Yunga Cruz

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Description

This is a relatively little-trodden trek between the village of Chuñavi and the Sud Yungas’ provincial capital, Chulumani. Declared a national monument in 1992, it preserves good stretches of pre-Columbian footpaths and archaeological remains dating from the Tiwanaku and Inca periods.

This is one of your better bets for wildlife watching, as it has less traffic than other treks (though mining is on the rise). Keep your eyes peeled for Andean foxes, condors, and plenty of birds and butterflies.

There are a couple of variations to the standard trek, including a pass over the northern shoulder of Illimani to get you started, as well as an alternative – and considerably more spectacular – route over Cerro Khala Ciudad, which begins beyond Lambate. Some guides even offer the trek backwards, starting at Chulumani, but that’s a fairly punishing alternative. Crossing several passes at over 5000m, it’s easily the most demanding of the Inca trails and usually takes three or four days.