Code: MBLIPEZ Duration: 13 days
It is true, surrealistic places really exist and not only in Salvador Daly paintings or Stanley Kubrick movies, they are in the Bolivian deserts too. Imagine multicolored lakes: deep purple with yellow beaches, emerald green with black rocky cliffs, intense red and white Caribbean sandy flats; hundreds of metallic colored volcanoes surrounding the valleys, cobalt blue sky, and then an infinite white salt flats. And you enjoy all of these while riding your mountain bike.
Our route will take you first to Lake Titicaca and then to the deserts of Lipez at the southern Bolivian highlands. As part of the route we will visit Uyuni salt flats, originally called Tunupa salt flats by locals before the foundation of Uyuni Town in 1889. This huge 150 km width concentration of salt is one of the most impressive landscapes in the world. Located at an altitude of 3,653m (11,981ft) and with very low rain precipitation (100 to 325 mm per year), this is one of the driest areas in the Bolivian territory, a very delicate and particular ecosystem.
There are more volcanoes per square kilometer in the southern Bolivian highlands than anywhere else above the surface of the planet; many of them concentrated in two areas at the east and west sides of Lipez desert. After riding our bikes over a variety of landscapes in the southern highlands, we will top our MB experience descending from the highest road in earth at Uturuncu volcano. Some extreme and masochistic riders may attempt to even ride this road uphill to 5,800m.
This itinerary has been designed to allow you riding your bikes as much as possible in sections where this is possible and not unnecessarily exhausting; in order to make the best use of our time we stay either in hotels or in basic hostels along of the way.
During our rainy season (normally from December through March) some years Coipasa and Uyuni salt flats can get flooded, making driving conditions over the salt flats dangerous or even impassable. If this happens the route from day 3 to 5 may need to be changed in sake of the security of the group.
Short Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival in La Paz. Transfer IN. Hotel.
Day 2. Transport to Qwaya. Ride near Lake Titicaca. Hotel.
Day 3. Transport to Sabaya. Ride on the northern highlands. Basic hostel.
Day 4. Transport to Tawa. Ride on Coipasa Salt Flats. Hotel.
Day 5. Transport to Hedionda. Ride on Uyuni Salt Flats. Basic hostel.
Day 6. Transport to Colorada lagoon. Ride near the lagoon. Basic hostel.
Day 7. Transport to Verde lagoon. Ride near the lagoon. Basic hostel.
Day 8. Transport to Quetena. Ride towards the village. Basic hostel.
Day 9. Transport to Uturuncu head-road. Downhill ride from the volcano. Basic hostel.
Day 10. Transport to Alota. Ride towards the village. Basic hostel.
Day 11. Transport to Colchani. Ride on the southern highlands. Hotel.
Day 12. Transport to La Paz. Hotel
Day 13. Departure. Transfer to Airport.
Highlights
- Acclimatization rides following secondary near Lake Titicaca.
- Short rides in diverse landscape of the Bolivian highlands, including Colorada and Verde lagoons.
- Surrealistic ride across parts of Coipasa and Uyuni salt flats.
- Impressive descend from 5,800m; the highest road in the planet at Uturuncu volcano.
Services Included
- All transfers IN/OUT to airports.
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary.
- Full land transportation during the trip.
- Hotel accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Bilingual guide during the trip.
- National Park entrance fees.
Services Not Included
- International & local flight tickets & fees.
- Meals while in La Paz.
- Mountain bike and personal gear like: helmet, gloves and clothing.
- Insurance of any kind.
- Any expense due to a rescue operation (rescuers fee, transportation, or medical cost).
Day to day details
Arriving at the airport in La Paz your breath will be taken away. Not just because of the altitude; the airport is the highest international airport in the world; but also because of the views over the mountains. The crisp clear sky of the highlands give the impression you could touch them. In a normal winter day it is possible to see over a distance of 200Km (120mi). The cold and dry air feels good after so many hours of treated pressurized cabin air.
The drive to the city of La Paz is not less impressive. We will stop at “La Ceja” (literally the eyebrow in Spanish; but also meaning the edge) and have a view on the amazing city with buildings and houses hanging from the steep slopes and filling the whole valley that is surrounded by huge glaciated mountains.
Then we will descend 500m (1640ft) down to our hotel in downtown. Do not get stressed much about the altitude; our program has been designed to get you gradually acclimatized. At the beginning we strongly suggest you to take it very easy, drink plenty of water and eat lightly (get into out Acclimatization page for more information).
You will have the rest of the day free. At early evening we will have a briefing meeting.
Overnight: Hotel Nayra
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Driving: 30 min (11km)
None
Traveling through this land you will understand how important Lake Titicaca is for the Andean cultures. Surrounded by desert like hills and snowcapped mountains, the shores of the lake offered for millennium rich land and a mild climate. After a couple of hours driving, we will start riding our bikes along of Patapatani peninsula towards our hotel located in a beautiful spot with great views of the Lake Titicaca and the peaks of “Cordillera Real”. We will be culturally transferred to the past as we go by Aymara villages where Indians have been keeping their lifestyle for centuries.
Overnight: Hotel las Balsas
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
Puerto Perez: 3,832m (12,568ft)
Driving: 2-3 Hrs (98km)
Riding: 3-4 Hrs (27km)
B,L,D
Today is mostly a transition day with little time to ride our bikes. Early in the morning we head south traversing the Bolivian highlands; the Altiplano; towards the city of Oruro where we will have lunch in a very traditional restaurant. We will continue south traversing endless flat lands. Somewhere before our destination, we will get on our bikes to ride the last part of the paved road towards the village of Sabaya. We need to exercise and slowly acclimatize to altitude.
