The city, located in west-central Bolivia 68 km (42 mi) southeast of Lake Titicaca, is set in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. It is located in a bowl-like depression surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. Overlooking the city is the towering, triple-peaked Illimani. Its peaks are always snow covered and can be seen from many parts of the city.
Chacaltaya «cold road» is a mountain in the Cordillera Real, one of the mountain ranges of the Cordillera Oriental, itself a range of the Bolivian Andes. Its elevation is 5,421 meters (17,785 ft).
Illimani (6439m) is both the highest and the most southern peak in the Cordillera Real. Visible from most of La Paz, Illimani is an imposing sight and perhaps the most important landmark in the city. According to local legend it is the Queen or Mother of the mountain range. Illimani has five peaks in total; three of them over 6,000m. It is a fairly demanding climb and is a true classic. It’s well worth the effort for the views of La Paz and the Cordillera Real, and for the chance to summit Bolivia’s second highest peak.
