Cerro Chacaltaya Bolivia — cima a 5.421m con vistas sobre La Paz y los Andes nevados

← La Paz·Cordillera Real · 5.421m

Cerro Chacaltaya,
5,421m.

The most accessible peak by road in the Bolivian Andes. 30km from La Paz, the road reaches 5,200m — the summit is 30 minutes on foot. Views over La Paz, Illimani and Lake Titicaca from the top.

How to ascend ↓La Paz guide →Gallery ↓

Altitude

5,421m

From La Paz

30km · 1h by car

Road reaches

5,200m

Final trek

30–40 min

Level

Moderate (altitude)

Best season

May–October

— The ascent, the glacier, the history

One peak. Three stories.

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The Ascent — Road to 5,200m + Summit Trail

The easiest 5,000m+ summit in Bolivia

The road from La Paz to Chacaltaya climbs through the Altiplano and up the Cordillera Real to a parking area at approximately 5,200m where the old ski lodge ruins (the world's highest ski resort until the glacier disappeared in 2009) sit. From the parking area, a marked trail winds up the rocky slope to the summit at 5,421m — approximately 30–40 minutes at a very slow altitude pace. The views expand with every step: La Paz below, Huayna Potosí (6,088m) towering to the north, and the disappeared Chacaltaya glacier as a white scar below the summit.

Tip

Take it extremely slowly — at 5,200m+, even fit people move at half their normal pace. Rest every 10 steps if needed. Do not attempt if you haven't acclimatized in La Paz for at least 2–3 days (ideally more). The summit ridge is exposed — bring a windproof layer, sun protection and gloves. Morning visits (arrive at parking by 10am) typically have clearer skies before afternoon cloud builds.

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The Disappeared Glacier — A Climate Story

The world's first glacier lost to climate change

Chacaltaya's glacier was the oldest glacier ski resort in the world — ski records here date back to 1939. Scientists began monitoring the glacier's retreat in the 1980s. By 2009, the glacier had completely disappeared — 18 years ahead of the most pessimistic scientific projections. The Chacaltaya glacier became the first glacier in the world confirmed lost to climate change, documented by Bolivian scientists Edson Ramírez and colleagues from UMSA La Paz. Today the bare rock where the glacier stood is one of the most visceral climate change testimonials in South America.

Tip

Photographs from the 1990s show the entire north face covered in a 1–2m thick glacier. The rock you walk on today was permanently ice-covered until recently. The climate monitoring station at 5,200m still operates and transmits data to UMSA. Chacaltaya's story is frequently cited in IPCC reports as a concrete early-warning example of glacial retreat impact on Andean water systems.

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History of the Ski Resort

World's highest ski club — since 1939

The Club Andino Boliviano established the first ski infrastructure at Chacaltaya in 1939, making it the world's highest ski resort at the time (and the highest glacier ski resort until its closure). At its peak in the 1970s–80s, Chacaltaya had a rope tow, a small cabin, and attracted skiers from across South America. The 1998–99 El Niño severely damaged the glacier; by the 2000s, skiing was only possible a few weeks per year. The resort closed permanently when the glacier disappeared in 2009. The ruins of the old ski cabin are still visible at 5,200m.

Tip

The old ski cabin ruins and the rusted rope tow mechanism are still visible at the parking area — a poignant industrial archaeology at 5,200m. The Club Andino Boliviano still exists and organizes climbing expeditions in the Cordillera Real. Ask at their office in La Paz for current mountain conditions and guide recommendations for Chacaltaya and Huayna Potosí.

⚠️ Altitude warning

Chacaltaya (5,421m) is 1,780m above La Paz (3,640m). The altitude difference can cause acute mountain sickness even in people acclimatized to La Paz. Symptoms: severe headache, nausea, confusion, serious breathing difficulty. If you experience these symptoms at the summit, descend immediately. Minimum days in La Paz before going: 2–3 days. Constant hydration from the day before. No alcohol in the 24h prior. Bring coca tea or altitude sickness pills.

— Gallery