Need any help on Bolivia?
 

Hey everyone… I've been reading a lot information requests on my country, so I decided I would post a message here. I love motorcycles and will be more than glad to provide you any advice on traveling within the country (paperwork, selling/buying bikes, lodging, status of routes, places to visit, things that you should avoid or be aware of, etc.) I am based in the city of La Paz…

Hi, I am so glad that I found your post!

I am traveling South and we are considering going as well to Bolivia. We are traveling 2up on a VStrom 650.

As the bike is quite heavy and loaded, my main worries are related to the roads condition (especially the ones without tarmac) and the time frame to go there.

My questions would be:
- is January a good month to go to Bolivia (meaning no rain or very few rains?)
- are the "main" roads and the roads going to landmarks like (Salar de Uyuni) manageable traveling 2up on a VStrom?

Thank you!
Alex

Heya Wmur, we are traveling down but are in Mexico at present for a while, we won't be in Bolivia until say March/April ish next year but value any inforation you put up here.

Thank you for taking the time to post.

hi I could do with a bit of help in they way of a place to work on my bike . the water pump needs some work . i have the parts and can do the job . just looking for a work shop if possible .
thanks kito

Hi, AnjiSan. I hope your trip is going ok. January is normally a rainy season in the country but lately the weather is so crazy that we won't be able to make any decent forecast so far. Just keep in mind that the Salar gets flooded if the rains are heavy. Let's stay in touch so I can give you the most updated information by the time you plan to arrive (do you have a date?)

On your other question: if you get into Bolivia through Peru or Chile, you won't have major problems in the Vstrom. The main roads are paved. and you will be able to reach La Paz city without major issues. Ride carefully, as animals and even villagers may just show up upon a curve. The road to the Salar is 50% paved and 50% bumpy and dusty. As long as you ride with caution, I would say that the Vstrom will make it. Two up on the bike may diminish its performance in high altitudes, but I've seen smaller bikes on the route. I wish you a nice trip. It'll be great having people like you visiting our country. Just keep me posted and let me know your travels plans so we can discuss further details on specific routes...

Two Moto Kiwis: March/April is a great time to visit the country. You may want to focus on some interesting spots (Lake Titicaca and the inca area, Yungas/Rurre/Madidi, and the Salt Flakes). Not sure which bike you are using, so let's stay on the traditional routes, for the time being… As soon as you let me know how many days you plan to spend around Bolivia I can maybe provide you additional information. Be prepared to abrupt changes of weather, altitude and landscape. Bolivia has amazing and radically different areas that you will enjoy. Will be happy to help you planning your time here and also suggest places to stay over, do's and donut's… Keep riding!

Heading thru Boliva in the next few days
(Plan to leave Cucso around November 20th).
Puno then Bolivia- :scooter:

Let me know if anyone is heading that way.
-Will

Hi Will I am still in the wild rovers hostal in La Paz for a few days longer . On wednesday everything will be closed and people are not allowed out of there house so i guess the border will be closed on that day.

Good Lookin out- In Puno. Just got in today
Plan to cross tomorro or the next.

Crazy census.
My friend told me about it in cusco.

Guess they can't even leave the house?
Great day to rip around the streets.

Hope Allz well bud

Hi, heading north from Argentina, will be crossing at Agua Blancas in a few days. We plan to head to Potosi and La Paz, may head to Sucre as well.

A ot depends if the F650 Funduro can manage 2 up at those altitudes :-).


Its managed 3000+ twice so far ... :-)

Two questions, currently in Tarija and heading to Potosi (when I fix my ignition).

How much of the road between Potosi and Tarija is asphelt ? (best report I have seen is 50/50 from March las year).

And is there any fuel in Camargo ? Or do I need to add a larger gas can ? :-)

Sorted it, got the info from the locals. 80km dirt and fuel in Camargo. Looks like we will make it a 2 day trip to Potosi

Wmur,

We're two bikes, currently in La Paz and heading to Oruru tomorrow, then to Uyuni. One quick question, do you have any reccomendations on where to stay in Oruru? Maybe a cheap-ish hotel where we can also park?

Cheers,
Kevin

In Oruru, head for the central market. There is an hotel called the Galaxia, about 250Bob for a double. Not cheap, but cheaper than the same back home :-)

They have secure parking 2 blocks from hotel

Riding in Bolivia NOW!!! Need help!
 

Hello,
Just crossed the Peruvian border yesterday, today in Copacabana and heading tomorrow to La Paz. My intention is to go to Salar de Uyuni on Dec. 12... any comments? Is it possible to get there now (weather conditions)?
Also, I need to get new tires for my bike, Pirelli 130/80/17 MT60. Any suggestions?
My budget is REALLY low, can anyone recoommend accomodation?
Thanks in advance!

Yes, you can get to the Salar, either via Potosi (tarmac from Oruro ->Potosi->Uyuni).

Or use the Oruro -> Uyuni road/ripio/sand. But it is raining there today (just got into Oruro).

If you mean ride on the salar with your bike, I'd say go along and take a look yhen make up your mind.

