Climbing Culture in Bolivia Runs Deep
On the edge of the Central Andes mountains, Bolivia boasts a rich tapestry of climbing history and culture with deep roots in the country’s rugged terrain and indigenous heritage. Climbing in Bolivia traces its origins back centuries, intertwined with the traditions of indigenous communities who traversed the Andean mountains for trade, communication, and spiritual purposes. Over time, these ancient pathways evolved into modern climbing routes, attracting mountaineers from around the world eager to test their skills on Bolivia’s formidable peaks.
One of the more unique facets of Bolivia’s climbing scene is the emergence of the Cholita Climbers, a group of indigenous Aymara women defying stereotypes and challenging the notion of who can be a climber in the largely male-dominated world of mountaineering. Dressed in their distinctive traditional attire, including bowler hats and brightly colored skirts, these women have scaled some of Bolivia’s highest peaks such as Huayna Potosí (19,974’/6,088m) and Illimani (21,122’/6,438m). In a country where the mountains are revered as sacred and climbing is deeply ingrained in the fabric of daily life, the Cholita Climbers stand as symbols of the power of mountaineering to create transformative experiences.
The history and culture of mountaineering in Bolivia is precisely why we love climbing here. On our Mountains of Bolivia expedition, we scale Pequeño Alpamayo (17,482 feet/5,329m), as well as Huayna Potosi and Illimani. Since La Paz is already at nearly 12,000’, we begin acclimatizing as soon as we arrive. Then, we spend a day enjoying the local indigenous culture at Lake Titicaca and stay the night in the lakeside town of Copacabana before heading up Pico Austria, our first acclimatization peak before moving onto the three main objectives of the expedition.
Interested to experience the unique mountain culture of Bolivia firsthand? Our next trip runs July 20 – Aug 09, 2024. Reach out to our office to see if Bolivia is the right expedition for you.
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Bolivia Expedition Updates
Pictured climbing is lead guide, Gaspar Navarrete, before the team summited Pequeño Alpamayo (17,482′ / 5329m). Like its famous taller neighbors in Peru, Pequeño’s face is technical yet reasonable. The…Read the story
7 Reasons You Should Climb in Bolivia
Written by Mike Pond This summer, an Alpenglow team of four led by guides Gaspar Navarrete, Mike Pond, and Isaac Laredo climbed Pequeño Alpamayo, Huayna Potosi and Illimani in Bolivia….Read the story
Acclimatization Hikes in Bolivia
From Lake Titicaca, the team will attempt their first peak, Pequeño Alpamayo (17,482′ / 5329m). Like its famous taller neighbor in Peru, Pequeño’s face is beautiful and the climb is technical yet…Read the story
Exploring Bolivia: A Unique and Ideal Intermediate Mountaineering Destination
Bolivia is the intermediate mountaineer’s hidden gem, offering a unique blend of adventure, challenge, and cultural richness. Nestled in the Southern Andes, Bolivia’s diverse landscapes and towering peaks make it an ideal destination for growing climbers seeking to expand their skills on Pequeño Alpamayo (17,482’/5,329m), Huayna Potosi (19,975’/6,088m), and Illimani (21,125′/6439m).Read the story
Three Summits in Bolivia
YESTERDAY WAS A BIG DAY FOR OUR BOLIVIA EXPEDITION- THE TEAM SUMMITED ILLIMANI AT 7:30AM. We love starting off a post with “CUMBRE!!!” The team has achieved the third successful…Read the story
3 Reasons Adrian Ballinger Thinks You Should Climb Aconcagua
Rapid Ascent™ distills the expedition down to all its highlights By preacclimatizing at home before the start of the trip, our teams spend a mere 14 days attempting Aconcagua,…Read the story
Inside the Mind of Topo Mena
After a bold ascent of the Messner Route on the South Face of Aconcagua, more than 250 summits of Ecuadorian volcanoes, multiple Grade VI Himalayan first ascents, summits of K2,…Read the story
Road to Everest: Intermediate Peaks
Intermediate peaks are a critical component on the Road to Everest. Once a climber has completed the preceding components of taking intro courses and climbing intro peaks, they are ready…Read the storyTrip Recap: Pequeño Alpamayo
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