Huanacuni Ascent

Departure north early in the morning to the Apolobamba Cordillera. After driving along Titicaca Lake, many passes and hairpin curves leads us to the high plateaux below the cordillera. We follow the cordillera to reach Pujo Pujo lake by the end of the day. Camp next to the lake.

From the lake, it is an easy way up north-west to the next pass at 4950 m als. / 16 240 feet. Our Path goes on following a contour line, then get around a rock barrier and arrive at our last pass at 5000 m asl. / 16 404 feet, an incredible viewpoint on the mountain range. The view on Cololo (or Anta Kjawa) and Huanacuni glaciers are simply gorgeous. We have now to descend in a large valley on our left, cross a nice stream, and go up north-east into the valley on our right, towards the two glaciers. Then we follow a stream and some big lakes before setting up our camp on the shore of the third lake at around 4680 m.a.s.l./15350 feet of altitude. This place is definitely one of the most beautiful of the Cordillera, and the panorama is breathtaking.

Departure to the end of the valley, along the left side of the lake. Easy way up on the hillside on a lama path, until 4850 m.a.s.l./15910 feet of altitude. Then we walk up in a valley on the left, to a pass at 5250 m asl. / 17 224 feet, which allow switching into the next valley. Before the pass, we set up the camp at 5020 m asl. / 16 470 feet on a flat area.

We start on our right towards the glacial massif. We have to pass a rocky barrier to reach the ice tongue. We walk by the bottom of the rocky barrier at the level of the sandy moraine, on a pass at 5150 m.a.s.l./16896 feet and finally arrive at the glacier edge (2h30 walk). Easy progression on the glacier until a pass at 5330 m.a.s.l./17486 feet then we climb on the right on steeper slopes(45º/50º) until the ridges at 5500m.a.s.l./18044 feet of altitude, after less than 2 hours from the start on the glacier. Gorgeous view on the whole ridges and the main peak. We continue on the ridges, with another good climb before reaching the plateau at 5615 m.a.s.l./18420 feet at the bottom of the main peak (2 hours). We continue on the last steep ridges (65º). After 1 hour, we arrive at the summit ( 5790 m.a.s.l./18996 feet) Descent by the same route, until the pass at 5330 m.a.s.l./17486 feet (3 hours), and then return to the Cololo camp.

Return to Pujo Pujo Lake by the same route. Night at the camp.

Departure in a 4WD vehicle early in the morning from Pujo Pujo Lake. We start a long crossing of the high plateaux. The panorama of all the Apolobamba range on our left is totally gorgeous. Then we go down towards the Titicaca Lake and reach La Paz by the end of the day.