Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Time of Year to Climb the Mountains of Bolivia?

The best time to climb these mountains is during the dry season, from May to October. Although temperatures tend to be lower during these months, weather conditions are generally more favorable, with clearer skies, a lower chance of precipitation, and better opportunities to reach the summit.

Should I Be Concerned About The Altitude?

La Paz is located at approximately 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) above sea level, while the summits reached on our expeditions range from 5,000 to 6,500 meters (16,404 to 21,325 feet). For this reason, proper acclimatization is essential before undertaking any high-altitude climb.

As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases, and the body has access to less oxygen, which can lead to altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness). The body’s response varies considerably from person to person and does not depend solely on physical fitness or general health. Even people in excellent physical condition can experience altitude-related symptoms.

The time required to acclimatize depends on each individual, the altitude reached, and the rate of ascent. Therefore, we recommend allowing at least five full days for acclimatization before attempting high-altitude climbs, adjusting the itinerary according to each participant’s response and the prevailing mountain conditions.

Proper acclimatization, a gradual ascent, and careful attention to any symptoms are essential for improving safety and increasing your chances of fully enjoying your mountain adventure in Bolivia.

Do I Need Prior Experience Of Climbing Mountains?

For many of our excursions, prior mountaineering experience is not required, as our guides will teach you the essential techniques and skills needed during the expedition.

However, experience and fitness requirements vary depending on the route, altitude, and technical difficulty of each climb. While some hiking trails and introductory climbs are suitable for beginners, the most demanding high-altitude expeditions require good physical fitness, proper preparation, and, in some cases, prior mountaineering experience.

We’d be happy to help you choose the adventure that best suits your experience, fitness level, and personal goals.

Do The Guides Speak English?

On the tours, your guide will be an English speaker, who will give you thorough and interesting explanations of all the areas you will be visiting with him. The trekking and climbing guides are not fluent English speakers. They all speak more than enough to ensure that you are safe on the mountain and to deal with any emergency situations which may occur but are by no means fluent. We select them for their mountain expertise, not for their linguistic ability. If you would like to have a bilingual guide on any of our treks or climbs, please state so on your booking.

How Much In Advance Should I Book?

We are a specialist company and will only work with our own expert staff leading our climbing expeditions. We will not contract other agencies to run our expeditions. Whereas tours and treks can usually be arranged with a matter of weeks’ (or even days’) notice, you should endeavour to book any climbs as much in advance as you can. As soon as our guides are fully booked, you will have to be flexible on the dates we will be able to accommodate you.

How Does Payment Work?

To secure a booking with Bolivian Mountain Guides, we request a deposit of 50% of the total, depending on your route. The balance will be made at the time of being in contact with us and before the start of the trip.

What Equipment Will I Need?

Bolivian Mountains provides all top quality technical equipment as standard for any technical expeditions. Any personal gear, you are expected to provide yourself. Check our equipment list for more details on the sort of kit we recommend.

Trip Cancellations And Refunds

To cancel a reservation or cancel a confirmed trip or part of it, we must receive a notice of cancellation in writing.

In the event that you have already made a Payment in Advance, there is a non-refundable administrative cost of USD 50 per person. Because most of the travel costs have already been spent in advance of the departure dates, we will provide refunds according to the following schedule:

A cancellation received:

• 60 days before the departure date, we will refund the balance.
• 31 to 59 days before the departure date, you will reimburse 50% of the balance.
• 15 to 30 days before the departure date, refund of 25% of the balance.
• 14 days or less before the departure date, without refund of any kind.

Due to the nature of operating in remote areas, BOLIVIAN MOUNTAIN GUIDES; reserves the right to cancel all or part of any trip before departure for any of the following reasons: insufficient signaling, extremely bad weather conditions, social unrest, any logistical problem that can prevent the safe and efficient operation of the trip. In such cases, BOLIVIAN MOUNTAIN GUIDES is not responsible for the expenses incurred by the group member in preparation for any trip made.