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From the Pollera to Aconcagua: The Cholitas Escaladoras Brought Their Story to UNESCO
Paris, June 3, 2025 — In the high peaks of the Southern Cone, a story unfolds that challenges time, tradition, and prejudice. It is the story of Indigenous Aymara women who decided that the summit belongs to them too. Among them is Lita González, a Bolivian mountain guide and founder of the Cholitas Escaladoras collective, who turned a childhood question—“Where does my father go when he climbs?”—into a life journey.
From the small Zongo Valley, 83 kilometers from La Paz, to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, Lita has climbed not only mountains, but also stigma, imposed roles, and silence. This became clear before a packed auditorium.
“Climbing in pollera was a decision that changed my life,” she told the audience during the event titled “Higher than Fear”, held as part of Latin America and the Caribbean Week at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
“It was the same one my grandmother wore—a symbol of struggle and dignity. A garment once mocked and shamed now flies at the summit of Aconcagua as a standard of a new narrative.”
Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, emphasized:
“When I read the story of Lita Gonzales and the Cholitas Escaladoras, I was immediately reminded of this powerful truth. Their journey — both literal and symbolic — up the snow-capped Andes of Bolivia, is a demonstration that the strength of women, particularly Indigenous women, is deeply rooted in nature, ecosystems, biological and cultural diversity and identity, and resilience.”
Ambassador Óscar Vega Camacho, Permanent Delegate of Bolivia to UNESCO, added:
“For an Aymara woman to speak in this room is an act of historical justice. This panel is not a tribute; it is a victory.”
Lita recounted how, in 2015, eleven Indigenous women dared to dream together at the foot of Huayna Potosí.
“We came together in fear, but with courage. Wearing our traditional clothing, not knowing if we could. That’s when I realized the strength was already there—it was in our blood.”
Since then, the Cholitas have summited iconic peaks such as Sajama, Illimani, Parinacota, and Aconcagua—but they’ve also climbed other mountains: those of prejudice and gender stereotypes.
“They told us this sport was for men. Sometimes we even doubted ourselves,” Lita shared. “We went up with motorcycle helmets and inadequate gear, but we climbed anyway. Because when you believe, your body responds and your spirit soars.”
British photographer Todd Antony, who captured them for The Guardian, noted:
“Photographing them was to witness courage in its fullest. Watching them climb with braids and polleras at the edge of an abyss is to witness dignity in its purest form.”
From UNESCO’s Division for Gender Equality, Begoña Lasagabaster highlighted: “The Cholitas embody the principles of the Pact for the Future and the Gender Equality Strategy. They don’t just make new leadership visible—they redefine it.”
Willy Montenegro, from the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), added: “Thanks to women like Lita, we understand that the mountain can also be a space for inclusion and justice.”
For Lita, every summit is also a personal conquest. “The mountain spoke to me. It told me I could. That I had to continue. I felt at home, as if visiting my ancestors.”
She trained as a guide, learned rescue techniques, and passed exams on equal footing with male counterparts. Today, she inspires girls and women of all ages to wear the pollera with pride. “Sport empowers us. It makes us physically strong, yes—but also mentally and spiritually.”
The activity was coordinated by the Delegation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to UNESCO and the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, as part of the Fit for Life programme, which promotes sport as a tool for social transformation.
Ernesto Fernández Polcuch, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, opened the event with a powerful message: “This story doesn’t just move us—it challenges us. It demands we include historically silenced voices, learn from other forms of knowledge, and redesign our policies from the ground up.”
Gisselle Burbano, Regional Specialist and moderator of the event, summed up the day’s spirit: “This is not the end of a journey. It’s the beginning of an alliance. The Cholitas are not the exception—they are the future we must keep building.”
Before leaving, Lita addressed the younger generations with clarity: “Try. Don’t be left with the doubt. Climb your own mountains. We’ve already shown that it’s possible to dream of the summit—and reach it.”
