Information
Landmark: Chacaltaya Ski ResortCity: La Paz
Country: Bolivia
Continent: South America
Chacaltaya Ski Resort, La Paz, Bolivia, South America
Overview
Perched high in the Bolivian Andes, just outside La Paz, Chacaltaya Ski Resort is a historic spot where skiers once carved tracks against a backdrop of jagged white peaks.Perched about 5,300 meters (17,388 feet) above sea level, where the air feels thin and crisp, it ranks among the highest ski resorts in the world.Chacaltaya’s ski lifts have been still for years, yet the place still draws travelers chasing thin-air adventures, scaling rugged peaks, and exploring Bolivia’s rare mix of mountain beauty and living culture.Chacaltaya Ski Resort drew crowds in the 20th century, hitting its peak in the 1980s and early ’90s when skiers carved fresh tracks under the bright Andean sun.At the time, it ranked as the world’s highest ski resort, drawing crowds of tourists and locals chasing a one‑of‑a‑kind run through the crisp, thin air of the Andes.The resort went up in the 1930s, and a mix of Bolivian and foreign ski lovers carved its first slope into the mountain.Back in its heyday, the resort ran a ski lift up to a snug cabin at the summit, where guests could kick off their boots and take in the sweep of snow-dusted peaks.All winter, the slopes stayed blanketed in crisp, powdery snow-perfect for skiing.But as the climate warmed and temperatures climbed, the snow thinned fast, leaving bare patches that made keeping the ski slopes in shape a constant struggle.Skiing at Chacaltaya started fading in the early 2000s, when the glacier that fed its slopes with fresh snow began shrinking fast under the accelerating melt, leaving more rock than white powder.By 2009, the glacier had nearly vanished, and the resort’s future as a ski destination was over-the slopes lay bare under a thin crust of ice.Because of this, the ski lift shut down, and the resort stopped running as a ski area, leaving its chairs swaying idly in the cold wind.With no snow, the slopes look bare and brown, yet hikers, climbers, and sightseers still flock here for the rugged views.You can’t ski the slopes anymore, but from Chacaltaya’s summit the jagged peaks and deep green valleys still spread out in every direction.These days, Chacaltaya Ski Resort draws visitors for its sweeping mountain views and high-altitude adventures, not for skiing.It draws visitors eager to feel the crisp air and face the challenge of high-altitude terrain.At Chacaltaya, visitors can take in sweeping views of La Paz and the jagged peaks around it, with Mount Illimani-snow-capped and towering-stealing the show as the region’s highest summit.The landscape feels unlike anywhere else, with jagged rocks underfoot, tufts of hardy plants clinging to thin air, and patches of ice left from the fading Chacaltaya Glacier.Hiking and Trekking: This stretch draws high-altitude hikers and trekkers, who come for the thin, crisp air and sweeping mountain views.Several hiking trails wind up to the resort, while tougher routes push deeper into the mountains, where the air thins and pine needles crunch underfoot.Climbing to the top pushes you to your limits in the thin, biting air, and every step rewards you with sweeping views of jagged peaks.From Chacaltaya’s peak, you can capture sweeping views-snow-dusted ridges, deep blue skies-that make it a photographer’s dream.Snow-capped peaks rise above rugged slopes, framed by a sky so clear it feels endless, giving photographers a striking stage to capture the Andean landscape.Learning about climate change comes to life at Chacaltaya, where a once-busy ski slope now lies bare under the thin mountain air.As the glacier pulls back, it offers a stark reminder of the shifting climate that’s altering ice fields around the world, and visitors can see how these changes ripple through the local ecosystems-right down to the moss clinging to the rocks-and across the entire region.At the summit, the old ski lodge still stands, its wood beams smelling faintly of pine, inviting visitors to wander through a space that blends retro resort charm with the quiet, timeless feel of a place almost forgotten.Visitors often pause here to breathe in the cool mountain air, take in the sweeping view, and picture the lively days when the resort bustled with guests.Because the route to Chacaltaya winds through remote, rocky slopes, many travelers choose a 4x4 tour to get there.These tours take visitors safely through rugged mountain paths, then lead them on to explore the hills and valleys beyond.You can reach Chacaltaya from La Paz in about an hour and a half to two hours by car, winding past dusty roadside stalls and sharp mountain curves.The trip takes you along bumpy, twisting roads where dust clings to your shoes, so it’s best to join a guided tour or travel with someone who knows the way.Because of the thin mountain air, visitors should pace themselves and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness.At that height, the air feels thin and the cold bites, so visitors need to sip water often and move at a gentle pace.Chacaltaya, once home to Bolivia’s highest ski run, now stands as a stark symbol of climate change’s impact on the country.The disappearance of the Chacaltaya Glacier has deeply altered the region’s ecosystem, strained its farms, and thinned the mountain streams that once ran clear and cold.For years, the glacier fed La Paz and nearby towns with clear, icy meltwater, but now it’s gone-and its loss deepens fears about whether the region’s water supply can last.As the Andes grow warmer, Chacaltaya tells a larger story-the world’s glaciers are vanishing fast, taking with them the cold streams and steady water flow that nearby villages have relied on for generations.Even though the ski slopes have long been closed, Chacaltaya still pulls people in, spotlighting the urgent environmental problems melting away its once-bright snow.Although skiing at Chacaltaya is a thing of the past, people still come for the sweeping mountain views, the history etched into its slopes, and the rare chance to breathe thin, icy air at over 5,000 meters.Perched high in the Andes, the resort still stands as proof of Bolivia’s once-bustling mountain tourism, offering a rare chance to see how the shifting climate is reshaping the region’s rugged peaks.Today, visitors can hike winding trails, snap photos of the snow-dusted peaks, or head out on a 4x4 tour, all while taking in Chacaltaya’s rugged beauty and storied past.