Cheap accom in Uyuni, don;t know. We treated ourselves to the Tonito.

Thank you!
I am in Oruro now, managed to get the rear tire but still looking for Pirelli MT60 100/90/19
Probably ride to Potosi tomorrow avoiding ripio/gravel on the other road.
Thanks again for teh info.
Jorge

The road from La Paz to Oruro and then to Potosi, Uyuni is all paved. The rainy season has started. I booked a 3 day tour ($90) with an agency (Tunupa Tours - very good). The salar is wet, you'll rust your bike to bits if you ride in it now.

We left Oruro on Wednesday. Now in Cochabamba.

You would be able to get the tyre down here.

Have you had trouble getting fuel in Oruro ? The YPFB station is just north of the old north train station. Or ride the 117k to Challapata, no problem with fuel there.

Hi guys!

we are now in Lima and so we can plan better the next leg of the trip South.

Our idea is to go to Cusco and then to Bolivia. But as it is rainy season there, our doubt is: would we see anything there (in terms of nature, mountains, peaks) or everything will be cloudy and we'll get rain and that's it.

Also, other question is:

is there a main road that goes from Bolivia to Chile? We have our route more or less to Uyuni but then... we don't know if there is an OK route to go to Chile or we would need to double back to Peru.
Any suggestions, ideas?

Here's a post I just put on ADV Rider about that:

If you have gravel and dirt experience, you won't have a problem with Oilague to Uyuni or Calama to Oilague. It's gravel, and mostly you can go 30-40 mph. There are a few soft spots, but very short, a few hundred yards here and there and well marked. Yes, unless you are a good off-road rider, you don't want to take the San Pedro road. From San Pedro to Calama is all pavement, then about 40 kms of pavement towards Oilague, then dirt. At the border it gets much better and Bolivia border to Uyuni is all hard-packed smooth dirt. Note that there is no wifi in Uyuni at all, except for one (expensive) hotel (400 Bolivianos/night). I stayed at Hotel Avenida (something starting with an A... lat/lon S20 27.772 W66 49.381). They have bike parking. 100 Bolivianos for a room with private bathroom.

Take Tunupa Tours (a few doors down from the hostel) for a 3 day tour through the Salar de Uyuni. Not worth wrecking your bike with the salt. All-in tour was 680 Bolivianos (nice Lexus 470 offroad machine).

Btw, Uyuni to Oruro is all perfectly new asphalt if you go Uyuni, Potosi, Challapata, Oruro.

Mombassa, thanks for the update. Very good info. So the road to look into is
Uyuni-Oilague-Calama as the best way to go from Bolivia to Chile.

Did it rained on the road when you where there? I wonder how the road would hold up if it gets wet. And how long between the gas stations on that road? with a 350 km range, would I be OK?

Being 2up and with a lot of luggage, I would prefer to stay as much as possible on tarmac especially if the weather is wet... But I do understand that in those parts, that might not be possible all the time. So we have to adapt.

The border to Uyuni is 227 kms. From Calama, it's 200 or so kms to the border. There are a few gas station on the Chilean side, so no worries.

The road was dry. The only tricky part (red sandy raod) is about the last 30-40 kms into Uyuni, but it's all flat and straight and hard-packed. But slippery when wet.

No tarmac 50 kms outside of Calama till Uyuni. Uyuni itself is all dirt too, but once you head to Potosi, it's smooth tarmac.

Patacayama (north of Oruro) to Chile, all paved

Oruro to Chile (I believe all paved now)

I am in Copiapo for a few days then plan to cross into Bolivia at some point so will post again with up to date info

Bringing part into Bolivia via air plane - duties / tariffs?
 

My motorcycle is being stored in La Paz for three weeks while I am in the USA. Return with a chain and air filter. Does anyone know if I'll pay duties or tariffs for the parts? In my mind I am not importing the parts as I will be taking out of the country by motorcycle...

Andy when you get to Bolivia, contact Corey at Bolivia bound.

Enduro Tours Andes to Amazon

He is a countryman of yours living and running a tour business in Bolivia.
He is a great bloke and would be happy to point you in the right direction.

Tell him Guy sent you.

If you put the parts in your checked in luggage, then there should be no issue as they are for use. We carried a shed load of gear with us to Chile last Nov and had no issues.

I suspect Chile and Bolivia are different beasts. Looking for Bolivia specific advice.

I understand your concern, but do you think they search every ones luggage and pull out computers etc , then ask for import duty ?

Items in checked in luggage are for personal use. They are not going to be concerned about your C&S kit. Especially as it is for your bike that is already there.

If you had crossed the border withy the kit on your bike they would not bat an eyelid.

You could have probably bought a C&S kit for it in Cochabamaba and anyway. (and saved a lot of money)

Peter you should be just fine. That is how i bring in most parts etc for my bikes - get a friend coming down to bring a suitcase load for me! Occasionally they will open your suitcase and may query the parts but it will be pretty obvious that you are not bringing them in for commercial reasons. If possible remove things from original packaging and remove price tags.

good luck.
Cory

Two Moto Kiwis it would be great to meet you. We can even offer camping on our back lawn and workshop facilities if you'd like!
Cory

Bolivia to Chile border crossing locations
 

Hi Wmur and fellow Bolivia travellers.

