CHACALTAYA THE HIGHEST NATURAL SKI SLOPE IN THE WORLD

Photo Author: Moreno Rivadeneira

It is a good place for people who need acclimatization, before climbing to higher peaks (Huayna Potosi, Condoriri, Illimani, Illampu).

Chacaltaya is located in the department of La Paz of Bolivia. This mountain, has an altitude of 5486 meters above sea level, has beautiful views and here skiing is practiced.

Due to its proximity to the city of La Paz it is easily accesible.

Going up to the Chacaltaya you will see that the earth changes to all the colors imaginable, with the high peaks of Huayna Potosi, Illimani and Mururata seemingly within reach.

Exploring you can appreciate llamas, sheep and alpacas are abundant, which despite being dry and desertic come to life.

The reason for the landscape to be colorful is because it is a mining area and the many different metals in the soil makes the landscape colorful. In the distance you will see El Alto and La Paz, the lake titikaka, all real mountain picks, and on clear days, even the Sajama Volcano, the highest mountain in Bolivia.

After that we going down to the moon valley. That is known as “El Valle de las Animas” (The Valley of the Souls). It is an important site of the famous holiday, Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead – November 2).

It consists of an area where erosion has worn away the majority of a mountain, composed primarily of clay rather than rock, leaving tall spires.

CHACALTAYA THE HIGHEST NATURAL SKI SLOPE IN THE WORLD

Dificult: ─ Duration: 6 Hours

1st Day: LA PAZ – CHACALTAYA. We departure from La Paz at 8:30 a.m to Chacaltaya that is located at 5.400 meters above sea level, 36 km..
From Chacaltaya we will be able to see the Titikaka Lake, all the Real Mountain Range with picks more than 6.000 meter above sea level and part of La Paz city.
Then we will go down in order to visit Moon Valley that is a land formed by strange rocks product of natural erosion.