Ch'iyar Qirini

Ch'iyar Qirini is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.194m (17,040ft) above the sea level, located in La Paz Department, in Bolivia. It's one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Ch'iyar Qirini
Ch'iyar Qirini

The road to the summit, located within the Cordillera Real of the Bolivian Andes, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times with several hairpin turns. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 recommended. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. Expect a trail pretty steep. Starting from Ruta 41, the ascent is 17km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 874 meters. The average gradient is 5.14%. At the summit there’s a mountain shelter. Stay away if you're scared of heights. The peak is also knowns as Charquerini or Chiar Kherini. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters.
Pic: Rafael Arcangelo