Cordillera Apolobamba Traverse

The Apolobamba Traverse is a remote, high-altitude backpacking route in the northern Bolivian Andes. Spanning approximately 92km between the villages of Pelechuco and Curva, the trek crosses the ancestral territory of the Kallawaya people—traditional herbalists recognized by UNESCO. The route follows ancient stone paths and animal trails, staying almost exclusively above 4,200m. It traverses several high passes, including the 5,100m Sunchuli Pass, offering direct views of the 6,000m peaks of the northern Apolobamba range. Due to its distance from major cities, it remains one of the least-trafficked and most preserved regions of the Bolivian Andes.

One of the most gruelling single-day summits in Central America. You'll grind from sea-level farmland to a 1610 m crater rim on Isla de Ometepe, passing through lush jungle, slogging up a muddy spine and finally scrambling across loose scree. Leave at dawn — most hikers need a full 10–11 hours. On clear days the payoff is a cloud-wisped crater rim and vistas stretching to Mombacho Volcano far to the north.