Maragua Crater

The Maragua crater is not a crater: it is a syncline, a bowl formed where rock layers were folded downward and then eroded, leaving concentric rings of upturned strata standing out around a flat centre several kilometres across, painted in bands of red, cream and grey. Villages farm the floor. The standard approach is a trek from the Chataquila ridge, descending on a pre-Columbian paved path to the Potolo road and on into the crater over one to three days, passing dinosaur footprints at Niñu Mayu, waterfalls at Talula and the weaving communities of the Jalq'a, whose textiles are woven in dark red and black with tangled fantastical animals unlike any other Bolivian tradition. Community lodging is available in the villages.

The landscape

• The strata rings - concentric bands of upturned rock around the bowl.
• The Inca path - the paved descent from the Chataquila ridge.
• Jalq'a weaving - dark textiles of fantastical animals in the villages.
• Dinosaur footprints - the trackway at Niñu Mayu on the route.

When to go

April to November, the dry season, when the paths are firm and rivers crossable; the wet months bring mud and flooded fords. Nights are cold at this altitude in any month.

Practical notes

Trekking here means real walking at altitude with steep descents and ascents. Community lodging is basic. A guide is strongly advised, both for the route and for arranging village stays. Buying textiles directly supports weavers but quality and price vary.

Nearby

Sucre lies southeast; Cal Orck'o is on the way.