Pacajes is located in the southwest of the Department of La Paz. Two perspectives can help you decide where to go first: the rivers that cross the province and Cóndor Jipiña, a natural and cultural monument in the municipality of Corocoro.

Rivers and a natural monument in Pacajes

The Río Mauri, Río Desaguadero, and Río Achieta cross Pacajes. These three specific river names are linked to a precisely located rock formation: Cóndor Jipiña is on Cerro Cóndor Jipiña in the municipality of Corocoro. A law passed in 2009 declared the natural formation a National Natural and Cultural Monument.

This legal designation makes Cóndor Jipiña a point of interest for travelers interested in natural formations and cultural heritage. The rivers describe the province's broader geographic setting; the monument can be pinpointed to a specific place in Corocoro. When considering Pacajes as a destination, you can thus distinguish between exploring the regional landscape and visiting a specific natural monument.

More destinations in the Department of La Paz

You can also explore other destinations in the Department of La Paz. The Cotapata National Park and Integrated Natural Management Area is also located in the department. Its ecological, scenic, and archaeological features make it suitable for environmental education and tourism. By road, it can be reached via the La Paz–Coroico road or through the Río Huarinilla valley.

You can travel by bus to Coroico or La Cumbre; from there, the trekking route continues to the village of El Chairo. The pre-Columbian El Choro trail is another option for reaching the park on foot. This gives you a concrete comparison of access routes: take a bus to a named starting point and then continue trekking, or access the park on foot via El Choro.

Another route in the Department of La Paz is the Chairo–Socosani Trail. It continues from the Puente Inca en Chairo along the lower slope of Cerro Nogalani to the ruins of Socosani. Along the way, you can see old agricultural terraces, retaining walls, and paved paths. These features give this example an archaeological and architectural focus.

Tiwanaku and the modern settlement

Another archaeological site in the Department of La Paz is Tiwanaku. It lies near the southern shore of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano, at an elevation of 3,850 m, in Ingavi Province. The ancient city was built mainly of adobe; most of it is covered by the modern settlement. This relationship between the ancient city and the present-day settlement is key to understanding the site. In contrast with Cóndor Jipiña, a natural rock formation designated nationally as a natural and cultural monument, Tiwanaku is defined by the spatial overlap of its archaeological past and modern settlement.

Discover more destinations: Omasuyos, Larecaja, Nor Yungas, Cercado, Franz Tamayo, Caranavi Province

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