Bolivia Travel Experience

Located high in the Andes Mountains just outside La Paz, Laguna Charquini is a beautiful turquoise glacial lagoon sitting at approximately 5,000 metres above sea level. Surrounded by rugged mountains and with impressive views towards Huayna Potosí, it feels a world away from the busy streets of La Paz.

We visited Laguna Charquini on a guided day trip from La Paz. Although the hike itself isn’t particularly long, the high altitude makes it much more challenging than you might expect.

For us, the combination of mountain scenery, wildlife, the challenge of hiking at close to 5,000 meters and finally reaching the turquoise lagoon made Charquini one of our more memorable day trips from La Paz.

If you’re thinking about doing the Laguna Charquini hike yourself, here’s what you can expect.

Laguna Charquini at a Glance

Location: Andes Mountains near La Paz, Bolivia
Altitude: Approximately 5,000 meters above sea level
Trip: Full-day excursion from La Paz
Difficulty: Moderate, but considerably harder because of the altitude
Main attraction: Turquoise glacial lagoon and surrounding mountain scenery
Acclimatisation: Highly recommended before attempting the hike
Departure from La Paz: Our tour departed at approximately 6:30 a.m.

How to get to Laguna Charquini from La Paz

There are several tour operators in La Paz offering guided trips to Laguna Charquini, and this was the option we chose. Our tour picked us up early in the morning at around 6:30 a.m. from the Obelisk in central La Paz, where we boarded a minibus and began the journey towards the mountains.

Along the way, we stopped at the tour company’s headquarters, where anyone who needed additional clothing or equipment could hire it for the day. We also stopped at a store in El Alto to pick up food, drinks and other supplies for the hike.

As we continued towards Charquini, the scenery became increasingly impressive. One of the highlights along the way was getting our first good views of Huayna Potosí, the distinctive snow-covered mountain that dominates this part of the Cordillera Real. Huayna Potosí can also be seen from several of the best viewpoints around La Paz, particularly on a clear day.

We also stopped at Cementerio de Milluni, an unusual cemetery surrounded by the stark landscape of the Bolivian Andes. With the mountains rising behind it, it was certainly one of the more unusual stops we made on the way to a hike.

From Milluni, we continued further into the mountains towards the starting point of the Laguna Charquini trail.

The Laguna Charquini Hike

After receiving a brief from our guide, we began the hike towards Laguna Charquini. The trail took us gradually higher into the mountains, surrounded by rugged Andean scenery and some impressive views along the way.

We also had the chance to see some of the local wildlife, including llamas and several native birds. At this altitude, even a relatively short uphill hike becomes noticeably more challenging, so we took our time and stopped when we needed to catch our breath.

After around an hour or so of hiking, we finally caught our first glimpse of Laguna Charquini. The turquoise water looked almost out of place against the bare, rocky mountains surrounding it. After the climb and the thin mountain air, it was a good feeling to finally reach the lagoon and have some time to recover.

.Once we arrived at Laguna Charquini and had a chance to catch our breath, we could properly appreciate the surroundings. There isn’t much up here apart from the lagoon, mountains and the occasional group of hikers, which gives the place a real sense of isolation.

We spent some time walking around the lagoon, taking photographs and simply enjoying the views. After the effort of getting there at close to 5,000 metres above sea level, reaching the lagoon definitely gave us a sense of accomplishment.

After savoring the moment at Laguna Charquini, it will be time to make your descent along the same way you came. Your hike will be all downhill from here so you will be able to enjoy the views even more! Keep a good lookout for wildlife such as llamas and condors flying above. Once you arrive at the starting point of your hike, the tour minibus will pick you up and take you back to La Paz. At this point, we were quite tired so the bus journey back was a good opportunity to rest after a challenging but rewarding hike!

Laguna Charquini Altitude and Acclimatisation

Laguna Charquini sits at approximately 5,000 metres above sea level, considerably higher than La Paz itself at around 3,600 metres. At this altitude, even a relatively short hike can become much more physically demanding than you might expect.

We had already spent some time in La Paz before doing the hike, which gave us an opportunity to acclimatise. Even so, I developed a moderate headache after spending some time at the lagoon. My partner had similar symptoms and became quite tired — tired enough, in fact, to have a short nap beside Laguna Charquini!

