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Camino Inca Taquesi Bolivia — sendero precolombino empedrado bajando desde los Andes hacia los Yungas
— Inca Trail · 42km · 2 days4.630m → 2.150m

Taquesi
Inca Trail.

42km of pre-Columbian stone paving from 4,630m Andean peaks to the Yungas at 2,150m. Bolivia's finest 2-day trek from La Paz. No permit required. Original Inca stonework in outstanding condition.

Itinerary ↓Yungas guide →Gallery ↓
Distance
42km
Duration
2 days
Max altitude
4,630m (Mina pass)
Min altitude
2,150m (Yanacachi)
Descent
-2,480m
Permit
Not required
— 2,000 years of Inca engineering

The Inca trail Peru doesn\'t have.

Same origin. Same stonework. No permits, no quotas, no queues.

~500 BC–1400
The Qhapaq Ñan
The Taquesi was part of the Qhapaq Ñan — the Inca road system, with over 30,000km of network across the Andes. The Taquesi section connected the altiplano (coca, minerals) with the Yungas (timber, tropical fruits, lowland goods) — one of the Empire's supply routes.
1438–1533
Inca engineering
The Taquesi paving includes steps cut into bedrock, lateral drainage channels and retaining walls that still work perfectly 500+ years later. No cement — only millimetre-precision cut stone. Stretches of 200–300m of original stonework are visible throughout the route.
20th c.
The forgotten trail
While Peru's Inca Trail became a global circuit with 500 people/day and 6-month advance booking, the Bolivian Taquesi remained virtually unknown. No tourist infrastructure, no marketing, no permits — and no crowds.
today
Andean trekking's best secret
42km, 2 days, no advance booking. The Taquesi has more original Inca paving in better condition than many stretches of the Peruvian Inca Trail. The only difference: no queue at the trailhead.

A fact that changes the perspective: the Peruvian Inca Trail receives up to 500 people per day with mandatory 6-month advance booking. The Bolivian Taquesi, with Inca paving of equal age and better preservation in several sections, receives perhaps 3–5 groups per week. There is no geological or historical reason for this difference — only marketing.

— Taquesi day by day

42km. Two distinct worlds.

Day 0
La Paz → Chojlla
  • Early departure from La Paz (6–7am) by private vehicle or with operator.
  • 3h paved road to Chojlla (4,100m) — the trailhead.
  • Entry registration (~10–15 Bs) and guide briefing if applicable.
  • Lunch in Chojlla before starting (local store or bring your own).

Many travellers leave La Paz in the afternoon and overnight in Chojlla — basic accommodation available and allows for an acclimatised dawn start.

Day 1
Chojlla → Camp near Mina Pass
  • Trail begins at Chojlla (4,100m). Inca paving starts immediately.
  • Gradual ascent to the Mina Pass (4,630m) — 2–3h. Spectacular views of Illimani.
  • The pass crosses from arid Andean zone to the first Yungas clouds — the transition is visible in minutes.
  • Descent to camp (3,200–3,500m) through increasingly green and humid vegetation.
  • Total: ~20km, 6–7h effective walking. Elevation: +530m up, -1,000m down.

Main camp at Estancia Takesi (~3,200m) with local community selling basic food. Bring a sleeping bag rated -5°C minimum for cool nights at altitude.

Day 2
Camp → Yanacachi (or Kakapi)
  • Dawn views over the Yungas valley from camp.
  • Day 2 Inca paving is the best preserved — stretches of 200–300m of original stonework.
  • Continuous descent from 3,200m to 2,150m (Yanacachi) through transition forest and cloud forest.
  • Arrival at Yanacachi or Kakapi (~5–6h) for transport back to La Paz (bus or van, ~3h).
  • Day 2 total: ~22km, 5–6h. Descent: -1,350m.

The final section (Yungas Chojlla to Yanacachi) is the greenest and most spectacular of the route. Don't rush — the last 2h pass through primary cloud forest with orchids and bromeliads.

— Practical preparation

Logistics without surprises.

