14 Day Wild Wild West Guided Motorcycle Tour in Bolivia

Overview

Starting with the Ruta del Ché, you cross the mountains towards Sucre, the colonial capital of Bolivia, and the indigenous market of Tarabuco. Then the 500 years old silver mines of Potosí, followed by the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world, the train graveyard, and the Dakar monument, follow the footsteps of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid in the spectacular scenery of Tupiza. Pass an old tunnel, taste a selection of wines in Tarija, Bolivia’s wine capital, ride the actual most anxious road of Bolivia, have a “high” snack on a yesteryears railway bridge, and enjoy the fantastic roads and scenery of the wild west of Bolivia. The highest peak of the tour is 4400 meters.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Santa Cruz
• Ride to Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat
• Visit archaeological site of El Fuerte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Descend into the ground and see 500-year-old, still operating silver mines
• See local people in traditional clothes at Tarabuco Sunday market
• Tour led by multi-lingual, experienced guide
• 13 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Airport pickup at Viru-Viru, Santa Cruz

   - Altitude: 400 meters Staff will pick you up at the airport of Santa Cruz, Bolivia from where you drive to the small town of Samaipata (120 kilometers, 3 hours). There, you check into a comfortable hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring. If your flight arrives late, you need to spend the night in Santa Cruz. In that case, the following day is considered day 1.

2. Day 2: Samaipata

   - Altitude: 1650 meters You start with the briefing where you learn more about safe riding, the route, the local traffic rules, and each other. To get used to the bike, you'll go for a ride to the archaeological site of El Fuerte. Classified World Heritage by UNESCO, it is an old Inca town built around the, much older, largest stone sculpture in the Americas. For some people, it is an ancient alien landing field!

3. Day 3: To La Higuera (175 kilometers / 109 miles)

   - Altitude: 1900 meters - Terrain: 50% off-road Leaving early in the morning, you stop in Vallegrande to visit the hospital's laundry, where revolutionary hero Ernesto Ché Guevara's lifeless body was presented in 1967 to the world. After lunch, you continue the ride towards the tiny mountain village of La Higuera, the place where Ché was captured and executed. On the road, you may observe condors, the world's biggest bird. Before arriving at the hotel in La Higuera you have the option to detour on a special ride to a fantastic view. In the evening around the campfire in the courtyard of the ho

4. Day 4: To Sucre (190 kilometers / 118 miles)

   - Altitude: 2700 meters - Terrain: 30% off-road You leave Villa Serrano early in the morning so you can visit the Tarabuco Sunday market. This is the only place in Bolivia where you can take photos of traditionally dressed indigenous people without them turning away. After lunch, you continue to Sucre, the capital of Bolivia. The rest of the afternoon and evening is for exploring this beautiful colonial city. The entire white-painted city center is classified World Heritage site by UNESCO.

5. Day 5: To Potosí (155 kilometers / 96 miles)

   - Altitude: 4100 meters - Terrain: 0% off-road You leave Sucre after lunch. On smooth tarmac, you start to climb towards the altiplano (high planes) until you reach a strange bridge, which you'll intend to ride. The mining city of Potosí, with 4100 meters altitude, is the highest city in the world and is also classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. During the ascent, the guides will give you instructions about altitude sickness. In the afternoon, you will visit the miner’s market where you can buy anything, ranging from coca leaves and dynamite. Then continue to the mines where you will get “g

6. Day 6: To Uyuni (205 kilometers / 127 miles)

   - Altitude 3700 meters - Terrain: 5% off-road Riding through incredible scenery, make a stop at a spectacular canyon, after passing some tiny villages, stop and have the option for an interesting experience. Along the road look out for vicuña (family of camelids), emus, and thousands of lamas. Arrive at the small mining village of Pulacayo. Here, walk around the ancient railway station, past the mine entrance and you can climb the train wagons which are the very same ones the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid arrived in when they came to Bolivia 110 years ago. Next break is U

7. Day 7: Salar de Uyuni day trip (195 kilometers / 121 miles)

   - Terrain: 90% salt-road The Salar de Uyuni is a dried-up salt lake, the size of a small country (11,000 square kilometers). Since the largest salt lake in the world has no references whatsoever and because there are only two colors in the world (blue sky and white salt), there is no perspective. Your brain will have a meltdown and you can take the weirdest photos (crazy photos with crazy bikers). On your way, you visit the cactus island Inca Huasi, the salt market, the flags monument, the salt hotel, and the Dakar monument.

