Hiking area · La Paz

Laguna Jach'a Qasiri

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

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.↗↗

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Hiking area · La Paz

Laguna Jach'a Qasiri

La Paz, BO 4.7 (3 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

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.↗↗

↗

A Sacred Lake at the Edge of the City

The Choque family has guarded Khasiri for generations, passing the responsibility from elder to younger along the lines of the ayllu Hampaturi. In Aymara tradition the lake has its own ajayu — a spiritual essence — and stories of people being pulled beneath the water once circulated among the surrounding villages. During Bolivia's 2000 water wars, community members retreated to this lagoon to defend it from privatization; in the 2016 drought that left 94 neighborhoods of La Paz without water, President Evo Morales arrived by helicopter and identified Khasiri as a short-term lifeline, noting that a small dam could supply water to the Hampaturi reservoir below.↗↗

The lake also forms part of pre-Columbian Inca road networks along the Chuñavi branch, connecting to the stone ruins of Kala Marka further afield. None of this grandeur demands an entrance gate or a ticket — it simply asks that you approach with respect and carry out whatever you bring in.↗

What Makes the Trek Special

The setting is pure high-altitude drama. Laguna Jach'a Qasiri holds water rich in glacial milk — the fine rock flour ground out by ancient ice — which shifts its surface color between deep blue and soft green as clouds drift overhead. A small dam holds the level slightly above its natural mark, but the lake retains the wild character of a true altiplano reservoir. On clear days the snowy face of Jathi Qullu glows above the eastern shore, and the glacier-draped peaks of the Serranías Murillo frame the scene on all sides.↗↗↗

The lower approach through the Khallapa River Valley passes through a mosaic of bofedales — tiny high-altitude wetlands of spongy mosses unique to the Andes above 3,800 meters — where llamas graze between sparkling brooks. Smaller lakes, including Llaythani and the unnamed tarn at nearly 4,900 meters pressed against a living glacier, add variety to the route for those who push past Jach'a Qasiri itself.↗↗

Wildlife is abundant in the absence of settlement. Andean gulls nest along the shore, pairs of ballata ducks drift across the water, and condors can be spotted walking the rocks in late afternoon. Vizcachas — rabbit-like rodents — scatter at the sound of footsteps, and a herd of wild cattle grazes the upper ridges, drawn down to drink from the lagoon's outflow.↗

Getting There and the Trail

From La Paz's Zona Sur, the drive heads through Villa Salomé toward the Hampaturi region — roughly an hour to reach the village of Palcoma, about 8.5 miles (14 km) beyond the MegaCenter in Irpavi. Cross the Khallapa River bridge at Palcoma and continue east up the mountain road for another 30 minutes until the pavement (such as it is) ends at a washed-out ravine. That is where the trail begins.↗↗

The hike is roughly 5.5 km one way, gaining about 370 meters from a starting point near 4,335 m. Terrain is open and unmarked; llama paths cross the landscape in every direction, so follow the main ascending line or use a GPS track. The Wikiloc route logged by Andean Trekker Bolivia describes a flat approach toward Tigra Killa hill, a small lagoon, and then a climb alongside a stream that leads directly to Jach'a Qasiri. Steep rocky sections and loose scree demand steady footing; a pair of trekking poles earns their keep.↗↗

Ambitious hikers can continue beyond the lagoon toward the summit of Tata Ch'iyar Qullu, a 4,945-meter peak with a 23 km traverse that drops down toward the village of Choquecota and offers a different return option. That route is rated difficult and requires a full day with proper fitness at altitude.↗

Practical Tips

Altitude is the main challenge. At 4,712 meters the air is thin and weather changes within minutes; a blue sky can become a whiteout before lunch. Start early, acclimatize in La Paz for at least two or three days before the trek, and bring layered clothing even for a sunny morning forecast. The lagoon is rarely crowded — Thursday mid-afternoon shows the highest visitor density in Google's popular-times data, but that peak is still gentle by any standard.↗↗

There is no infrastructure: no café, no ranger station, no marked path. Carry all the water and food you need, pack out every scrap of rubbish (the most recent Google review pleads for exactly that), and let a local guide or a well-downloaded offline track keep you oriented. The dirt road above Palcoma can develop cracks and washouts after rain, so check conditions before setting out and consider a high-clearance 4x4 for the final stretch.↗↗↗

The best months to visit are the dry season, from May through October, when the sky stays clear long enough to frame the peaks. In the rainy season (December to March) trails become muddy, visibility drops, and the road above Palcoma may be impassable. Weather can shift rapidly even in the dry season — experienced hikers recommend waiting out a passing squall rather than turning back.↗

Nearby to Combine

If you have a full day and a 4x4, the Hampaturi reservoir system downhill provides a scenic contrast — larger, lower lakes fed by the same meltwater network. Cotapata National Park, 27 km to the north, offers cloud-forest trails and a warm-climate counterpoint to the frigid altiplano. The small village of Palcoma at the trailhead is a natural spot for a pre-dawn coffee and conversation with the Choque family, guardians of Khasiri.↗↗↗

Why Visitors Rate It Highly

The three Google reviews at 4.7 stars all touch on the same themes: stunning natural beauty, a sense of remoteness despite proximity to a major city, and the lush bofedales along the trail. Visitors describe it as a quiet, precious place — one writing in Spanish urges others not to litter or damage it. That reverence is the best guide to what you will find at Jach'a Qasiri: an untouched Andean lake that rewards effort with silence, color, and the slow turning of condor wings over open water.↗

What makes it special

01

At 4,712 m, one of the highest and most scenic day-trek destinations within two hours of La Paz↗

02

Glacial-milk waters shifting between turquoise and green beneath the snow peaks of the Serranías Murillo↗

03

Ancestral Aymara lake guarded by the Choque family; part of Inca road networks↗

04

Bofedal wetlands, llamas, vizcachas, condors, and Andean gulls in an essentially uninhabited landscape↗↗

A little planning goes a long way

Acclimatize for 2–3 days in La Paz before attempting the trek; the lagoon sits at over 4,700 m and the trail gains a further 370 m.
Download an offline GPS track (Wikiloc or OpenStreetMap) — trails are unmarked and llama paths create a confusing web across the terrain.↗
Go between May and October for the clearest weather; the rainy season can close the upper road and limit visibility.↗
Carry all water, food, and pack out all waste. There are no facilities and the local community asks visitors to protect the site.↗
Wear sturdy hiking boots with ankle support; the upper trail crosses loose rock and occasional steep cliff sections.↗

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.