Neither of us experienced anything more serious, but it was a good reminder of just how much difference the altitude can make. I would strongly recommend spending at least a few days acclimatising in La Paz before attempting the hike, particularly if you’ve recently arrived from somewhere close to sea level.

While acclimatising, there are plenty of less physically demanding ways to explore La Paz. One of our favourites is travelling around the city on the Mi Teleférico cable car system, which also provides some spectacular views of La Paz and the surrounding mountains.

Our guide also carried portable oxygen and first-aid equipment as a precaution, which was reassuring given how remote the area is.

How Difficult Is the Laguna Charquini Hike?

Based purely on the trail itself, I wouldn’t describe Laguna Charquini as an extremely difficult hike. The real challenge is the altitude.

At close to 5,000 metres, even relatively straightforward uphill walking can leave you short of breath. Someone who is reasonably fit but accustomed to hiking at sea level may therefore find Charquini considerably harder than the distance or hiking time would suggest.

My advice would be to take your time rather than trying to keep a fast pace. Stop when you need to catch your breath, drink plenty of water and make sure you’ve given yourself enough time to acclimatise in La Paz beforehand.

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Being prepared, well rested and we fed before the hike will maximize the chances that you won’t have any problems. This will give you freedom to enjoy your authentic Bolivian travel experience and all the rewards this will bring!

What to Bring to Laguna Charquini?

Consider the following items to bring on your Laguna Charquini hike:

• All-weather Jacket or Gore-Tex Jacket
• Long Hiking Trousers
• Beanie and Scarf
• Gloves or Pocket Hand Warmers
• Sturdy Hiking Shoes
• Small backpack
• Sunglasses and Sunscreen
• 2 liters of water
• Snacks

If you’re travelling through Bolivia and don’t have all of this equipment with you, don’t stress. Our tour company had additional clothing and equipment available to hire. When we visited, some basic items were quite inexpensive — I remember gloves or a beanie costing around Bs10 to hire.

Prices may have changed since our visit, so I’d check with your tour operator beforehand rather than relying on that figure as a current price.

Cima Charquini: A More Challenging Alternative

If the Laguna Charquini hike leaves you wanting something more challenging, there are other hiking and climbing opportunities in the area.

One option is Cima Charquini, which is a considerably more demanding mountain experience than the hike to Laguna Charquini. We didn’t attempt Cima Charquini ourselves, so I can’t give a first-hand account of the climb, but it may be worth looking into if you’re properly acclimatised, have suitable experience and are looking for a bigger challenge in the Cordillera Real.

For us, the Laguna Charquini hike provided enough of a challenge at this altitude while still allowing us to enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.

Is Laguna Charquini Worth Visiting?

For us, definitely.

Laguna Charquini combines several things I particularly enjoy about travelling in Bolivia: dramatic mountain scenery, a bit of physical challenge and the opportunity to visit somewhere that still feels relatively removed from the country’s major tourist attractions.

The altitude makes the hike more demanding than its length might suggest, but finally reaching the turquoise lagoon at close to 5,000 metres gives you a genuine sense of accomplishment.

If you have a spare day in La Paz, have already spent some time acclimatising and enjoy getting out into the mountains, Laguna Charquini is well worth considering. If you enjoy exploring the landscapes around La Paz, another place worth visiting is Valle de las Ánimas, which offers a completely different hiking experience much closer to the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is Laguna Charquini?

Laguna Charquini sits at approximately 5,000 metres above sea level. The high altitude is one of the main things to consider when planning the hike.

How difficult is the Laguna Charquini hike?

The trail itself isn’t exceptionally difficult, but hiking at close to 5,000 metres makes it considerably more demanding. In our experience, the altitude was a bigger challenge than the trail itself.

Can you visit Laguna Charquini from La Paz?

Yes. We visited Laguna Charquini as a guided day trip from La Paz. Our tour departed from central La Paz early in the morning and returned after completing the hike.

How long does it take to hike to Laguna Charquini?

It took us around an hour or so to reach the lagoon. Hiking times will vary depending on fitness, weather conditions and how well you’ve acclimatised to the altitude.

Do you need a guide for Laguna Charquini?

We chose to visit with a guided tour from La Paz, which included transport and meant we had a guide and emergency equipment with us. Independent hiking may also be possible, but our experience was with an organised tour.

Should I acclimatise before hiking Laguna Charquini?

I would strongly recommend it. We had already spent time in La Paz before doing the hike and still noticed the effects of the altitude at around 5,000 metres.