The Pacha Trek community hostels are part of a sustainable tourism project for preserving the Kallawaya culture, a UNESCO intangible heritage.
Each hostel is managed by community members and built with local materials to respect the surrounding environment.
Travellers on the Pacha Trek can find different kinds of accommodations in the four villages crossed by this itinerary: Qutapampa, Caluyo, Chacarapi and Chari.
Each section of the Pacha Trek features a hostel where travellers can find accommodation for the night in shared spaces. Although each hostel has a specific identity and is different from the others along the route, they all have one thing in common: wonderful views of the surrounding landscapes.
Respect for nature and for the ancient Kallawaya culture, declared an intangible Unesco World Cultural Heritage, are the focus of the experience in these community hostels.
The four community hostels of the Pacha Trek have been designed to make your stay a pleasant and engaging experience, in the company of your fellow travellers and the members of the community. Unforgettable evenings spent in welcoming authentic settings await you: contact us to be a part of this great adventure.
Additional Info
It is recommended to wear warm clothing, fit for windy weather conditions and comfortable shoes, and to bring with you a sleeping bag, hat and sunglasses.
Where
Communities of Qutapama, Caluyo, Chacarapi and Chari, municipality of Charazani, department of La Paz.
Transportation
By public transport
From the El Alto terminal, there are buses that run along the route that leads to the Charazani community; To get to the Qutapampa community where the trek begins, private transportation is necessary.
By private transport
From La Paz along National Route 16 towards Lake Titicaca until you reach the intersection of the Qutapampa community. Average duration of the trip: 5 hours.
Visiting Rules
For your health and the health of local population, remember to comply with all biosecurity protocols and codes of conduct before and during your stay: wear a mask and carry hand sanitizer, plus a first aid kit, with sunscreen and medications for altitude sickness.
During your visit remember to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the region.
Qutapampa Hostel
The Qutapampa hostel has been designed to welcome visitors on their arrival from La Paz, offering a short break before tackling the trek. Furnished and decorated by the members of the community, travellers can rest here and have a meal. The hostel has some beds, a kitchen, tables and an outdoor bathroom.
Caluyo Hostel
The community hostel of Caluyo, like the other Pacha Trek hostels, has its own one-of-a-kind identity, as a creative and mindful expression of the local community. The rooms are decorated with handicrafts that enliven the spaces with their many colours and different shapes. Built of stone to fully respect the surrounding environment, the Caluyo hostel has been adapted to meet the needs of travellers. Originally, it had a single room hosting eight people, but over the years the villagers have added a kitchen and a dining room to allow visitors to enjoy the local dishes more comfortably.
The dishes are prepared and offered by the community members, feature llama or alpaca meat and are accompanied by delicious papalisas and served along with a nutritious boiled drink made with grains such as cañahua or barley.
To warm up in these cold regions and get to know the travellers better, the locals have the habit of sharing different varieties of mate with their guests, a great way to get closer to the community, a unique opportunity to hear the ancient stories and legends of this characteristic Andean village.
Chacarapi and Chari hostels
Chacarapi Hostel
Pacha Trek travellers can stop overnight in Chacarapi in a hostel accommodating about eight people. As is normally the case, guests sleep in a common room and can use an eco-friendly bathroom, a dining area and a kitchen. In Chacarapi too the guests can enjoy the wonderful flavours of the region and recharge after an exciting day’s trekking. The members of the community do their best to make sure each traveller spends a few happy hours of rest before setting off again on a new stretch of the journey.
Chari Hostel
Along the descent from the village of Chacarapi to the town of Charazani, travellers encounter rivers and landscapes of great beauty in the characteristic nature of the valley surrounding this town, one of the most important in the region. The village of Chari, where the hostel is located, is on the outskirts of Charazani and is the last place where travellers can rest on the Pacha Trek route.
The Chari hostel is a family-friendly facility housed in a typical building: here the guests can find a bed and enjoy some typical dishes, based on delicious produce of the region, prepared by the villagers.
