BOLIVIA
Textile trek
with LAs cholitas escaladoras
w o m e n o n l y
JULY 22 - 31, 2025
$2,950 per person
Introducing Thread Caravan’s textile trekking experience.
During this retreat we will be partnering with Las Cholitas Escaladoras, the group of Aymara indigenous women defying gender norms and paving their own way as mountain climbers in a predominantly male-dominated sport.
The Cholitas will lead our all-women group on a multi-day trekking adventure, high in the Andes mountains. We will have an introduction to the traditional textile processes of the region, working with native alpaca fiber. We will then embark on a challenging expedition, deeply immersed in nature surrounded by strong women. We will trek and camp at altitude through the well-preserved meadows, alongside alpine lakes, descending into the humid valley of the Cañaviri - Zongo community, and then to the base of the Huayana Potosí mountain where we will take an introductory ice climbing course on the ancient glacier.
ITINERARY
-
We strongly suggest arriving to Bolivia a few days early to being to acclimatize to the altitude.
On this day, our group will all make their way together in La Paz. We will pick guest up either from the airport, or from their previous hotels in La Paz.
Transportation to Atix hotel.
Group meet-and-greet and welcome dinner.
-
Journey together to El Alto for a city tour by cable car. Here we will have a group lunch, have an introduction with Las Cholitas Escaladoras, our mountain guides, and review equipment and itinerary for the following days.
Overnight at Atix Hotel in La Paz.
-
This day we begin our expedition where our transport takes us to the Tuni Community sector of Condoriri Park, where we will have an experience to learn how to weave blankets with sheep and alpaca wool. After this experience, we will sleep in a basic shelter in the same community.
-
From the Tuni community we will head towards the Zongo Jist'aña valley. As we make this crossing, we will will have views of Condoriri Park and the West face of the Huayna Potosí mountain.
At night we will sleep in tents surrounded by wetland scenery.
There will be porters to carry some of our camping equipment and food is simple during this day.
-
Today we will walk to reach the community of Cañaviri, Zongo, a humid valley with more vegetation.
Here we have basic lodging to rest and take a hot shower. In the afternoon we have a space for storytelling of local legends told by the community members.
-
This day is a relaxed rest day. We will take an afternoon walk with a visit to potato fields, the colonial church, Viscachani lagoon, or the community trout farm.
During this day we will have the opportunity to recalibrate and refuel with anything we might need for the rest of the journey.
-
We start the day with private vehicle transport from Zongo Cañaviri to the base camp of Huayna Potosi.
From base camp, we begin a hike to the glacier of the Huayna Potosi mountain, where we will have a basic mountain course covering cramp-on climbing techniques, equipment management, safety, roping and ice wall climbing.
After this activity we will return to basecamp to spend the night in rural accommodation.
-
On this day we will prepare to begin our hike to the high camp refuge of the mountain “Las Rockas”, a steeper and rockier terrain. Upon arrival, we will rest in preparation for our ascent to a higher altitude the next day at dawn. On this night, we sleep in a high mountain refuge.
-
After breakfast, we will prepare ourselves with all the mountain equipment to reach a higher altitude and enjoy a landscape between clouds and mountains.
We then return via the same route, taking breaks as needed.
Transport back to the city of La Paz. Group dinner in La Paz, and overnight in Atix hotel.
-
Final group breakfast.
Private transportation to the airport, or continue on your journey in beautiful Bolivia!
Meet Your Hosts,
Las Cholitas Escaladoras
We are honored to host this group with the guidance of Las Cholitas Escaladoras, a group of indigenous Aymara women from the Andes mountains of Bolivia, empowering indigenous women through their practice of mountaineering.
Ana Lia Gonzáles Magueño, started her professional climbing career at the age of 15. She has achieved remarkable goals, including reaching the highest point in the Western Hemisphere — the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina which stands at an impressive 6,962 meters (about 4.33 mi).
Lita’s mother Dora, also known as Teodora Magueño de Gonzáles, started her climbing journey as a mountain cook, preparing ancestral foods at high altitudes for tourists climbing alongside her husband, a mountain guide.
Meet Your Host,
Paola Arenas Duarte
Originally from San Gil, Santander, Colombia, Paola is a passionate adventure guide and community leader with a deep connection to nature and rural cultures. With more than a decade of experience, she has dedicated her life to designing and leading socio-cultural projects that empower rural communities, especially children in Barichara, Cabrera, Encino and other towns in Santander, Colombia.
