The list
Hat, sunglasses, SPF 50. At almost 4,000 m the sun burns in twenty minutes, and there is no shade anywhere in the valley.
Dry air, altitude and dust: you drink more than you expect. Nothing is sold past the chain.
Loose ground, dust, sharp fallen caps. Trail runners are perfect; sandals are not.
Mornings are 0 to 5 °C in the dry season and the wind on the ridge is honest. You will take it off by nine.
10 Bs per person at the chain, paid to the local family. Included in our tours.
Required on every tour. SOAT covers the vehicle only.
Why each thing is on it
The valley sits at about 3,965 m — roughly 300 m higher than the center of La Paz. The air is thin and dry, the sun is strong, and the weather changes with the hour: near freezing at first light in the dry season, hot by ten, cold again the moment the sun drops behind the ridge. So you dress in layers you can shed, you drink before you are thirsty, and you cover your skin before you feel it burn.
The ground is the other half. It is not rock; it is compacted sediment that crumbles, and the trail is dust and loose stones with the occasional sharp fragment of a fallen cap. Shoes with grip turn a moderate walk into an easy one.
What you do not need
- Trekking poles — nice for the full 10 km circuit, unnecessary for the tours.
- Boots — see above.
- A big backpack — a small one for water, layer and camera is right. On private tours the vehicle is never far.
- Food for the day — a snack, yes. Our tours include breakfast or snacks, and the day tour has lunch in the city.
Rainy season additions
From December to March, add a light rain shell and expect mud on the trail. The reward is clouds drifting between the spires. We walk in rather than drive in during those months, so allow a little more time and wear the shoes you would not mind getting dirty.
