Bolivia route help
 

Hi everybody, I'm heading back on the road in a week from Costa Rica but I'm trying to put a route together for Bolivia back into Chile and wondering if anybody could help me.

I'm obviously going to be working my way down to Uyuni but its from there I'm having trouble figuring out the best way to get back over to Chile? What are my options that would be safe for someone riding solo??

Hi,

Questions first, is your reason for Bolivia to only go to Uyuni , if so then it would be such a waste as Bolivia offers so much.

The roads are made for bikers and are so diverse, going from Uyuni salt flats to some of the highest mountain roads from the Alto Plano to the Amazonas and everything else. High temps to very cold.

There are roads with tarmac, rough passes, roads with holes, roads being made and roads with allsorts going on but even when having to work on it they are very enjoyable.

I went to pass though then ride for a week in Bolivia and ended up staying around for six months.

Also where in Chile do you want to go to as this helps with the entry point.

The route though Uyuni to San Pedro De Atacama is quite difficult, a good route with mixed roads and High altitude is to cross into Parque Nacional Lauca, beautiful snow capped volcanoes this will bring you out in the north via Putre then onto Arica though the Atacama desert which I find quite beautiful.

I suppose that coming from the north you will come via Peru which will bring you directly into Chile or will you come Brazil into Bolivia.

As for riding solo, it has not been an issue for me not once did I feel any slightest threat, :oops2: tell a lie, only time was when I was racing up the "Road of Death" I had the cyclist coming down with extreme fear on their faces, otherwise nada.

Go enjoy Bolivia, and its very cheap.

Bryan

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

I am not just going to the salt flats, but I also don't have infinite time, I have a girlfriend and job to get back to. As for being solo, I'm not afraid of threats to dangerous people, more for if my bike breaks down will there eventually be someone that can come help??

To answer your question, I'm coming from Peru, the obvious cusco to la paz route.

From my research I think I want to cross from Uyuni to San cristobal then onto Olague (border crossing). This appears to be a route that is not used often. What can I expect for traffic (if I breakdown)? Will it be easy to follow the roads through that area? Will the road be in good condition during the wet season? I will likely be there early February.

If anybody else is reading this and is looking at going this route or already has a group I'd love to ride across with somebody else.

Safe riding

Terry

Hi Terry

That route from San Cristobel is one I have not done but go for it, as for a potential breakdown I would say it probably is like most that there is obviously a chance of it happening but that should not stop you.

The Bolivians will stop and offer assistance if you were unfortunate enough for this to happen and as it is a country where there are many motos on the road and surrounding areas someone will know how to help you.

So if coming via La Paz ( crazy place ) my opinion "not worth visiting" but surround areas are. The infamous Camino de Murte = Road of Death is nearby and easy to do if nothing but to have ridden it, shared with cyclists coming down with fear on their faces. The views are great too.

Heading south Cochabama the Toratora Nation Park is a must great scenery with a good rough road to ride. If there then really worth a day tour to the Gorge and caves so so good ( not on bike an organised tour quite cheap).

Feb should not be bad for rain and its not all day when it happens, the biggest problem in Bolivia is fuel as there are many long spaces between gas while on the road so carry an extra fuel can, coke bottles whatever.

There are also two prices for fuel the normal price used for all except "gringo's" which is nearly 3 times the price, normal for us just that the local price is much cheaper, I find that most will serve you by not taking the bike into the forecourt and then just filling a container, again a few will just let you come in to fill normally.

I know that my 5lt container will be nearly full for 20bs ( bolivianos) so I just give the container and ask for VEINTE (twenty) POR FAVOR (please) SIN FACTURA (no invoice)
You can just repeat this till full.

Enjoy. Bryan

Hello Terry,

from uyuni there are more or less to route going to chile/san pedro de atacama.

1. ollague
the option to ollague is the easy road. the road to san cristobal is for bolivia in quite good condition. but take always the main roads, there is a shortcut which won´t be nice for your bike ;) the begining should be paved now.
After the border you have mostly a paved good road. only if they work on it you need to go over gravel. the road goes around the smokey volcano too some lagoons. it is nice.

You will arrive in calama and head to the left to San Pedro de Atacama.

You need two or three days for this route it depense on skills.

2. Nationalpark
I would always recomend this route. The landscape is just amazing. It is more ruff, so it is harder for your bike and for yourself but it is worth it.
You take also the route to San Cristobal. Tank gas there! But later you will leave that road and drive to Vila Mar. (Before vila mar are some stone formations on the right side you can visit and take some snapshots) In Vila Mar you can stop and rest or you go on. The next possibility is in the Nationalpark.
It goes through a valley up in the nationalpark eduardo avaroa (150 BS)
This part is not that difficult.
The difficult road starts at the first lagoon -Laguna Colorada. It will be sandy and there are deep tracks. You go arounf the red lagoon, on the right side in the south is a hostel. You can find it easily. If it is late you should stop there and rest. It will be full of 4x4 trucks and tourists from uyuni. From there you go to south leaving the lagoon, riding up a gravel road. You need to come to a street which goes from the thermal springs along the geysers to a border control. This part is heavy. so many rocks on the way, but there for it it isn´t sandy. Just take care of your tyres. there are hundreds of tracks...just choose one.
on the better road you take a right to the border. There are two more controls but the aduana at the nationalpark border isn´t open so often. so go to this one and check out your bike! Afterwards you go all the way back, where you took a right and you go further straight on your road. This road is easy and good driving for gravel. on the right side is a big geyser field. visit it, it is muddy cool.
you go down to the next lagoon to a little village with hostels and also a thermal pool. if you did not rest at laguna colorada here is a good possibility.
Just follow the road and after a while you come to laguna verde. a green lagoon in front of a volcano. it is amazing! you can go around to the left or right, it think the left site is more easy and you have a nice view with the lagoon and the volcano. of course there are also a lot of flamingos, the most time. on the south west end there is the nationalpark control and sometimes the aduana for a second time. You check out of the nationalpark and tell the aduana guy that you went to the otherone. if he will work^^. 5km further is the border to chile. There is your check out of bilivia.
You will come to pass jamal. at the moment chile builds a border control on top. maybe it is finished till your trip. otherwise your check in point is at the begining of san pedro de atacama.

if you need help, there will be plenty of tourst groups in 4x4 on this way. so don´t worry. I don´t know your bike but maybe take a spare tank with you. You need gas from vila mar to san pedro de atacama.

The way from uyuni - nationalpark eduardo avaroa - san pedro de atacama will take three days.

Questions?

best wishes from brasil
Sascha