private vehicle takes us back to La Paz (4h de route).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: -870m

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.