Cordillera Real Northern Circuit

The Cordillera Real’s northern reaches serve up some of Bolivia’s gnarliest mountain driving, where 6,000-meter peaks scrape the sky and oxygen gets thin enough to make your engine wheeze. This circuit loops from Sorata north through Italaque, crossing multiple 4,800-meter passes with names like Abra Chucuyo and Abra Lanza, each one a white-knuckle climb over loose scree and exposed ledges. You’ll thread between Illimani and Huayna Potosí’s glacier-draped faces while navigating mining roads that would make a mountain goat nervous.

Difficult doesn’t begin to cover it — these are legitimate technical 4×4 routes requiring experienced drivers and proper mountain driving skills. Lockers help, but skilled throttle control matters more when you’re picking lines across avalanche debris and rock slides. Pack for altitude and weather extremes, with emergency bivouac gear mandatory. June through August offers best conditions, but weather changes fast above treeline. No permits needed, but inform locals of your route plans. This circuit separates weekend warriors from serious mountain drivers, delivering some of South America’s most spectacular alpine scenery.