THE REAL MOUNTAIN RANGE
It is the most famous and visited mountain range in the Bolivian Andes. Its peaks average a height of 6000 meters, making the range one of the highest in the planet. It starts in the Southeast with the majestic Mount Illimani, closely La Paz, and ends in the Northwest with Mount Illampu, very near Lake Titicaca and the Peruvian frontier.
Starting point The city of La Paz, capital of Bolivia, is the natural access point to reach any of the Real´s peaks. This provides the opportunity of getting to know the city's streets and people, markets and fairs, churches and a great production of arts and crafts. After resting there for a night or two, it becomes time to carry on, into the mountains.
The adventure The distance form La Paz to most peaks in the Real mountain range is not greater than 50 km. To approach the range, there is a dirt road that stretches out form La Paz. The access to each individual peak is different. Only 35 km away, is mount Illimani, something like the "Guardian" of the city, for it almost stands over it. With its height of 6460 meters, it is the highest mountain in the region. Its normal ascent route is moderately difficult, but it also has alternative routes for ice climbing experts. In any case, a 1 or 2 day trekking in this mountain is recommended.
The base of Mount Huayna Potosí (6088 meters) is a little further away. It is a classic challenge for mountaineers. Among others characteristics, it has excellent routes for ice and rock climbing. The normal route is not hard, but like the Illimani, there are many alternative routes involving great difficulty. Leaving difficulty aside, some technical training and a great physical condition are necessary to conquer the summit. To do so involves the reward of a magnificent view of Lake Titicaca. The city of La Paz is also visible. Slightly further North, 70 km away fro the city, is mount Condoriri (5680 meters). It offers the possibility of reaching a summit and coming back in three or four days, which makes a medium difficulty mountain very interesting. It also climbers the chance of testing their ability in mixed surface (ice and rock), without involving great amounts of difficulty. For skiing lovers, there are possibilities like Mount Charquini. It is 5390 meters high, located near Huayna Potosí, and is full of easy climbing routes. It is good practice for beginners and also an excellent warm-up for climbers seeking to find the summit of an over 6000 meter peak. The mountain farthest from La Paz is one of the range's most important peak, and is certainly where the most difficult normal route in the area is to be found. Mount Clamp is 6.368 meters high. These are just some of the options presented by this adventure-packed mountain range, which covers a great part of Bolivian territory like a spinal chord. Simple trekking at the base of some of these mountains is an interesting journey, you can find lakes and glaciers and build a camping ground in the wilderness. After climbing one of these peaks, or practicing skiing or trekking, you can top your trip off by exploring one of the places around which Bolivian history has circled for centuries: Lake Titikaka, the highest navigable lake in the world.
Difficulty Level The Real mountain range presents different levels of difficulty. The easiest activity is trekking to lakes at the base of these mountains. There are medium difficulty activities like ascending Huayna Potosí or Condoriri through the Normal Route. The most complicated activities are the normal Route of Illampu and some technical routes in Huayna Potosí, Illimani and Condoriri, with some surfaces in a 60º slope.
Equipment Depends on the activity. Be sure to take warm clothes, trekking boots and a good tent. For ice climbing in peaks like illimani, Condoriri, Huayna Potosí or Illampu, you need plastic climbing boots, piolets, canes and other ice climbing equipment.