I'm heading into Bolivia from Salta in 2 days for a quick visit to Uyuni and the Salar. I then need to cross back into Chile and continue north to Lima.

I was in San Pedro last week and want to avoid returning there. So I am lookjng for a border crossing north of the Ollague crossing. Anyone know where I can cross? Someone told me I could cross at SAN PABLO DE NEGRA / PASO ABRA ORIENTE DE NAPA, to the west of the Salar, but my map doesn't show an immigration aduana post there.

I'm returning to Bolivia for a more extensive visit in May, so don't want to spoil it by riding long distances in Bol this time. And I want to spend a bit of time in N Chile.

More than happy on dirt roads.

Thanks!!

whats the gas situation like in Bolivia? I am currently in Cuzco and plan to cross into Bolivia in the next week. Ill be stopping at the salt flats on my way to Argentina and sticking to Oruro, Challapata, Potosi and Uyuni. Ive heard rumors that gas can be hard to find or obtain (if they dont have receipts).

Should I pick up an extra gas tank to carry around. I've got a 5.8 gallon on the KLR. Thanks for your help.

Derek

ps. Are the salt flats dry yet?

yes Gas can be dificault to find particularly in the south, so recommend an extra tank or can, although you can often find small amounts by asking around to get you through.
good luck

WMur
 

PM sent.

Ruta 6 from Sucre to Oruro --- Road Conditions.
 

Hello guys,

We whant to ride the Ruta 6 from Sucre to Oruro.... does anyone know the road conditions ? I cant find any info on this route.
We dont want to go over Potosi.

Thanks and greetz from Sucre.

importing parts by plane...
 

Follow up from my question last year. Now posting my experience bringing in parts via plane. Filled out the combo immigration/declaration form on the plane. Unlike most countries, you don't list the items, but simply mark a box. I had some parts for the guy who was storing my bike and was prepared to pay duties if required.

Got through immigrations, collected my bags, handed the form to an attendant who quickly glanced at it and put it in a pile. He then directed me to push a button. The light above turned green, indicating no customs inspection. I just got lucky, which means I'll never really know what they may have decided to charge for spare parts.

I read on the HUBB or ADVRIDER about a friend bringing parts into another SA country and being hit with duties. It might have been Ecuador or Peru. If you are caught carrying parts into Brazil there will be duties. That said, a friend flew into Brazil wearing a brand new jacket and carrying a new helmet without paying any duties. Asked if she had any electronics in her luggage, she said "no", because the new iPhone and mini iPad were in her backpack...

sell a bike
 

Hey there,

I have a question about selling my bike.

Long story to short: I had an accident with my bike in Bolivia. And now I do not feel comfortable any more riding ahead.
Bike is fine, just I am not :oops2:

So we are in La Paz now (we are two riders, my boyfriend and I) and want to sell one, or maybe both, bikes.

I read all the posts on the hub, but still have the question how it is selling a motorcycle in Bolivia?!?!
What would be neccesary to sell it to a Boliviano?
Especially i read that the aduana at copacabana (peru,bolivia) seems to be very strict and exact at bordercrossings.
If its possible to got out there without the exitstamp for the bike?

Questions over Questions, I am sorry.
But if you know something we would be verrrry happy:D

greetings from us, Demian and Ina
(locos en motos :)!! Mit XF650 & KLR650 in Südamerika.)

seek local advice
 

Sorry to hear you had an accident. Its easy for me to say, just get back on the bike and ride, when its obviously hard for you. A motorcycle safety instructor said for most people it takes 2 years to feel truly comfortable on a motorcycle. Rebuilding that comfort zone may take longer than you want to invest. Riding around La Paz with its extra steep inclines and cobble stone is hard place to be on two wheels. If you do decide to keep the bike, remember that La Paz and Bolivia in general are tough riding and it will be easier elsewhere.

That said, if you want advice from a local on how to sell a motorcycle in La Paz, I suggest sending a message to the La Paz community on the "Contact a Community" page:

Contact a Community | Horizons Unlimited

You might hear from a rider named Alfonso, who helped me and other riders in the past. He is one of the people that receives the messages sent to that community. He is a great guy and will certainly be of assistance. If I remember correctly, one of the riders in his club is a lawyer. While Alfonso reads and speak English, I recommend posting your question in English and Spanish (I use Google Translate) because you don't know who is active.

If Bolivia proves to be a difficult country to sell you bike, you might want to post to communities in Peru at the same time, if Peru is next on your travel plans. Cusco is about two days ride fro La Paz.

great info, thanks
 

thanks very much for your info!

Actually, I was on the bike after the accident, but I just recognized that- wright now- its not the same as before. Its not so much fun, so I think I have to take a pause of the trip.

The tip with the communities is really good, thanks.
I already wrote to the bolivian and peruvian community. In english and spanish :)

I hope everything goes fine. I will post news then :thumbup1:

greetings from us, Ina and Demian