Sorata > Reviews > A spiritual pole of the Earth

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Good
Shopping	Average
Nightlife	Terrible
Ease of getting around	Average
Family Friendly	Terrible

Advantages:	Idillic location; very relaxing; plenty of trekking
Disadvantages:	Hard to get to; very few creature comforts

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Having spent most of the journey from La Paz somehow catching up on sleep in a bumpy bus, it was a stark contrast from the busy streets of the city with food sellers at every turn to arrive in what can only be described as a village square. Sorata is centered around this square with a couple of shops several café/resatuarants and a few hotels dotted around it and (along with one internet café, which costs around 15p for an hour - a slight contrast from the $4 for 15mins in miami airport on the way over).

Trekking:
The primary activity in Sorata is definately the trekking and there is cerntianly plentiy of opportunity in the surrounding area. We were embarking on one of the more challenging treks, climbing most of the way up Mt. Illampu, althought there are a large number of one or two day treks around the base of the mountian and through the valleys. In sorata itself, there are most things that any trekker would need, and if you look around then you can find shops selling fresh fruit, cheese and eggs, as well as plenty of centres to hire guides and mules for the more arduous portions of some of the treks.

Trekking up to just over 6000m was truly breathtaking and if you have the time it is well worth doing. It is also worth climbing half way up, as there is space to camp at just over 4000m next to stunning mountain lake which catches the sun in the early morning and is simply magical. One of the best experiences of my whole time in Bolivia was walking up literally through a blanket of cloud, emerging the other side and being able to see for miles, feeling as though we were standing on the clouds!

Accomodation:
Back in Sorata, there are several hotels to stay in which, whilst i never personally stayed in, i'm informed by one of my friends that they're the standard of a low budget hotel in La Paz - small and fairly uncomfortable, but they offer warmth and a place to sleep. In my opinion, however, by far the best option is to camp in 'Altai Oasis' a small campsite about 100m below Sorata. It's tricky to find, though the few taxi drivers will be more than willing to take you for a small charge, but it is well worth it. Even if you do not want to do any trekking then i would recommend just staying here for as long as you can.

The campsite is owned by two of the friendliest people i have ever encountered, Johnny and Roxana, and is one of the most idilic locations i have seen. A small stream runs beside the campsite, there are tropical trees surrounding the entire area, and small fire pits for a traditional camp fire during those cold South American nights. As for facilities, there are shower cubicles which are as good as any you'll get in Bolivia, and a medium sized open hut for cooking and washing up. The restaurant is by far the best feature of the campsite, however, and whilst it is slightly more expensive than the restuarants in the main town of Sorata, you can still expect to pay at most $5 for an entire meal, the qualtiy of which would not be out of place in a good quality london restaurant. There is everything from spaghetti to steak, but the chocolate brownies which Roxana makes herself are the best i or any of my friends had ever tasted. They are worth coming for alone!!

One of the most interesting features about Altai Oasis and Sorata in general we discovered while talking to Johnny (who speaks perfect english). Apparently Mt. Illampu is one of the ancient spiritual poles of the earth, and on the exaclty opposite side of the earth, there is a mountain in the Atlai Mountain Range which is an exact copy of the shape of Mt. Illampu, and is one of the other spiritual poles. You certainly get a feel of that when you are in the area, everything is so relaxed and meditative, you feel as though you have escaped from the real world for a few days - definatley worth visiting!!