Climbing Cerro Khotapata

Cerro Khotapata is a 5288m/17349ft high relatively easily accessible peak. It takes about 45 minutes to drive to the start of the climb from down town La Paz, half an hour if starting from Irpavi.

Road to the valley where the climb starts from.

The road up towards Represa Hampaturi is reasonable and accessible by most cars. After deviating from the village Karpani and crossing over the Rio Irpavi things become more interesting. A true 4-wheel drive is required in order to continue. Water eats up the road and leaves just stones and holes so a good clearance is a must. Another 15 minutes of slow going and the road seen on the photo takes off to the left. It takes another 10 minutes to get up to the valley where the climb can be started.

The location of the climb in respect to La Paz using the android app MyPhotos.

Zoomed in to show the valley and surrounding.

And the climb in photos starting form the far left and going down right in a circle ending up at the road again on the top most photo.
 

  

The climb can be started virtually anywhere along the road here. Only a few rocky areas prevent ascent but they can be spotted from the road. I left the car near this shack and climbed up from here. Coming down the way would have been easier than the route I took down.

View towards the end of the valley.

It gets steeper in the middle part.

View back towards La Paz 

Easy final to the ridge

On the ridge

Selfie. A cold wind was blowing so lunch was nicer to have on the other side of the ridge. No wind, but plenty of sun. 

The Cerro Khotapata peak on the right. The higher peak in the end of the ridge doesn't have a name on any of my maps.

Cactus flower.

Illimani in the background.

The other side offers a very easy way up, but getting to the starting point is not possible by car.  

Optional descent down the sand. It did get tricky later on though.

Illimani - the symbol of La Paz

Close-up.