This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Tacna to Puno via Tarata: Over the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca
From the border town of Tacna up the Andes to Tarata and across the high Altiplano to Puno on Lake Titicaca. Guevara and Granado entered Peru at Tacna on 24 March 1952 and climbed this way by truck through Tarata, the town Guevara called the new world, reaching Puno and the lake on 26 March.
Trail Map
Initialising Map Engine...
Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 416 km one way; allow a full day or two. A long climb from near sea level to above 4,000 m: take it slowly and watch for altitude sickness. Services are sparse across the Altiplano, so carry fuel, water and warm clothing. Nights are below freezing for much of the year, and the rainy season (December to March) brings storms and landslides.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
-18.0146, -70.2536
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: -18.0146, -70.2536 @ 575m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Walk the stone streets and colonial church of Tarata
- Watch for vicuñas and flamingos on the high plain
- Take a boat from Puno to the floating Uros islands
- Visit Taquile island on Lake Titicaca
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+6164 m
Total Descent
-2911 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
21.8
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.71
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 108.2 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
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Plan this trip
Before you go: Tacna to Puno via Tarata: Over the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca
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