A view from Sorata to the peak of Illampu

Photo: Wikipedia

The mountaineer magnet of Sorata lies at the foot of the magestic snowcapped Illampu and Ancohuma mountains, some 160 kilometres northwest of La Paz.

Set on a hillside and surrounded by verdant valleys, this chilled-out colonial town sports a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and a busy Sunday market.

Aside from relaxing, Sorata makes an ideal base for day hikes to nearby lakes and caves as well as multi-day hikes to glaciers and lofty peaks.

For well-aclimatized mountaineers, the Circuito Illampu is an eight-to-10-day slog around Mount Illampu, while the 20-day Trans Cordillera Trek is a challenging journey that passes Lago Sistaña and Huayna Potosi before ending at Illimani.

Multi-day mountain bike trips can also be arranged with tour operators in town, including an epic bicycle and boat journey to Rurrenabaque in the Amazon Basin. 

For those who fancy experiencing Sorata with its knees up, the town's annual fiesta falls on September 14.