Getting There

The Apolobamba is not the most accessible region of Bolivia. Unsurfaced roads twisting their way through high mountain passes make the journey there slow and uncomfortable. The bus offers a uniquely uncomfortable travel experience, or you can spend all your money on jeep hire.

By Bus

Tickets are available in the Cementario area of La Paz. Buses depart most days from El Alto, the sprawling city above La Paz. The big advantage of the bus is that it is cheap, about 35Bs (£2.50/$4) per person. The journey to Ulla Ulla takes about 7 hours, going all the way to Pelechucco will increase this to about 12 hours.

NB Bus departure times, departure points and prices change frequently, but the above should be a reasonable guide. Our other top tip is to make sure you check which bus you're meant to be on. There's nothing more irritating than loading 4 weeks supplies and all your bags onto the roof, only to be told to get it all off again. You can compound the embarassment by getting quite irate with the bus staff in very bad Spanish.

By Jeep

Jeep travel is faster and more comfortable, but far more expensive. Many of the trekking agencies based around ‘ Sagarnaga St’, in the middle of the main backpacker area, offer jeep hire. We used ‘Saranani, Adventure Tour Operators’ and can’t recommend them highly enough.