Before undertaking these projects, Paola worked in Bolivia, where she led social initiatives in indigenous Quechua communities, documenting their stories and generating significant changes in the quality of life of its inhabitants, especially with children. This experience not only brought her closer to the Andean mountains, but also provided her with a unique understanding of local customs and cultures.
Back in Colombia, she channeled this passion into the Caminos Nativos Foundation, designing socio-cultural projects that reflect her deep love for the rural communities of Santander. Her commitment to sustainable tourism led her to found Regiones Bike, a company that not only reveals the beauty of the Colombian mountains, but also connects travelers with the stories and lives of local communities with every pedal stroke. The connection she achieves with her groups is unique, fostering an atmosphere of trust and camaraderie that transforms each tour into an unforgettable experience.
This adventure lover's passions include mountain biking, trekking and exploring rural cultures. She is an experience facilitator who enjoys creating environments where people can discover the authenticity of rural life, learn about traditional processes, and face physical and emotional challenges in nature.
Meet Your Host,
Caitlin Garcia-Ahern
Originally from Atlanta, GA, Caitlin Garcia-Ahern is a creative community organizer with over a decade of experience facilitating community projects. She founded Thread Caravan in 2014 in an effort to bring more awareness to heritage craft processes while partnering with artisan entrepreneurs to provide experiential learning opportunities to guests in their communities.
Prior to starting Thread Caravan, Caitlin held various roles across the arts, in education, and at NGOs in New Orleans, New York, Hawaii, Guatemala, and Cambodia.
Caitlin’s creative passions lie in large format weaving and fiber origin exploration, as well as creative idea development, and making places and experiences more beautiful. She is a community organizer who experiences joy in identifying a need and taking action — from reforestation projects to free spay and neuter clinics in rural communities, and more.
She currently lives in Oaxaca, Mexico where she runs Thread Caravan, the TEXERE textile residency program, and Caravana Canina, an animal welfare organization.
TRIP DETAILS
Dates:
July 22 - 31, 2025
Mobility / Altitude:
While we respect all body types, and strive our best to be inclusive, this trip experience is for participants with moderate to advanced fitness level, and ideally with some altitude experience.
We will be trekking upwards of 10 kilometers each day, at high altitude, and staying in rural camp-like conditions. While there is the possibility to adapt programming to the skill levels of the group, it is required that all participants be in the correct mental and physical condition for this experience. Please contact us if you have any questions at all.
Pricing + Payment:
$2950 USD
A 50% non-refundable deposit of $1,475 is required in order to reserve your space on this trip. The remaining trip balance should be paid at least 60 days prior to the trip.
What’s included
Certified Mountain Guides: The group will be accompanied by a team of Las Cholitas Escaladoras guides, including a UIAGM qualified high mountain guide and high mountain rescuer, a specialized Trekking Guide and possibly a group assistant (depending on group size).
Thread Caravan Trip Host(s): In addition to the certified local mountain guides, the group will also be accompanied by 1-2 qualified Thread Caravan trip hosts, who will help to ensure that everything flows smoothly.
Transportation: All domestic transportation within Bolivia during our trip dates.
Food: Breakfasts, lunches and dinners during our scheduled programming, as well as hot water and mates (teas)
Equipment (if you do not have): Boots, crampons, gaiters, harness, ice axe, helmet, gloves, jacket, waterproof pants, camping equipment (two-person tents), insulation mats
Accommodation: Three nights accommodation at Atix Hotel in La Paz, Bolivia in private rooms. Six nights accommodation in mountain shelters, shared accommodation.
First aid kit
Tickets to enter the mountain
Porter to carry personal mountain and camping equipment
Welcome gift
PACK LIST
1 liter of water per day
Personal 50 liter backpack
Small day backpack (optional)
Hiking shoes with good tread
Sleeping bag (-20ºC)
Altitude medicine (we will have optional coca leaves, but you may want to bring additional options)
Light and warm clothing
Waterproof jacket and pants
Pairs of thick + thin socks
Gloves
Headlamp with extra batteries
Sunscreen and lip balm
Sunglasses, buff, cap and hat
NoT INCLUDED:
Extra time in Bolivia, and personal shopping expenses
Extra trail snacks
Optional tips for guides
Getting There and Away:
Guests should plan to fly into the La Paz airport. We recommend flying in at least a few days in advance, so that you can acclimate to the altitude before we begin our trekking experience.
Questions? Contact us.