8. Day 8: To Tupiza (185 kilometers / 115 miles)

   - Altitude: 2950 meters - Terrain: 20% off-road In the morning, you leave Uyuni behind you on a new asphalt road. You will be surprised to find a huge Espresso machine at café Alamo in the small mining village of Atocha, where you have lunch. Before entering Tupiza, you will ride the Bolivian Monument Valley. This is a part of the region where the (in)famous Banditos Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid operated and were finally killed. But with all the spectacular stone monuments, don't forget the hotel's pool!

9. Day 9: To Tarija (205 kilometers / 127 miles)

   - Altitude: 1860 meters - Terrain: 40% off-road When the rubber touches the off-road track, the landscape changes instantly into scenic back country roads with deep canyons. There is no infrastructure in the area, so a picnic lunch is the only option. The ride to Tarija, the wine capital of Bolivia, is quite diverse. Just after passing the last mountain, a fantastic panorama opens up to the Tarija valley. Dinner will be served at the restaurant El Marqués. Enjoy a gastronomic highlight. Possibility to visit the Casa Dorada and Castillo Azul and the paleontological museum (Extinct mammals).

10. Day 10: To Villamontes (245 kilometers / 152 miles)

    - Altitude: 390 meters - Terrain: 20% off-road Snaking mountain roads take you from the rolling hills of Tarija to the arid dry Chaco region. The last part of this road is considered one of the scariest bus rides in the country. On the motorcycle, where you are in control, it is a lot less hazardous. Photographers, get ready! And if you miss the part, no problem, you will ride it again.

11. Day 11: To Abapo (321 kilometers / 199 miles)

    - Altitude: 445 meters - Terrain: 10% off-road After all the off-road stages, it is again pleasant to feel asphalt under the tires. The way leads you through the gas production zone of Bolivia. You ride a special to a monastery and cross an abandoned, very narrow railway bridge. An exciting ride, nothing for people with a fear of heights. Only a basic restaurant here, so you have a Bolivian grill dinner.

12. Day 12: To Samaipata (206 kilometers / 128 miles)

    - Terrain: 0% or 20% off-road, variants depending on weather conditions The road to Samaipata takes you alternately over sandy tracks or asphalt roads along the Piraí River, the Eastern Cordillera up to Samaipata, your starting point. You leave your bikes behind and hurry to jump into the hotel's pool.

13. Day 13: To Santa Cruz

    Late in the morning, you set off for Santa Cruz where you can relax, hang around the plaza and do some souvenir shopping. In the evening, you have a farewell dinner.

14. Day 14: To the airport

    Always a sad moment when you say goodbye. But who knows? You won't be the first to come back for more. Riders are participants that ride a BMA motorcycle (the standard). Passengers are participants riding their own bikes or that accompany the tour – either as a pillion, in the support vehicle, or in any other kind of accompaniment.

Ride Details

Terrain

40% off-road, 60% asphalt

Bike

rental bike (Suzuki DR650SE 2018-2024)

Total mileage

2,180 kilometers / 1,354 miles

Daily rides

120 - 321 kilometers / 75 - 199 miles

Riding gear

not included

Meals

all meals included

Accommodation

Various hotels will be your home during your stay in Bolivia.

Getting There

This tour will take you to fascinating places in Bolivia, such as Potosi, the highest city in the world, Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt pan in the world, La Higuera, a small village where Ernesto Ché Guevara was executed, and many more. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/bolivia-motorcycle-adventures/15-day-wild-wild-west-guided-motorcycle-tour-in-bolivia# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/bol

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