After a week of Spanish classes at the Carmen Vega School, it’s time to get out and enjoy nature!
Just a few kilometers from Cochabamba rises the Pico Tunari, the region’s iconic peak, standing proudly at 5,030 meters above sea level.
Climbing it at sunset is a truly unique experience — a mix of adventure, spirituality, and natural beauty that leaves an unforgettable mark on everyone who lives it.
🏞️ The Starting Point: By the Lake
The hike begins by a small high-altitude lake, calm and crystal-clear, where the bravest might take a quick dip before setting off.
The air is pure, the water refreshing, and the surrounding mountains reflect their silhouettes in the mirror-like surface.
This is where the adventure begins — far from the noise of the city, in an almost mystical atmosphere.
🍃 Offering to Pachamama
Before beginning the climb, guides and participants gather for a moment of respect and gratitude to Pachamama, Mother Earth.
A few coca leaves are offered to the ground, as everyone introduces themselves to the group — and to Pachamama.
This simple yet deeply symbolic Andean tradition invites you to ask permission to ascend — to enter the mountain’s realm in harmony, with humility and gratitude.
🧗 The Ascent to the Summit
The climb starts gently, on a winding trail through rocky grasslands.
Gradually, the slope gets steeper, the air thinner, and the wind stronger.
Along the way, you pass a place called “La Puerta del Diablo” — the Devil’s Gate — a natural rock formation that seems to separate two worlds: the earth and the sky.
And beyond it, the show begins: a sea of clouds stretches endlessly into the horizon.
Below your feet, Cochabamba disappears into the golden mist of dusk, while the surrounding peaks blaze with the light of the setting sun.
🌅 Sunset at the Summit
At the top of Pico Tunari, time seems to stand still.
The sky turns shades of pink, orange, and violet.
Shadows grow long, and the evening light brushes the distant snow-capped peaks.
It’s a moment of silence and wonder, shared among hikers.
Some close their eyes, others take photos — but everyone feels the same thing: awe at the immensity before them.
🌌 The Descent Under the Stars
When night falls, headlamps light up and the journey back begins.
In the clear darkness of the highlands, the sky reveals its splendor: thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and sometimes even a shooting star.
Guides often pause for a moment of stargazing — a chance to breathe and admire the pure Andean sky, far from light pollution.
🐟 A Well-Deserved Dinner
On the way down, the group stops at a rustic mountain restaurant near the lake.
The place is warm and cozy, with a crackling wood fire.
The menu includes freshly caught trout or crispy llama chicharrón.
After a day of effort and emotion, this hot meal in the mountains is pure comfort — a final memory before returning to the sleeping city.
🕓 Practical Information
- Departure: from Cochabamba, by vehicle to Lake Tunari (with A Todo Trekking)
- Altitude: approx. 5,035 m at the summit
- Duration: around 6–8 hours (round trip with breaks)
- Level: moderate to challenging (good fitness recommended)
- Recommended gear: warm clothes, water, snacks
✨ In Summary
The sunset hike to Pico Tunari is much more than just a trek — it’s a meeting with the mountain, nature, and Andean tradition.
Between the offering to Pachamama, the sea of clouds, the starry descent, and dinner by the lake, this adventure captures the very spirit of Bolivia — generous, mystical, and profoundly alive.