A two-day on-the-road adventure on the Takesi, one of the trails of the Qhapaq Ñan Inca road network in Bolivia.
The Takesi trail features some perfectly preserved sections of the pre-Columbian road that give us an idea of the grand scale of this feat of engineering.
The huge web of roads that cross Latin America, and which are known as the Qhapaq Ñan network, reached its peak during the Inca period and served to connect the peoples that were part of their vast empire, known as Tahuantinsuyo. Today, travelling along these roads is the best way to understand the spirit of the Andean region and the people who inhabit it. Along the trail we will pass through towns and cross fertile valleys and amazing highlands, until we reach the humid forested hills. Besides the great variety of spectacular scenery along the way, we will also come into contact with the communities which, like their ancestors before them, still use this ancient road network.
These communities are the guardians of ancestral traditions and customs that have survived to this day. In fact, it is only thanks to the local people who provide camping spaces and basic services that we can experience this adventure.
Services
- Camping
- Food and beverage
- Local guides
- Overland transport
Additional Info
Difficulty level
Medium.
Packing list
Personal documents, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat or cap, bathing suit, comfortable clothes and shoes, warm clothes and woollen hat for the night, raincoat for the rainy season (December to April), camera, snacks. Personal medication for altitude sickness.
Included services
Transportation: private round-trip transportation.
Accommodation: one night in the Takesi village camping area.
Meals: traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner with local produce; enquire about vegetarian food.
First aid kit.
Local guides.
Pick up at the hotels, if located in the city centre and subject to arrangement with the operator. Elsewhere, a meeting point will be arranged possibly at extra cost.
Services not included
Breakfast on the first day.
Dinner on the last day.
Beverages.
Any services not agreed on.
Tips.
Extra charges.
Info Reservation
Minimum group: 10 people
Minimum time for reservation: one week
Day 1
From La Paz to the village of Takesi
Duration: 1,5 days
La Paz – Choquecota – Takesi Village
We will leave early from La Paz by bus or minibus. The first stop is the village of Choquecota, passing through the community of Ventilla to stock up on essentials. The first day of trekking will take us through an apacheta, the mines of San Francisco and the famous lagoon of Luru Kheri, which is located at an altitude of 4700 meters, where we will have time to rest and take pictures. Soon after we will reach the village of Takesi where we will have dinner and spend the night in the local camping area.
Day 2
From the Cacapi community to the Chojlla community and back to La Paz
Duration: 1,5 days
Cacapi community – Chojlla community – La Paz
Continuing on our adventure, we will trek on the pre-Columbian trails to the community of Cacapi, where we will have lunch and enjoy the nature and the spectacular Andean landscapes.
In the afternoon, the tour will continue to the Chojlla mine, at an altitude of 2,400 meters. After visiting this ancient mining town we will prepare to return to La Paz.