La Paz · BO

Laguna Jach'a Qasiri

Laguna Jach'a Qasiri is a high-altitude glacial lake at 4,712 meters, tucked into the Khallapa River Valley above La Paz's Zona Sur. Its Aymara name — jach'a meaning "large" — lives up to itself: the lagoon spreads in a wide basin ringed by snow-dusted ridges, bofedal wetlands, and roaming llamas, its waters shifting between turquoise and jade depending on the light. For hikers who want a serious mountain day trip without leaving the city's orbit, this is one of the most rewarding outings within reach of La Paz. The route from La Paz takes about two hours by vehicle to the village of Palcoma, then a further 40 minutes to over an hour of ascending trek to reach the lagoon. The trail passes smaller ponds and crosses rocky terrain with occasional steep sections, so a GPS or offline map is strongly recommended. Once at the water's edge, the reward is an almost surreal landscape of pastel-colored glacial water beneath the peaks of the Serranías Murillo, with condors sometimes circling overhead.