Who's in Bolivia right now?
 

Hi all, I'm riding solo through south america on my chinese built "enduro"
and am in Bolivia right now, I'm in Cochabamba right now and will probably head over to La Paz in a few days, to the death road and then head up to Rurrenbarque possibly before heading across to Peru in maybe 10 days.

If anyone's around drop me a line, or if you're going to be around Uyuni I took down some GPS co ordinates of cool places in the Salt flats, definitely worth visiting!

Cheers, Russell.

Hey Russell,

I too have a Chinese moto only 200cc! Bought it in Santiago. I'm in Mendoza now but am leaving on Sunday to go up north and into Bolivia, want to ride up to Rurrenbarque and check out a bit of the Bolivian Amazon. Aiming to get into Bolivia in 1 or 2 weeks. I'm guessing I'm going to be a few weeks behind you. But never know we may cross paths? Would love any tips on where to go if you have the time.

All the best mate

Dave

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Hey mate, I'm thinking of leaving La Paz for rurrenbarque this week then jump over to Peru for Cuzco, maybe Lima then Arequipa and down to Chile after.

Can recommend the salt flats, Potosi, Sucre, the road from Uyuni to Oruro is very hard - corrugated gravel most of the way. it's better to ride in the sand next to the road if you're able.

It would be great to meet up and travel some sections together if we're able, everyone else I meet is on a japanese bike capable of cruising much faster. what kind of bike are you on, got a blog?

I actually backpacked around Bolivia about 4 years ago so have been to a lot of places already, just not on a bike so still debating whether to go back to Uyuni again or not. Never been to the Amazon basin before, so thought I might just go straight up there instead. When at the lastest will you be leaving La Paz? Although I doubt I'll get there before you leave.

Haha yeah we really chose some good bikes hey, but I am enjoying cruising at 70-80km/h. I'm guessing you didn't plan on buying a bike when you came to S.Am? I didn't so am not the most prepared guy out there haha.

Yeah I just started a blog recently, I just added the link to my signature. I just read yours, nice, yep Chinese bikes rule!! I rode my first bike in Banos on the same backpacking trip in 4yrs ago. Took me till now to buy one though! Stay in touch mate, we might work something out.

Bro, our trips are almost too similar!
Also got sick of the road too often travelled and bought a bike, also a chinese copy, It was also in Banos, Ecuador that I rode my 1st dirt bike (and XR250 Todnado) and then decided to buy a bike after already being on the road for 6 months. I wish I'd done this earlier.
but I'm a bit jealous when you say you get to cruise at speeds of up to 80kph! I cruise at 70 and it feels like the piston is threatening to go flying through the fuel tank at any moment.. going to get an even smaller rear sprocket one of these days.

The latest I'd be leaving La Paz, would be a week, that's if I waste entirely too much time here and also climb huyana potosi, which I'm considering. What would be the earliest you'd get here? it'd be really cool to ride with someone else, especially if they're a like minded individual on an equally high quality piece of chinese machinery. bier

Talvez econtramos mas tarde! bier

Mate, I know haha, too similar...don't go causing any crimes before I get there, otherwise I'll probably be the one picked up when I get there.

Don't think 2 idiots on chinese bikes in the amazon is going to happen though. I just looked, its 2000km to get to Villazon from Mendoza - including some detours I'm taking. I'm guessing about 10 days to get to Villazon. And about another 1000ks if I head straight to La Paz. Not done any research on the roads in Bolivia yet but, if that takes 4 days from Villazon, thats 2 weeks to get to La Paz from today. In summary unless some chica holds you up in La Paz, I don't think I'll get there before you leave! Where are you going after?

Russell, glad to know that you're still riding.

After Sucre, I road down through Bolivia, lots of dirt, into the Chaco of Paraguay. Spent some time in Filadelphia, Loma Plata, Concepcion, Laguna Blanca, Asuncion, Encarnacion and C. Del Este. I enjoyed Paraguay. I may e saw 5 tourist the whole time I was there. I ran into your paisano Jaime in Asuncion. I crossed over by ferry into Puerto Iguazu, then Foz do Iguacu. Met Roldolfo and hung out a bit. Now I'm in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Dave, if you're making your way north in Argentina you have some excellent scenery and roads that you will pass. La Cuesta, just north of Andalgala was some of the twistiest dirt riding that I've done on my trip. You can check out my blog to see the route that I took through N. Argentina or you can just make it up.

Enjoy!

Hey man, yeah too bad.
I don't know about you, but if I put in a solid day's riding I can get in about 350KM, my best ever is 380 and the last hour was in the dark,
I think after this I'll go up to Rurrenbarque, and Might end up trying to get to Peru before my visa and import permit run out on the 1st of Sept.
After that I'll head towards Cuzco to do the Salkantay trail independantly, that would be up to a month from now.

I just read on your blog you're staying in Mendoza for the next month, sounds like a good deal. where are you thinking of heading after that?

Yeah Troy that sounds like a good time, I wonder if I might get to La Cuesta at the end of my trip when I'm heading down towards Chile in a round about kind of way.

Hey guys,

am using the worlds worst keyboard here. Russ I left Mendoza yesterday actually, just not had any decent internet for a while to update. Yeah I get about 300km on a good run. Long day for a bike like ours! There are loads of places I want to see on the way up and already had to stop today to try get my camera fixed.

Troy that route looks insane will have to see if I can get there. Wish I had a 650cc yesterday. The wind was terrible from Uspallata to Barreal, needed more power to get through it, so many dust clouds, 0 visability. It also busted my camera so have taken a detour to San Juan and will try to get it fixed tomorrow. Will head for Ischigualasto and Talampaya the day after tomorrow. Quick Question, is fuel available around these parks, getting conflicting answers. I can carry enough to get there but not enough to La Rioja after.

Cheers