Page Type:
|
Hut/Campground |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
|
16.35353°S / 68.13173°W |
Season:
|
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
Elevation:
|
17388 ft / 5300 m |
Main data
Chacaltaya lodge
Me close to the outside toilet
Chacaltaya’s lodge, or by the name it is well known in La Paz, Club Andino Chacaltaya, is probably the highest refuge in Bolivia at the impressive altitude of 5.300 m high. Up there, it used to be the highest ski station of the world, not anymore since 2009, because the glacier already melted away and the amount of snow rarely reaches enough to ski down the mountain, since snowfalls are very common on the mountain, but it melts away in matter of hours. You have to be lucky to get good conditions.
To get to Chacaltaya refuge from La Paz just rent a car and ask for directions, everyone knows how to get there. If you won't drive, a taxi is the best and cheaper option to reach such place. If you have problems to aclimatize so high so fast, I would advise you to sleep at least a couple nights in La Paz, and a couple nights more in Zongo region, at around 4.400m. After that move up to the hut, and a couple nights more you'll be ready and safe to reach higher grounds.
Red Tape
The night on the hut costs aprox USD 15.00
There is a parking lot if you’re travelling with your car.
To renew your anti-freeze fluid is very, very important, otherwise your car won’t start up next morning, be sure of that.
There’s always a good hot coca tea, chicken soup, and other meals at the hut. The beds are pretty comfy and worm.
The hut also have a great kitchen where you can cook your own meal to save some money, but as you get laisy at this altitude and the meals are cheap as hell, I wouldn’t mind at all hehehe...
Contact info:
Club Andino Boliviano (Calle México 1638, La Paz, +591 2 32 46 82)
By bus
In summer (rainy season, ski season), there might be a bus on weekends when/if the ski lift operate. In winter only, there are combined tours of Chacaltaya and Valle de la Luna runs. It gives you 40 minutes on the mountain and cost Bs. 50 to 75. It is not enough time to get used to the altitude, however. Check if admissions and snacks are included in the price.
By Taxi
From La Paz it takes 1-1.5 hours and costs between Bs. 200 and 240, depending on your bargaining skills. The drivers will wait up to three hours while you take in the views from the top.
From El Alto (airport region) it takes one hour and costs Bs. 100 after bargaining. Green Micros run from central La Paz to Plaza Ballivian in El Alto for Bs. 1.
Capacity and more
And pretty comfy beds!
Max Kaush and Hilton Benke working on lunch.
Weather Forecast
Before drive up to Chacaltaya hut, I should tell you to check the weather forecast first. The road often get frozen and the cars in La Paz aren't equipped with chains so it gets impossible to drive as high as the refuge itself, most likely you'll stop at around 4.400 to 4.600m high, and because of that a long hike will be the next step!Click at the image to check the forecast!
Legal Issues
To hike/ climb is a dangerous activity and requires proper equipment and clothing, the owner of this page cannot be blamed by injuries caused to anyone who read this page for its info about the mountain, and eventually got hurt by doing so with reckless behaviour or bad weather conditions.
Paulo Roberto Felipe Schmidt – AKA: PAROFES
External Links
A brazilian website to get mountains info, including gps files to download:http://www.rumos.net.br/rumos/My youtube channel: www.youtube.com/parofes - Now with 270+ videos online!
The biggest brazilian website about climbing and mountaineering, for which I'm a columnist:
