Essential Travel Ski Guides

click here for a ski insurance quotation

Travel to Chacaltaya with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Chacaltaya ski resort is located in Bolivia just 18 miles from Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. An extremely high resort with a top elevation of 18,274 feet, the resort overlooks the beautiful Lake Titicaca and La Paz. The ski area at Chacaltaya is most suited to expert skiers with a sense of adventure.

La Paz is the base for people wanting to ski at Chacaltaya and although the city is only18 miles away, the journey to the slopes takes more than an hour. As La Paz is the world’s highest capital city, travellers may suffer from altitude sickness and acclimatisation before skiing is advisable. The city is divided into three distinct areas: La Zona Sur, a low lying affluent area; El Alto, a poor area in the hills; and El Centro, boasting shopping, markets and other tourist attractions.

Skiing at Chacaltaya ski resort is centred on one main run and one chairlift. The chairlift takes you to a point 492 feet below the summit. From here, the downhill piste itself is not too difficult for intermediate skiers, but because of the altitude, difficult chairlift and old equipment on offer, it is only really only suitable for the more advanced.

In La Paz you will find many cheap hotels and hostels. It can get very cold at night, so it is worth paying a little extra for rooms with hot water and plenty of blankets. One of the best high-end hotels in La Paz is the Ritz All Suites Hotel, while those looking for a cheaper alternative should try the Alojamiento Universo, which has nice double rooms at bargain prices.

Tourist attractions and excursions at La Paz include: many fascinating museums and churches; Calle Linares; the beautiful Lake Titicaca; Yungas Valleys; Moon Valley, with its rock formations; and Cochabamba, for a cultural experience.

The ski season at Chacaltaya resort starts in November and continues through to March. To get to the resort from La Paz there is a bus service that runs on weekends. International flights are available to and from Los Altos International Airport, nine miles southwest of La Paz.

Skiing in Chacaltaya

With its location above the highest capital city in the world, Chacaltaya is considered an adventurous destination, even for advanced skiers. It is a quiet resort that has its advantages and disadvantages. Lack of development and investment at the resort is noticeable. The consequence of poor investment is that skiers have only one run and one chairlift to choose from.

The lift at Chacaltaya deserves a special mention as it is widely considered extremely difficult to use. It is crudely fashioned and run by an old Ford engine and the ability to use the chairlift is an art in itself. The ski run is not particularly impressive or long, but it is suitable for intermediate skiers and has good snow conditions during the ski season. Most skiers prefer to ski down the left side of the chairlift. Going down the right side is possible, but this side of the run offers a higher degree of difficulty. It is not worth climbing up past the lift drop up point. Be sure to stop skiing at the base of the chairlift as cliffs await you below.

Facilities at the resort are very limited; the equipment shop is an experience in itself. Finding your own matching equipment in the unorganised, badly maintained pile of outdated skis, boots and poles is half the fun; however, bringing your own is more desirable. The best way to get to the resort is by booking with The Ski Club at their office in La Paz. Local tour operators also offer downhill mountain biking and hiking trips from the resort and these are popular due to the spectacular views.

Chacaltaya resort is only suitable for experienced skiers. It is a place to ski if you are prepared to brave high altitude, a chairlift system with crudely fabricated parts and limited skiing options and facilities. The advantages of skiing at Chacaltaya are that the slope is never crowded and offers unparalleled views of La Paz and Lake Titicaca, while there is a sense of adventure about skiing in Bolivia.

The Chacaltaya ski season runs from November to March. During the winter months the slopes become too cold and icy to ski. When travelling to La Paz, the most popular route is via the Los Alto International Airport. Transport to the resort from La Paz is by bus and can be booked through local tour operators.

Transportation to Chacaltaya

Bolivia’s capital of La Paz is just 18 miles from the small ski resort of Chacaltaya. Methods of travel to La Paz are varied and train, boat, plane, car and bus options are available, depending on where you start your journey. The easiest means of transport to the resort from international destinations is to fly to Los Altos, nine miles from downtown La Paz.

Travelling by car to La Paz is possible on the Pan-American Highway, which connects Argentina with Peru and crosses Bolivia from the south to northwest. The main roads in Bolivia are well maintained, but be aware that driving can be dangerous during the ski season, which is during Bolivia’s rainy season.

There are trains connecting La Paz with other South American destinations including: Buenos Aires, twice a week; Arica, twice a month; and Calama, once a week. Train services to destinations inside Bolivia are slow and inefficient and you will find that many lines aren’t connected to each other.

The nearest international airport to La Paz is at Los Altos. There are flights available from London to Los Altos, with a journey time of 14 hours, 30 minutes. Minibuses, taxis and buses are available for the eight-mile journey into town, which takes 20 minutes. For the 18-mile journey from La Paz to Chacaltaya, you should take a bus which can be booked through local tour operators.

Boats travel across Lake Titicaca from Guaqui port at La Paz to Puno in Peru, but the 56-mile journey can be slow.

back to ski guides