🎒

What to bring

  • Sleeping bag (-5°C rated minimum)
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers (rain possible at all times)
  • Trekking poles (descent is steep and knee-intensive)
  • 3L water capacity (refillable at community streams — purify)
  • High-calorie snacks and lunch for Day 1 (no services on trail)
  • Headlamp with extra batteries
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses (high altitude UV)
  • First aid kit including altitude medication (acetazolamide)
🏕️

Camping & accommodation

  • Day 1 camp: Estancia Takesi (~3,200m) — flat ground, community water, basic food available
  • Some trekkers carry a tent; others sleep in the community hall for ~15–20 Bs
  • No formal guesthouses on the trail — semi-wild camping
  • Yanacachi (end point) has basic guesthouses (~$10–15 USD/night) if you finish late
  • La Paz guesthouses for pre/post trek: Onkel Inn, Wild Rover, Adventure Brew Hostel in La Paz
🧭

Guide & logistics

  • Guide optional but recommended: the trail is well-marked but a local guide adds Inca history context and finds the best detour viewpoints
  • Guide cost: ~$80–120 USD for 2 days (private, with 4×4 transport from La Paz)
  • Recommended operators: Bolivia Inca Trail, Andean Summits, Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking (for combined Death Road + Taquesi packages)
  • Mule hire available at Chojlla (for carrying gear) — ~$40–60/day
  • Safety: carry altitude sickness medication. Acclimatise 1–2 days in La Paz (3,600m) before the trek.
FAQ

Questions about the Taquesi.

Plan your trek →

The Taquesi (Takesi) Trail is a 42km pre-Columbian stone-paved route from the Andean peaks (4,630m at Mina pass) down to the Yungas valley at Yanacachi (2,150m). It is one of Bolivia's best-preserved Inca road sections — stretches of original stone paving 2,000+ years old are found throughout. It can be trekked in 2 days from La Paz without any permit. No daily quotas, no booking system, no entrance fees beyond a nominal area registration (~10–15 Bs).

No permit is required for the Taquesi Trail — unlike Peru's Inca Trail. A nominal area registration fee (~10–15 Bs) is paid at the Chojlla trailhead. No daily visitor quotas, no booking system. You only need your passport or ID. This makes the Taquesi one of the most accessible major Inca trail experiences in South America.

The Taquesi trailhead is at Chojlla, 3 hours from La Paz by private vehicle. The road is paved. Most trekkers go with a local operator who provides 4×4 transport from La Paz to Chojlla and collects at Yanacachi at the end. Self-organised: take any La Paz–Chulumani bus to the Chojlla junction, then taxi/mototaxi to the trailhead. Cost by private vehicle from La Paz: ~$50–80 USD round trip.

Moderate fitness level. The ascent to the Mina pass (4,630m) on Day 1 is the hardest section: 530m of climb at altitude, 2–3h. The descent over 2 days is knee-intensive but not technically difficult. Main risk is altitude — the pass at 4,630m can cause discomfort for those not well acclimatised. Spend at least 2 nights in La Paz (3,600m) before attempting the trail and carry acetazolamide (Diamox) as a precaution.

May to October (dry season) is best: less mud, clear views from the Mina pass, more stable trail conditions. The wet season (November–April) is possible but the trail gets muddy in sections. The Mina pass can have ice and sleet in June–July. Any time of year, bring waterproofs — the Yungas descent can be wet regardless of season. The trail never closes.

Yes — the trail is well-marked with cairns and local community signs. Many experienced trekkers complete it self-guided. A guide adds: Inca history context, local knowledge of shortcuts and viewpoints, emergency support, and logistical simplification. The main practical advantage of a guide is transport coordination (La Paz → Chojlla → Yanacachi → La Paz). If going without a guide, arrange transport independently with a La Paz agency or the Chulumani bus system.

— Your Taquesi trek

2,480m of descent.
We start tomorrow.

We organise your complete Taquesi: 4×4 transport, local guide, camping gear and La Paz return logistics.

$90 · €85 · Bs. 623

Book consultation → $90 · €85 · Bs. 623Choro Trail →