Trekking & Climbing

If you're serious about climbing, you should check out Club Andino on Calle México 1638 (tel. 0102/2312-875; Mon-Fri 9:30am-12:30pm and 3-7pm). This nonprofit climbing club knows all the secrets of the Andes; the staff here can help arrange treks and climbs as well as recommend the best outfitters and guides. It can also help organize a trip to an acclimatizing center or a ski outing to Chacaltaya. But you don't have to be a skier to enjoy Chacaltaya: You can hike from the ski lift to the glacier. At 5,240m (17,187 ft.), the air is thin, but the views are what's really breathtaking. Hiking trips to Chacaltaya cost $10, including transportation and admission.

Bolivian Journeys, Sagárnaga 363 between Linares and Illampu (tel. 0102/2357-848; www.bolivianjourneys.org), is one of the most experienced climbing and hiking outfitters. For the brave and experienced, the company organizes climbs up the 5,990m (19,647-ft.) Huayna Potosí.