On each one of the compass directions, Ayata offers a different landscape to explore and enjoy. However, the steep terrain and the lack of fresh water sources quite limit the extent of the walks, unless water purification pills or tools are taken.

To the south, the town is delineated by a steep hill which is part of the mighty Socosani Mountain. Many paths climb the hill and lead to the twin town of Chuma. Since Chuma is the Muñecas Province capital, it is slightly more alive than Ayata and provides the only quasi-urban environment in the area. The walk takes a couple of hours at a slow pace.

To the northeast, Ayata ends in a steep slope leading to a narrow stream. Walking parallel to it, the village of Mollo is roughly halfway between Ayata and the deep Sorata River. The human landscape there is different, since Mollo is a Quechua speaking community, while Ayata is mainly Aymara. A more vigorous exercise would be to cross the stream and climb to one of the villages on the northern side, some of them are populated by miners from the now inactive tin mines in the area. This would be a 4- or 5-hour walk; there are no facilities of any kind at the hamlets.

The most scenic option for a walk is to climb westwards from Ayata up the Socosani Mountain. The mammoth itself is picturesque, with a peculiar summit reminding of ancient military forts. Soon after leaving Ayata, the brown plateau’s earth changes into a deep black and close to the summit, ice and snow appear. Beyond serving as a natural cool-down, the mountain is high enough to offer clear views of the slopes leading down to the Sorata River—more than 3km downwards—and of the imposing mountains across the river. After the morning fog vanishes, the town of Sorata—a central tourism location in northern La Paz—and the Illampu Mountain—one of the highest in Bolivia—are clearly visible.

Between a mighty rock and a hard place, Ayata’s Himalayan views and incomparable human landscape has something special for every visitor.

The Nature

In the way between the Socosani Mountain and the Sorata River, Ayata enjoys an awesome landscape. The mountain reaches 5km height, while the river is significantly below 2km below sea level; that means that the slopes cover more than 3 vertical kilometers. This dramatic drop creates plenty of opportunities for awesome views, fast white-waters, and a variety of climates within foot reach from the town. The many cultivated terraces assure plenty of comfortable paths in all directions; it is safe to walk outside. However, there are no sources of safe water and there are no guesthouses or hotels in any of the settlements surrounding Ayata; thus any day walk must be planned with care. On the mountains raising across the Sorata River several settlements can be spotted—especially during the very dark nights of the zone. The main one is the town of Sorata, one of the main cities in the La Paz Department.

In the mornings, the sun heats the dew deposited overnight and creates a fog that dissipates before noon. The fog seems to slowly fill the lower valleys and creates very attractive views. The mighty Illampu is the highest mountain seen from the town—it reaches roughly 6500m—but it is usually blocked by the fog or the clouds. Even when in clear sight, the elevated surroundings in all directions steal a bit of its usual majesty.

The Human Landscape

Ayata is located in the Province of Muñecas, the poorest province of La Paz and one of the poorest in Bolivia. People survive here on simple agriculture, with no help of modern machines or fertilizers. When the fields do not require work, most men travel to La Paz, where they do work as porters, taking the merchandise to and from the congested markets on their backs.

The province was named after a person; however, "muñecas" in Spanish means "dolls," hence in an affectionate daily idiom, local women—famous for their colorful attires—are called "muñequitas," i.e. "little dolls." Spanish is only the third language in the area, which is on the borderline between the Aymara and Quechua cultures; English is practically unheard of.

Across a hill from Ayata is the town of Chuma, the province capital, which can be reached in a couple of hours by foot; there is no public transport regularly connecting the twin towns, though long-distance buses may take passengers between them if they have space.