Valle de las Animas

The Valle de las Animas, or Valley of the Souls is a densely packed forest of rock formations, each stabbing toward the sky in great clusters. Formed out of mudrock and erosion over hundreds of years, the stunning valley has drawn visitors for thousands of years.

When people first visited this valley, they believed the spires resembled petrified souls, which gave the area its name. Since that time, a steady stream of hikers has visited the valley to marvel at the thousands of rugged peaks, which form deep gorges and many side passages and sub-valleys. Adding to the mystique and beauty of the site is the 15,000-foot Illimani, Bolivia's highest mountain that towers above the valley in the background.