Sorata Bolivia

The small town of Sorata has one of the most beautiful setting in Bolivia. Early Spanish explorers dubbed it the "Garden of Eden", with beautiful views over the lush green valleys and the snowcapped peaks of Mount Illampu and Ancohuma towering over the town.

Sorata, Bolivia is an old colonial town with a population of around 5,000 people. It is located in the La Paz Department in the Bolivian Andes, just east of Lake Titicaca. It is about a four hour drive northwest from the city of La Paz.

In the colonial days the town had a large Spanish population and provided a link to the Alto Beni gold mines and rubber plantations, and a gateway to the Amazon Basin. In 1781 it was the site of an unorthodox siege by the nephew of one of the Inca leaders, Tupac Amaru, and his 16,000 soldiers. They constructed dikes above the town, and when these had been filled with runoff from the slopes of the nearby mountain peaks of Illampu, they opened the floodgates and the town was washed away killing many Spanish settlers.

More recently the town has become a great destination for numerous activities such as mountain biking, climbing and hiking or trekking the trails. There are many trails near the town of Sorata that wind around the mountains of Illampu and where you can explore the alpine lakes and hanging glaciers in the area.

Sorata has a comfortable climate and is located at an elevation of around 2,678 meters (8,810ft). It is lower and noticeably warmer than La Paz, and higher and cooler than the Yungas towns such as Coroico.

The town serves as a great base for hikers or climbers to explore the beautiful sights in the area and there are several small hotels in the town to stay at.

Getting There

There are buses or minis that leave from the Cemeterio district of La Paz to Sorata. The two bus companies that go there are Trans Unificada Sorata and Trans Larecaja and the bus ride normally takes about four hours.

Buses from La Paz arrive in front of the two bus company offices in Sorata, which is next to the town's main plaza, known as Plaza Enrique Penaranda, where you'll find bunch of little restaurants and a number of hotels.

Sorata Attractions - Things to do

Climbing, Hiking & Trekking

San Pedro Cave: This cave is about a 2-3 hour hike from the town of Sorata and has some great views along the way over the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Mount Illampu is the 4th highest mountain in Bolivia with an elevation of 6,368 meters (20,892 ft). It is a great 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.

Laguna Glacial (Glacial Lake) also called Lichikhota sits at an elevation of 5,130 meters (17,000 ft). This small lake is located on the Illampu-Ancohuma massif between Mount Illampú and Ancohuma, which makes a great hiking destination from the town of Sorata.
 

Chillata Lake: Also called Khotapata, this lake sits at an elevation of 4,225 meters (13,900 ft). It is about a 6-8 hour hike from the town of Sorata and can be combined with a hike up to the much higher Laguna Glacial.

El Camino de Oro (Goldminers’ Trail): This is about a 5-7 day trek that follows a thousand-year-old trail from the heights of the Altiplano to the gold mining villages of the semi-tropical Yungas. The trail takes you through dramatic changes in landscape and vegetation, and where you'll see remnants of Inca stonework. In Inca times, the trail was used for bringing gold to the empire.

Mapiri Trail: This is a 6-8 day trek that takes you to the mining town of Mapiri in the Yungas. The trail is challenging and runs through a beautiful and remote region of forest-covered mountains. The trek often involves hacking through thick vegetation and fighting off insects. The trail starts at a small village near Sorata.

Hotels - Where to Sleep

Hotels in Sorata cater more to foreign visitors such as climbers, backpackers and hikers. There are many budget hotels in the town and many a located on or near the main plaza. Though there are not any upscale hotels in the town of Sorata, you'll find that most of the sleeping options are comfortable and ... read more

Restaurants, Bars, Cafes - Places To Eat

There is a good selection of Sorata restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since the town is popular among foreign climbers, hikers and trekkers the restaurants caters to them and you can find many foods from pastas, pizza and ... read more

Forums - Sorata Forum

Ask a question in the Sorata Forum and get answers. You can also browse the forum or post travel stories, upload your photos, share travel tips or give advice to other travellers. In addition you can recommend hotels & restaurants that you think other travelers should try or to avoid. Whatever it is, share it! ... read more