Code: MBZONGO Duration: 1 days
Thanks to the intensive mining, agricultural activity and – like in this case – to the electrical company we have thousands of kilometers (miles) of dirty roads and bike trails that traverse the mountain ranges and drop down to the cloud forest (Yungas).
Mountain Biking over these roads in the Andes has become a very popular activity among active travelers, better over a dirty road and downhill assisted by the gravity.
Our route follows a great part of the Zongo valley where the electrical company has build several hydro-electrical stations. From the highest point at the road pass at the lower slopes of Huayna Potosi Mountain (base camp) down to the last hydro-electrical station in the Zongo valley, there is an impressive descent of almost 3.600 vertical meters (2.2 miles).
The landscape will vary dramatically along the journey, at the beginning the fantastic views of the snow-caped peaks of Cordillera Real, herds of llamas and alpacas grazing, Andean villages, towering cliff faces, dramatic drops, and ever greener vegetation at the always misty and steaming cloud forest.
Our guide(s) will escort the group with the help of the bus driver and will advice rides about the main dangers along the route.
Upon request and with a little increment in the price, we can make this trip more demanding starting the descend from Chacaltaya hut located at 5200m (17056 ft) making a total descend of about 4.000 vertical meters (2.5 miles).
Please note that to take this trip alone, you must already be acclimatized to the highlands. This means that you must have spent at least 3-5 days at the highlands doing light physical activity. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website.
Short Itinerary
Day 1. Transp.to Huayna Potosi. MB down to Zongo Valley. Transp.to La Paz.
Highlights
- Mountain bike descend over secondary roads from Huayna Potosi base camp at 4800m down to Zongo valley at 1.200m.
- Impressive change in the landscape and climate descending almost 3.6km from the glaciers of Huayna Potosi to the humid cloud forest of Zongo valley.
Services Included
- Snack on the way & lunch.
- Full vehicle support along of the road and back to La Paz.
- Equipment: high Mountain bike, helmet, gloves.
- Professional bilingual guide during the tour.
Services Not Included
- All transfers IN/OUT to airports.
- International & local flight tickets & fees.
- Meals or accommodation while in La Paz
- Insurance of any kind.
- Any expense due to a rescue operation (rescuers fee, transportation, or medical cost).
- Road use fee.
Day to day details
After an early start we will transport you to the head road at the highest point of the journey; the windy road pass called “Plataforma Zongo” at the lower slopes of Huayna Potosi mountain (base camp). There, - while we have a snack -, our guides will instruct you about the road’s dangers and precautions you have to take. The first part of the descent will be very steep following a zigzagging road after the dam, afterwards is more gradual but still dirty and bumpy terrain. At the end you will certainly be tired and dirty, so our vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to La Paz.
Overnight: None
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Zongo pass: 4,780m (15,678ft)
Head-Road: 1,100m (3,608ft)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Driving: 4-6 Hrs (184Km)
Riding: 3-4 Hrs (43km)
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