Overnight: Basic hostel
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Sabaya: 3,657m (11,994ft)
Driving: 6-7Hrs (488km)
Riding: 1-2Hrs (30km)
B,L,D
Another day we start early in the morning to drive to the shores of Coipasa salt flats, there we will ride into and across part of this interesting salt lake. The terrain is quite flat but still demanding due to the altitude and the sandy surface. We will enjoy the wild and deserted landscape that surrounds the salt lake with its colored volcanoes. Later, we will load our bikes on the car and cross the land dividing Coipasa and Uyuni Salt Falts, to then start riding our bikes again but this time over the biggest salt concentration in the planet. Navigating in the midst of this rock hard blinding salt sea (take sunglasses!) towards our hotel located in the village of Tawa at the northern shores, we will have the feeling that we are pedaling on the same place, without movement. Only the salt crystals formations tell us that we really moving.
Overnight: Hotel del Sal Tayka
Tawa: 3,685m (12,086ft)
Driving: 3-4Hrs (120km)
Riding: 4-5Hrs (65km)
B,L,D
We traverse the white immensity of Uyuni salt flats leaving behind the northern shores and visiting Pesado island on the way; this is a unique and bizarre solid rock formation which has distinct flora and fauna. Once at the southern shores, we will follow secondary and bumpy dirt roads towards our hostel located at the shores of Hedionda (stinky) lagoon near Tapaquilcha volcano. The landscape gets wilder than the previous days, today we will get into the land of the volcanoes and colored lagoons, an area named “The Andean Tibet” by the National Geographic. We will stay near the shores of this lagoon full of pink Flamingoes.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Hedionda: 4,200m (13,776ft)
Driving: 5-6 Hrs (230km)
Riding: 3-4 Hrs (25km)
B,L,D
As every day, we will drive carrying our bikes on the roof rack the most difficult parts of the road and ride the less strenuous and scenic sections. Our route traverses a remote and harsh desert called Silole where ancient volcanic explosions have given rise to an infinite variety of color in the rocks, sand and ash of the volcanic valleys and plains, and of course also to the lakes and lagoons. Later in the way we pay our respects to the “Rock Ladies” riding our bikes amongst the most extraordinary rock formations of the area. Following one of the various tracks, we will ride downhill towards the famous “Red Lagoon”, home of innumerable pink flamingoes of various types. There we will stay in a basic accommodation.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Road pass: 4,900m (16,072ft)
Colorada lagoon: 4,278m (14,031ft)
Driving: 5-6Hrs (67km)
Riding: 4-5Hrs (20km)
B,L,D
In the morning, our vehicle will take us to the geysers of “The Tomorrow’s Sun” and then to the high pass, then we will ride down to another lake, Challviri. There we will have lunch, beside a hot springs. In the afternoon we drive to a road pass from where we will ride towards Laguna Verde.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Road pass: 4,900m (16,072ft)
Chalviri lagoon: 4,410m (14,464ft)
Laguna Verde: 4,383m (14,376ft)
Driving: 5-6Hrs (95km)
Riding: 3-4Hrs (35km)
B,L,D
After a pleasant drive back to Chalviri lagoon and then to the road pass, we will start riding our bikes towards Quetena village. It is quite a change. The valley is a complex of canons with subterranean waters that produce a microclimatic system.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Road pass: 4,900m (16,072ft)
Quetena: 4,184m (13,723ft)
Driving: 4-5Hrs (123km)
Riding: 3-4Hrs (25km)
B,L,D
A secondary road takes us up to an altitude of almost 5.500m (18040ft) from where we will walk amongst small geysers and fumaroles leads us to the highest road pass at the col between both Uturuncu summits. The road has been built for heavy trucks so it is not steep at all. Optionally we can hike to the main summit solitary Summit with spectacular views of the volcanoes around. This will probably be the toughest day of the trip since we have to ride or push our bikes uphill from the head-road to the col and descend to the town.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Head-Road: 5.500m (14.040ft)
Col: 5,800m (19,024ft)
Quetena: 4,184m (13,723ft)
Driving: 2-3Hrs (46km)
Riding: 3-4Hrs (25km)
B,L,D
We have a quite relaxing day. We take the cars to arrive to Mallku Canyons, a 60x10km area formed by ancient lava flow that later was eroded by water and wind creating the most capricious forms; a veritable labyrinth of streets, squares, alleys and even underground passages. One can also observe the Andean flora and fauna throwing in these temperate canyons. The Andean cultures have also left their mark; agricultural mini-terraces where apples and tomatoes were cultivated. At some point, we will start riding our bikes mostly downhill but strenuous sandy terrain towards the village of Alota.
Overnight: Basic hostel
Alota: 3,819m (12,526ft)
Driving: 3-4 Hrs (116km)
Riding: 3-4 Hrs (25km)
B,L,D
Driving back to the north, we leave the southern highlands and head for the town of Uyuni. This place attained maximum splendor in the era of the tin mines when it was the center of the railway system, but today it is only a sun-burnt place where the wind whisks away dry bushes and licks the ancient steam engines. The hotel, at which we spend the night is one of the most exotic and unique ones since almost completely built with salt blocks. Rest of the day free.
Overnight: Hotel Luna Salada
Colchani town: 3,665m (12,021ft)
Driving: 4-5Hrs (203km)
B,L,D
Today we drive back to La Paz. Those who want to continue the trip to Potosi or Sucre can stay in Uyuni to find a connection. From Uyuni we will follow a paved road all the way to La Paz.
Overnight: Hotel Nayra
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Driving: 9-10 Hrs (570km)
B,L
Transfer to airport.
Overnight:None
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450ft)
Driving: 30Min (11km)
None