Bolivian Adventure and Travel Agency - Natural Custom Expeditions

Sajama is an aymara word which means "west". Nevado Sajama is located in the Parque Nacional Sajama, established in 1945. This remote park on Bolivia's south-western border with Chile occupies an area of about 80,000 hectares and includes within its boundaries Bolivia's highest mountain Nevado Sajama (6542 m), an extinct volcano with a large ice cap covering the higher elevations of the mountain. Despite the aridity of the area, the attractions of the park include the world's highest forest, vicunas, rheas, armadillos, flamingoes and Andean condors.

There is no particular season for climbing Sajama, though snowfall can be expected from October - April. Technically, the climb is relatively easy, but the glaciers covering the upper slopes of the volcano are severely crevassed and fairly steep. The usual routes stay on ridges which eventually lead to the icy summit, where there is no trace of any crater. Severe local storms, high winds and the altitude are the main obstacles to any ascent. The mountain was first attempted in 1927 when Joseph Prem soloed the north-west ridge to a height of 6200 m. Several attempts failed due to weather conditions until Prem and his partner Wilfrid Kuehm finally reached the summit of Sajama in August 1939 via the the much more difficult south-east ridge.

Prices per person in Euros FRIST CLASS
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
423	323	283	283	265	257	256

*the difference of classes depends on feeding and camping equipment

Prices per person in Euros STANDAR CLASS
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
371	284	249	248	233	227	225

ITINERARY

Day 1
We drive 5 hours, on asphalt road, to Sajama village , on our way visiting prehistoric tombs and the church of Curawara de Carangas “the Andean Cistine chapel” to enjoy a variety of old paintings. From the village of Sajama we continue by a sandy track for 30 minutes to reach up the Sajama base camp at 4700 m high.

Day 2
5 hours up along scree slopes. Porters help with extra luggage up to the high camp. Belongings not needed for high camp stay in base camp watched by a guardian.

Day 3
2 hours of mixed technical PD+ climbing at times through loose rocks to finally catch the main glacier which is often covered with “penitentes” (ice stalactites). According to how tall they are we take more or less time to walk up to the summit but frequently it takes 4 hours. Return to base camp where our car waits for us for a short transfer to a little country hotel in Tomarapi for our accommodation.

Day 4
Lazy day to relax while we visit the geysers of Pomerata and hot springs available for bath.

Day 5
An hour drive across a sandy track up to 5400 m high at the base of Parinacota mountain. 6 hour walk up along a scree slope easier than Sajama`s, climbing PD- on snow the last 100 meters. Return to our car and return to Tomarapi.

Day 6
Return to La Paz (4 hrs.).

EXTENSIONS: You can link it to “Deserts of Sajama, Lauca, Atacama, Uyuni and San Pedro in 4 x4”.

You can take this tour private the date that you need or can see our cronogram FIT of dates programmed for this year.(retourn to the top)

THE SERVICE INCLUDES

-Bilingual mountain Guide
- Cook
- Porters to carry extra luggage up to high camp,
-Assistant of mountain guides (for + of 2 clients)
- Guardian for base camp,
- all food during the trip (except first breakfast and last diner)
- Cooking and dining gear
- Camping gear
- Ropes and snow stake
- Private Transportation
- 2 nights lodging in Sajama (Tomarapi)
Entrances fees the National Park Sajama

EXPEDITION LOGISTICS

LEVEL OF DIFICULTY: On climbing we use the French alpine system : It starts at F (facile or easy), PD(peu difficile or a fairly easy), AD (assez difficile or fairly difficult), D (difficile or difficult), TD (très difficile or very difficult), ED (extrêmement difficile or extremely difficult). They take into consideration: The technical difficulty of the hardest section of the routes which starts at over 5000 m high and acclimatization which is as important as technical ability. In trekking we consider as well those 6 difficulties explained above but we transferred the situation to the activity of the trek. The only remarkable difference exists in the altitude: The true climbing activity starts at over 5000 m high but the trekking activity runs from 1500 m high up to 5150 m high.