Mt Illimani (6439m / 21,125ft) is the highest peak in the Cordillera Real and the 2nd highest in Bolivia. Its distinctive triple peaked shape dominates views of the city of La Paz (see the La Paz City galleries for views of La Paz with Mt Illimani in the background) and it is considered to be the city's guardian mountain and symbol. The mountain actually has 4 main peaks, the south peak is the highest and was first climbed in 1898 by the British climber Sir Martin Conway and two guides. An earlier expedition by the French explorer Charles Wiener, Baron Jorge de Grumkow, and José Ocampo was the first to attempt the mountain. They failed to reach the main summit but did reach a lower southeastern summit on 19 May 1877.
