12 Day Guided Motorcycle Tour in Bolivia: Conquer the Diverse Landscapes of the Bolivian Andes

Overview

Through wild forests and rivers, over the massive passes of the Andes, you climb to an altitude of 4000 meters, where you reach Bolivia’s famous high mountain plateau, the Altiplano. The otherworldly landscape with mountain-studded horizon extends beyond the trees, while herds of happy llamas graze as you enjoy the thrill of freedom, riding through the world’s largest and most spectacular salt desert or experiencing the Mad Max atmosphere among the ruined steel giants of an abandoned train graveyard. In the evening, you relax in a world-famous salt hotel. You set off from the desolate world of the Altiplano towards La Paz to conquer the infamous Death Road, which fortunately has not claimed its once numerous victims since the mid-1990s, as a new motorway has been built on the other side of the valley. Therefore this single-lane road, where waterfalls cascade down from the 1000-meter-high

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• Head to La Higuera, famous for being the place where Che Guevara
• Travelling through landscapes on mountain paths with breathtaking views
• Curve along spectacular roads as you cross the passes of the Andes
• Visit Cerro Rico, the mountain where 60% of the world's silver was mined in the 16th century
• You spend an unforgettable rest day in Salar de Uyuni
• You continue your journey on the Altiplano towards La Paz
• 11 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1 - Arrival

   - Height: 400 meters Arrival in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. You will acclimatize, rest after the long journey and explore the city.

2. Day 2 - The beginning of the big journey (120 kilometers / 75 miles)

   - Asphalt, altitude: 1050 meters Take over the Enfields in the morning, and then the adventure begins: you leave Santa Cruz behind as you pass through the surrounding settlements. You ascend to new heights in the jungle until you reach Samaipata, where you spend the night. This day is all about getting used to the bikes before hitting the more challenging terrain.

3. Day 3 - The first field trip, Che Guevara (179 kilometers / 111 miles)

   - Mixed terrain, altitude: 2346 meters After a relaxing morning at the family farm, mixed terrain and exceptional roads are waiting for you as you head towards La Higuera, famous for being the place where Che Guevara was captured in 1967. You spend the night in the accommodation created from the old telegraph house, where the operator informed the authorities about Che Guevara's appearance.

4. Day 4 - Far from civilization (137 kilometers / 85 miles)

   - Terrain, altitude: 2080 meters You will be travelling through landscapes on mountain paths with breathtaking views and over a long winding river below you, until you reach the small town of Padilla, where you can catch a glimpse of the slow life of the Bolivian countryside, far from the usual tourist centers.

5. Day 5 - Sucre (175 kilometers / 109 miles)

   - Mixed terrain, altitude: 2810 meters Continue to curve along spectacular roads as you cross the passes of the Andes, and the landscape changes dramatically as you descend into the lower-lying jungle valleys, heading towards the picturesque hills of Sucre, with its unique atmosphere. Sucre, one of the two capitals of Bolivia, also known as the White City due to its well-preserved colonial architecture. You enjoy the vibrant culture, thriving arts and music scene, and of course, the local cuisine at this city with such a rich history.

6. Day 6 - New heights, silver mine (155 kilometers / 96 miles)

   - Asphalt, altitude: 4067 meters After breakfast, you set off on your winding road over rocky mountains, valleys and rivers, taking you to altitudes over 4000 meters. You reach Cerro Rico, the mountain where 60% of the world's silver was mined in the 16th century. Depending on the group's interest, you may take a mine tour in Potosí, which was once the wealthiest city in the world.

7. Day 7 - Train cemetery (205 kilometers / 127 miles)

   - Asphalt, altitude: 3700 meters Continue your journey on long winding mountain roads of exceptional quality until you finally reach the huge Altiplano. You spend the afternoon among the ruined steel giants of the train cemetery on the highlands, and along the way you can dip into natural hot springs. You stay for two nights next to the Salar de Uyuni, in the world's first and most famous salt hotel.

8. Day 8 - Salt desert

   Spend an unforgettable rest day in Salar de Uyuni, a 4085 square kilometer salt flat that stretches over the ancient, dried-up Minchin Lake. You enjoy motorcycling in the endless whiteness and have lunch in the middle of the desert next to a cactus-lined former volcanic island.

9. Day 9 - Horizon (500 kilometers / 310 miles)

   - Asphalt, altitude: 3700 meters Head north and dive further into the unusual beauty of the Bolivian highlands. Quinoa plantations, vicuñas, herds of llamas and snow-capped mountain peaks accompany you as you continue the journey towards La Paz, the highest capital in the world, which is located in a bowl-shaped valley among the snowy peaks of the Andes. Thanks to its eclectic architecture, bustling markets and street vendors, you get to know the rich culture of the indigenous people up close before delving into the vibrant nightlife.

10. Day 10 - A rest day (105 kilometers / 65 miles)

    - Asphalt, altitude: 1680 meters After a lazy morning, you reach Coroico with a short ride, a small town with a cheerful atmosphere surrounded by green mountains. You enjoy the special view, the local culture and relax before heading to the infamous Death Road the next day.

11. Day 11 - Death road (100 kilometers / 62 miles)

    - Mixed terrain, altitude: 3700 meters Death Road took its victims until the mid-1990s, when a new road was built on the other side of the valley. Therefore this single-lane road, where waterfalls cascade down from the 1000-meter-high cliffs, is now only travelled by adventurers like you who are specifically looking for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After conquering it, you descend back to La Paz, where you spend your last night.

12. Day 12 - Santa Cruz and farewell

    You take domestic flights back to Santa Cruz, where you say goodbye and return home with eternal memories. The program is subject to change at any times. The final itinerary depends on current weather conditions and the endurance of the group.

Ride Details

Terrain

mixed terrain

Bike

rental bike (Royal Enfield Himalayan)

Mileage

1,676 kilometers / 1,041 miles

Daily rides

100 - 500 kilometers / 62 - 311 miles

Riding gear

not included: every rider must bring his own motorcycle protective gear and helmet

Meals

3 meals per day for 10 days

Accommodation

You will be accommodated for 7 nights in high standard 4-5 star hotels, including two nights in the world’s first salt hotel near the salt desert, 3 nights in special authentic guesthouses in the countryside, including a family farm and accommodation created from the old telegraph house where Che Guevara was captured. You also spend 1 night in a simple, small-town hotel.

Food

The package includes 3 meals per day, except on the day of arrival and departure. The Andes are the original homeland of potatoes, more than 200 different varieties of potatoes are grown in Bolivia, and so the cuisine of the Altiplano is also dominated by potatoes. In addition, quinoa, rice, beans and corn also make it onto the plates alongside the intensely spiced meat, so we have plenty of nutrients to use during the tour.

Getting There

During this tour, you will visit various places in Bolivia including Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Padilla, Sucre, Cerro Rico, and more. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/gobeyond/12-day-guided-motorcycle-tour-conquer-the-diverse-landscapes-of-the-bolivian-andes# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/gobeyond/12-day-guided-motorcycle-tour-conquer-the-diverse-landscapes-of-the-bolivian-andes# "Zoom out")

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