Kari Kari Lagoons Hike

Discover the Andean landscapes surrounding Potosí on this hike to the Kari Kari lagoons and Cerro Rico hill.

Kari Kari Lagoons Hike

We'll meet at 8.45 am at Ayacucho Street in Potosí, and board a bus that will take us out of the city center, observing the pre-colonial architecture as we approach the mountains. On the way, we will see the exterior of the refining plants for minerals extracted from the mines.

Upon arrival, we will commence a fifteen-minute ascent to the Kari Kari lagoons: San Ildefonso, Chalviri, San Rafael, and San Pablo, which were constructed in the 16th century. You will enjoy views of the slopes, including Cerro Rico, and will encounter Andean flora and fauna. We will continue to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 5000 kilometers.

After a picnic lunch at the Apacheta viewpoint, we will begin our descent. The transport will pick us up to return to Potosí, arriving back at the starting point by 4 pm.

Add an extra day

With this option, we will stay at the top for dinner and spend the night with a traditional Apacheta family, experiencing their way of life. Dinner will consist of soup and a main course. The next morning, we will have breakfast at dawn and continue hiking to the Chaqui hot springs.

We'll enjoy the therapeutic waters and have a two-course lunch before taking transport back to Potosí, arriving at the starting point by 3 pm.