Bolivia Climbing - Bolivia Mountain Climbing

For those into climbing, the Andes Mountains of Bolivia offer many places for climbing. There are climbs ranging from easy to moderate to difficult, with hundreds of peaks over 5000 meters and a dozen over 6000 meters. Bolivia offers plenty of places for mountain climbing and many new routes still yet to be explored.

Bolivia has four mountain ranges that are great for climbing; the Cordillera Apolobamba in the northwest, the Cordillera Real that passes near La Paz, the Quimza Cruz to the southeast of La Paz, and the Cordillera Occidental near Chile. Many of these mountains offer a variety of options for climbers.

The range with the best infrastructure to support climbers is the Cordillera Real mountain range. The Cordillera Real is the most popular climbing and trekking region, which has numerous high peaks, easy access from La Paz, and usually stable weather conditions during the dry season.

The best time for climbing in Bolivia is May to September, which is winter in the southern part of the equator in South America and will be colder, but is during the dry season. During the dry season you'll most likely find better weather conditions, clear and sunny days, which will provide you with great views.

There are many peaks in Bolivia that reach an elevation of well over 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) and with a lack of oxygen at these elevations will leave you gasping for breath every step you take. If you plan on climbing these mountains it is a good idea to make sure you are in good physical condition and have acclimatized to the altitude in La Paz first, before you set out on a climbing journey.

The best way to experience mountain climbing in Bolivia is through a tour agency in La Paz that offer guided climbs to many of the popular mountains in the area. A great place to find qualified mountaineering guides that know the mountains is through Club Andino Boliviano in La Paz at Calle Colón #664, where you'll find highly skilled guides.

Below are some of the top places for mountain climbing in Bolivia.

Huayna Potosi
This is a mountain with an elevation of 6,088 meters (19,974 ft). The mountain is located about 25 km (15 miles) north of La Paz. Climbing the mountain of Huayna Potosi is very popular and is one of the world's most visited "6000ers" (mountain peaks over 6000 meters).

Condoriri Mountain Peaks
Condoriri is group of mountain peaks in the Cordillera Real mountain range in the Bolivian Andes of South America. It is popular to climb among mountain climbers that offer amazing views & photos.

Mount Illimani
Mount Illimani has an elevation of 6,438 meters (21,122 ft), making it the highest mountain in the Cordillera Real mountain range of the Andes. Mount Illimani is the prominent peak that that dominates the skyline over the city of La Paz.

Nevado Sajama Volcano
Nevado Sajama is an extinct volcano and the highest peak in Bolivia with an elevation of 6,542 m (21,463 ft). The mountain is located in Sajama National Park in the southwest area of Bolivia near the border of Chile.

Mount Illampu is the 4th highest mountain in Bolivia with an elevation of 6,368 meters (20,892 ft). It is a good mountain climbing destination for climbers with experience and has "the hardest normal route on any of the 6,000 meter peaks in Bolivia." The easiest route, by the Southwest Ridge, is rated AD (Fairly Difficult), with snow slopes up to 65 degrees.

Mount Ancohuma has an elevation of 6,427 m (21,086 ft) making it the third highest mountain peak in Bolivia. It lies just south of the slightly lower Mount Illampú, both of which can be combined into one mountain climbing journey from the town of Sorata.