Yunga Cruz trek
La Paz Department · Adventure and peaks
The Yunga Cruz is the longest and wildest of the three great old trails that drop from the cordillera to the Yungas. It starts near Illimani, follows ridges with huge views, then plunges into cloud forest down to the Chulumani area. Few people, lots of climbing.
3,000 maltitude
4 to 5 daysto spend there
Things to do
- Start below Illimani
- Ridges and views over the valleys
- Descent into the cloud forest
- Arrival near Chulumani
What to eat
- Yungas coffeeLocally grown coffee, to drink in Coroico's little cafés or to take home.
- Tropical fruitMangoes, pineapples, papayas, achachairú (a small tangy fruit) and fresh juices everywhere for a few bolivianos.
Tip. Demanding 4 to 5-day trek, with a guide or a La Paz agency. May to September. Little water on the ridges.
How to get to Yunga Cruz
More places in this region
La PazThe world's highest seat of government, in a bowl at the foot of Illimani.
El AltoThe big Aymara city on the Altiplano, right above La Paz: a giant market, cholets and cholita wrestling.
Valle de la LunaMoon-like clay formations in the southern suburbs of La Paz.
Valle de las ÁnimasA forest of earth spires on the edge of La Paz, bigger and wilder than the Valley of the Moon.
ChacaltayaA former ski area at 5,400 m: the highest view of the Cordillera Real.
Huayna PotosíA 6,000 m peak known as one of the most accessible, with a guided 2 or 3-day climb.
Cordillera Real: CondoririGlacial lagoons and snowy peaks, two hours from La Paz.
TiwanakuUNESCO-listed pre-Inca site: the Gate of the Sun and the Kalasasaya temple.- Uru community of IruitoAn Uru community on the Desaguadero river, keepers of a very old lake culture.
Jesús de MachacaAn Aymara Altiplano village and its 1706 church, south of Lake Titicaca.
Comanche and its Puya raimondiiA forest of Puya raimondii, the world's largest bromeliad, on the Altiplano.- Viscachani hot springsWarm-water baths on the Altiplano, on the road to Oruro, about 1 h 30 from La Paz.
SorataA quiet village at the foot of Illampu, a base for treks.
Charazani and ApolobambaLand of the Kallawaya Andean healers (UNESCO), with hot springs and great treks.
Death Road (bike)The world's most famous mountain bike descent: from 4,650 m to 1,200 m in a day.
Choro trek (Inca trail)Three days on a pre-Hispanic trail, from the snows of La Cumbre down to the Yungas forest.
Takesi trek (Inca trail)Two days on one of Bolivia's best-preserved Inca trails, down to Yanacachi.
Coroico (Yungas)A hilltop village in the subtropical Yungas: coffee, waterfalls and pools with a view.
Chulumani (South Yungas)A small South Yungas town among coffee, coca and cloud forest, away from the crowds.