South American climber forum

[MITllama02]

My husband and I have made 2 trips to Peru and Bolivia, using our son-in-law's

recommendations. Now we need help in planning the next trip's climbs. Is there

a forum for South American climbs like Cascadeclimbers.com for the NW?

 

PS if anyone wants recommendations for local guides, we had a great one in Peru!

[payaso]

I'm interested if there is a good site as well. How were the local guides? How much more or less?

[MITllama02]

We spent 30 days total, doing 2 treks and 2 climbs, each with a different local guide. The total cost of our trip was $7,000 and more than half was for guides (including tips). Of course that meant also that we did not pay for food or lodging or transportation during the guided days, which took up 20 out of the 30 days.

Huaraz, Peru: 4 day trek from Vaqueria to Cochabamba (Quebrada Santa Cruz) $1000

Arequipa, Peru: 4 days for climb of El Misti volcano $900

LaPaz, Boliva: 7 days for Apolobamba South trek (2 days were for driving in and out; we actually did the entire 95 km in 4 days): $1,500

LaPaz, Bolivia: 3 days to climb Huayna Potosi (20,000 ft): $500

 

We knew that the local guides would not necessarily speak English, so I took several courses of Spanish at the local community college. That worked fine. The guides took pains to speak slowly and carefully, especially the one in Huaraz who was the best. The guide we had in Arequipa was also excellent. We had actually bought the last 3 packages in advance from a LaPaz guide service that we used in 2000, but the designated guide cancelled at the last moment when his son had to be hospitalized for a serious illness; unfortunately the service had grown so much that they had trouble finding substitute guides in Bolivia for us and so we would not go with them again. However the substitute arranged in Peru, and our own first guide in Peru were the best: conscientious, good attention to detail, committed to helping us achieve our personal goals. The Arequipa guide was particularly supportive and encouraging on the climb to the summit of Misti, when the weather was cold, snowing, totally fogged in, and the wind was rising and we were getting discouraged; we owe the summit to him!

[To_The_Top]

Check your Personal messages....I dont know if it is a help. TTT

[payaso]

I had a pretty mediocre experience with a guide back in 97 on Cotopaxi. It was my first big mountain and I didn't know what I was doing or what I was in for. The guide didn't show a lot of enthusiasm, but I guess if you slog up that thing every week I can't blame him. It only cost about $100 for the two days. the prices in Peru and Bolivia sound a bit pricier. In Ecuador, it was worth it because arranging the transportation to and from would have cost like $40, and would have been difficult to get when you were ready to go. I don't feel like I need a guide so much these days, but if the price were right, it could be worth it for more reasons than simply finding the summit. If I go down there I might try and hook up with other climbers down there.

[payaso]

If those prices were for two, now that would be a lot better!

[MITllama02]

Yes, the prices I quoted were for two

 

We found it worthwhile to pay for guides because 1) I didn't my night school Spanish was adequate for doing these negotiations (even figuring out how to use a pay phone was a problem!), 2) we were paying for porters on climbs and donkeys/horses on treks because we figured we needed to conserve our strength for the altitude so didn't want to exhaust ourselves particularly on climbs with carrying packs. In retrospect having someone cook hot breakfast and dinner proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable change (this was after all our vacation) from our local climbs where we carry everything and consequently eat only dried food, brownies and energy bars. On the Huaraz trek (very popular) the trail was so obvious no "guide" was needed. On the Apolobamba trek our LaPaz guide actually lost the trail a couple of times and the horse handler (who was local) had to steer us back on course. Nothing serious, but the guide didn't know the short cuts.

[MITllama02]

Payaso,

I was recommended to www.summitpost.com for worldwide mountain info. It looks like a great site so far!