16 Day Quantum of Solace Motorcycle Tour in Bolivia

Overview

The itinerary of the Quantum of Solace tour is similar to the classic Wild Wild West Tour and identical to Wild West Ladies tour operated by Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures, but features an additional 2 days 4WD excursion into the unique high plateau desert. Bolivia really is a hidden gem among the South American nations and it has its visitors lots to offer on and off the motorcycle. If you like, a Wild West steeped in indigenous tradition, featuring breathtaking views and unique landscapes. A unique experience on Suzuki DR 650 SE that will be even more memorable through the joined effort and shared laughter.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Samaipata
• Ride to the archaeological site ‘El Fuerte’, UNESCO world heritage
• Stop in Vallegrande to visit the hospital´s laundry building
• On the suspension bridge over the Rio Grande, have a snack stop
• Visit the Tarabuco Sunday market
• Sucre the capital of Bolivia, classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO
• See the Salar de Uyuni, a dried up salt lake
• 15 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Airport pickup at Viru-Viru, Santa Cruz (alt 400 m)

   Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures will pick you up at the airport of Santa Cruz, Bolivia from where we drive to the small town of Samaipata (120 km, 2.5 hours). There, you will check into a comfortable hotel and spend the rest of the day to relax and discover. If your flight arrives late, you need to spend the night in Santa Cruz. In that case the following day is considered as Day 1.

2. Day 2: Samaipata (alt 1,650 m)

   You will start with the briefing where you will learn more about safety riding, route, the local traffic rules, and about each other. To get used to the bike, you will go for a ride to the archeological site of “El Fuerte”. Classified World Heritage by UNESCO, it is an old Inca town build 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 (alt. 1.900 m), 175 km, 50% dirt-road

   Leaving early in the morning, you will stop in Vallegrande to visit the hospital´s laundry building, where revolutionary hero Ernesto Ché Guevara´s lifeless body was first presented to the world in 1967. After lunch, you will continue the ride towards the tiny mountain village of La Higuera, the place where the Ché was captured and executed. On the road, it’s possible to observe condors, the world biggest bird. Before arriving at the hotel in La Higuera, you will have the option to detour on a special ride to a fantastic view. In the evening around the campfire in the courtyard of the hotel, y

4. Day 4: To Sucre (alt. 2.700 m), 190 km, 15% dirt-road

   You will 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, continue to Sucre the capital of Bolivia. The rest of the afternoon and evening is for exploring this beautiful colonial city. The entire city center is painted white and is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

5. Day 5: To Potosí (alt. 4.100 m), 155 km, 0% dirt-road

   You will leave Sucre early in the morning. On smooth tarmac, you will start to climb towards the altiplano (highland planes). Stop and visit a strange monumental bridge. Then onwards to the mining city of Potosí which sits at 4.100 m altitude, making it the highest city in the world and also classified Word Heritage by UNESCO. During the ascent, the guides will give us instructions about to deal with altitude sickness. In the afternoon, you will visit the miner’s market where we can buy anything, ranging from coca leaves and dynamite. Then continue to the mines where you will get “geared up” a

6. Day 6: To Uyuni (alt. 3.700 m), 205 km, 5% dirt-road

   Riding through incredible scenery, you will make a stop at a spectacular canyon. Along the road, you will look out for vicuñas (family of camelids), emus and thousands of lamas. Arrive at the small mining village of Pulacayo. Here, you will 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 Uyuni where you will visit the train grave yard, a fantastic collection of discarded railway machinery dating

7. Day 7. Salar de Uyuni daytrip (alt. 3.700m), 195 km, 90% dirt salt-road

   The Salar de Uyuni is a dried up salt lake, with the size of a small country (11.000 km square). Since the largest salt lake of the world has, no references, what so ever and because there are only two colours in this world (blue sky and white salt), there is no perspective. Your brain will have a meltdown and you can take the weirdest crazy photos. On the way, you will visit the cactus island “Inca Huasi”, the flags monument, the first salt hotel and… the Dakar monument.

8. Day 8-9. The desert from and to Uyuni (alt. 3.700 – 5.010 m) ca. 650km, 100% dirt road

   For the next 2 days, you will swap the bikes for a 4WD LandCruiser. Because of the high altitude and the extremely difficult and dangerous riding conditions, we choose 4×4 vehicles for transport. This way, you can cover more ground in a short space of time, which means that you can see more and are more relaxed when arriving at the spectacular sites. There are photo opportunities wherever you stop and the lagoons are home to hundreds or sometimes even thousands of flamingos. Furthermore, there are lamas, viscachas and vicuñas spotted regularly. Some of the highlights are the Laguna Colorada, L

9. Day 10: To Tupiza (alt. 2.950 m), 185 km, 5% dirt-road

   In the morning, you will leave Uyuni behind on a new asphalt road. We will be surprise to find a huge Expresso machine in the small village, where you will have lunch. Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures hopes to view some Emus along the road and you will visit some dinosaur tracks and a ghost city. Before entering Tupiza, you will ride the Bolivian Monument Valley. This is a part of the region where the (in-)famous Bandits 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.

10. Day 11: To Tarija (alt. 1.860 m), 205 km, 30% dirt-road

    When the rubber touches the dirt-road track, the landscape changes instantly into scenic back country roads with deep canyons. There is no infrastructure among the itinerary, so a picnic lunch is the only option. The ride to Tarija, the wine capital of Bolivia continues quite diverse, just after passing the last mountain, a fantastic panorama opens up to the Tarija valley. This night, you will have an event dinner at the best restaurant in town, the gastronomic highlight of this tour. Possibility to visit the Casa Dorada and Castillo Azul and the paleontological museum (Extinct mammals).

11. Day 12: To Villamontes (alt. 400 m), 245 km, 20% dirt-road

    Snaking mountain roads takes 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 drives in the country. On the motorcycle, where we 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…

12. Day 13: To Abapo (alt. 440 m), 320 km, 10% dirt-road

    After all the dirt-road stages, it is again pleasant to feel asphalt under the tires. This way leads you through the gas production zone of Bolivia. You will ride a special to a monastery and cross an abandoned very narrow railway bridge. An exciting ride, nothing for people with fear of height. Only basic restauration in Abapo, so you will have a Bolivian grill dinner.

13. Day 14: To Samaipata (alt. 1.650m), 210 km, 0% dirt-road

    The road to Samaipata takes us on asphalt roads along the Grande and Piraí River, the Eastern cordillera up to Samaipata, the starting point. Just before lunch, you will ride a last special: A very narrow suspension bridge… take care, it´s moving. In Samaipata, you will leave the bikes behind and hurry to jump into the hotel´s pool.

14. Day 15: To Santa Cruz

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

15. Day 16: To the airport

    Always a sad moment when we say goodbye. But who knows? You won´t be the first to come back for more…

Ride Details

Terrain

40% dirt-road

Bike

rental bike (Suzuki DR 650 SE 2018-2024)

Mileage

2,300 kilometers / 1,429 miles

Daily rides

120 - 321 kilometers / 75 - 199 miles

Meals

3 daily meals

Accommodation

One hotel is always the same. This is hotel Landhaus in Samaipata, because Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures uses it on the arrival and after the tour at the end. Along the route, there will be various other hotels you will stay at.

Getting There

The tour starts in the quaint little village Samaipata roughly 120 km south-west of Santa Cruz. You continue riding the famous ‘Ruta del Ché’ through untouched rolling hills to the beautiful colonial capital Sucre. You head south to the famous Salar de Uyuni, a ‘not to be missed’ attraction and host to the Dakar Rally. The whole time you will be in good hands, the team is not only taking care of y