Clay spires
A pointed maze.
PsamatheM — CC BY-SA 4.0 · PsamatheM — CC BY-SA 4.0 · PsamatheM — CC BY-SA 4.0 · PsamatheM — CC BY-SA 4.0
A maze of pointed clay spires and pinnacles south of La Paz, carved by rain and wind from hills of clay and fine sand into slender beige-and-grey columns packed together, like the surface of the moon or a forest of melted candles. Visitors walk two short marked trails among the formations, one about fifteen minutes and the other about 45, with small bridges and lookouts over narrow gullies. Snowy Mount Illimani appears on the horizon above the hills. The formations are very fragile and erode with every rain, so keep to the trail and never touch or climb the spires. The site is small and quiet, usually combined with a visit to La Paz's greener southern districts. Get there by taxi or minibus from the centre in about half an hour. The sun is strong at this altitude, so bring a hat and water. Bolivia is under a state of emergency with protests and road blockades, so check road conditions and your government's travel advice before the trip.
A pointed maze.
Over gullies.
On the horizon.
Mallasa district, about 10 km south of central La Paz
About one to two hours on two short trails, reached by taxi from the centre in half an hour.