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8 days ¨this is a hardcore trek, you will have to battle with thik vegetation, fallen trees and pervasive insects¨. Alistair P. Staggering' is maybe the operative word for this gruesome but once in a lifetime trek along the Mapiri Trail. Following a 1,000yr old pre-Inca trail, the route takes 7 days depending on personal fitness and general conditions. Beginning at the village of Ingenio, the trail drops 3,000m into the jungle through dense cloud forest for which a Rambo-style machete may be required. Trekking across rivers, streams, past ancient caves and ruins, the trail twists and corkscrews through the Bolivian jungle heaving with all of the country's most fascinating wildlife. T he lower reaches seem the exclusive domain of maddening swarms of flies, bees, ants, and wasps. Hikers emerge from the void into the tiny village of Mapiri, at an elevation of 762m (2,500 ft). This is not for the gentle weekend hiker - the Mapiri Trail will chew you up and spit you out if you don't make the grade. But if you do it's an experience you'll never forget in a million years.
PROGRAM Day 1. Drive to Sorata. In the way you will see breathtaking views of the Cordillera Real and Lake Titikaka. Leaving Sorata after lunch we travel through traditional Aymara communities and through the spectacular northern ranges of the Andes to the village of Ingenio, passing snow-peaks and small Andean farmsteads. Day 2. The path goes up through interesting changes in habitat. Our camp is at Mamarani a beautiful grassy area with outstanding views down the valley. Day 3. We rise early and head to the top of Abra Nascara, here we are on the ridge that dominates most of the Mapiri Trail. The next three days we´ll follow this ridge up and down, slowly losing altitude and passing through mostly lush and jungly vegetation. Day 4. Possibly the hardest day of the trek, we walk along a ridge, passing through tunnels and fantastic views, a slight ascent brings us to Alto Palmar. Day 5. Today the trail follows ¨the ridge of bitterness¨, so-called because it´s devoid of water. Our next camp Pararani. Day 6. Just beyond Pararani , the trail leaves the dense vegetation and issues onto a grassy ridge. We walk through a magical world of verdant cloud forest, rare orchids, towering erythrina trees and multicolored birds. Day 7. It is now downhill to Mapiri, we´ll pass through a stretch of dense jungle before arriving to this charming village. Overnight at a basic Hotel. Day 8. After breakfast we take a motorised canoe to Guanay, where we´ll catch our transportation back to La Paz. LAND COSTS INCLUDE:
LAND COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE:
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Bolivian Journeys: P.O. Box 4938 Phone 591-72014900 |
