16 Day Highlander 1 Guided Motorcycle Tour in Bolivia with Pre-tour Off-road Training

General description

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, Cochabamba, and the highest “Cristo Statue” of South America. The highest riding peak will be 4,400-meter altitude.

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

• Altitude: 400 meters

You will be picked up at the airport of Santa Cruz, Bolivia from where you will drive to the small town of Samaipata (120 kilometers, three hours). There, you will check into a comfortable hotel and spend the rest of the day to relax and discover.

Day 2: Pre-tour off-road training with the Bolivia safety training

During this training, you will be given the theory, then you will ride, have some correction, ride more, and another correction. There will be a theoretical part for 2 hours and then you start some easy off-road tracks and easy sand tracks, etc. and you will pass the same stage twice.

For the improvement objectives and skill achievements after training completion, you will feel more comfortable on off-road tracks, base to progress during the tour days the off-road skills faster, with guides recommendations, safely riding in Bolivia. In joining the training, you should be an experienced asphalt rider, off-road beginner, or looking for new challenges. Please note that an international driving license is required. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 3: Samaipata

• Altitude: 1,650 meters

You will with the briefing where you learn more about safety riding, the route, the local traffic rules, and about each other. To get used to your 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!

Day 4. Samaipata - La Higuera (175 kilometers / 109 miles)

• Altitude: 1,900 meters
• Terrain: 50% off-road

Leaving early in the morning, you will 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 your ride towards the tiny mountain village of La Higuera, the place where Ché was captured and executed. On the road, you observe condors, the world biggest bird.

After your first special drive, you arrive at the end of the afternoon in La Higuera. In the evening at the campfire in the courtyard of your hotel, you will listen to Don Juan’s comments from the time of the guerrilla war.

Day 5: La Higuera - Villa Serrano (120 kilometers / 75 miles)

• Altitude: 2,100 meters
• Terrain: 100% off-road

After visiting the ancient school building where Ché Guevara was executed and the related sites, you leave towards Villa Serrano. On the suspension bridge over the Rio Grande, you will have a picnic lunch and if the conditions are good (mostly the water level) you can also go for a swim.

You will arrive in Villa Serrano in the afternoon, Bolivia’s capital of the charango. It is a kind of a small, double five-string guitar, very difficult to play.

Day 6: Villa Serrano - Sucre (190 kilometers / 119 miles)

• Altitude: 2,700 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.

Day 7: Sucre - Potosí (155 kilometers / 97 miles)

• Altitude: 4,100 meters
• Terrain: 0% off-road

You leave Sucre after breakfast. On smooth tarmac, you start to climb towards the altiplano (high planes) until you reach to a strange bridge, which you will intent to ride. The mining city of Potosí is with 4,100-meter altitude, the highest city in the world and also classified World Heritage by UNESCO. During the ascent, the guides will give you instructions about altitude sickness.

Day 8: The silver mines in Potosí

In the morning, you will visit the miner’s market where you can buy anything, ranging from coca leaves to dynamite. There, you will do some interesting shopping to have some “boys fun” later.

Then, you will continue to the mines where you will be “geared up” and descent into the belly of “Pacha Mama” (mother earth) to visit the 500-year old, still operating silver mines. It is not suitable for those who do not like small spaces.

After lunch, you will visit the “Casa de la Moneda” (the mint house) museum. At one time, every single coin, used in the western world, was coined in Potosí.

Day 9: Potosí - Uyuni (205 kilometers / 128 miles)

• Altitude: 3,700 meters
• Terrain: 5% off-road

Crossing incredible canyon scenery, passing tiny villages, watching for vicuñas (family of camelids), emus (ostrich family bird), and thousands of lamas, you arrive at the small mining village of Pulacayo. Here, you will walk a little around the ancient railway station, the mine entrance and you climb the train wagon with which the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid arrived in Bolivia.

Next break is Uyuni, where you visit the train graveyard, a fantastic collection of discarded railway material dating back to the 19th century. This includes at least a dozen steam locomotives, perfect photo shooting.

Day 10: Salar de Uyuni day trip (195 kilometers / 122 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 of 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 will visit the cactus island “Inca Huasi”, the salt market, the flags monument, the salt hotel, and the Dakar monument.

Day 11: Salar de Uyuni - Oruro (320 kilometers / 199 miles)

• Altitude: 3,700 meters
• Terrain: 0% off-road

In the morning, you will leave Uyuni behind you. Passing scenic altiplano desert landscapes and several small villages, you make your way to Oruro, famous for its markets and grill restaurants. So “grill” will be your treat in the evening.

But before, you will observe a strange phenomenon. More should not be divulged here!

Day 12: Oruro - Cochabamba (220 kilometers /137 miles)

• Altitude: 2,500 meters
• Terrain: 10% off-road

On curvy roads with amazing views, you climb to 4,400-meter altitude, before you descent to the valley of Cochabamba, surrounded by huge mountains.

After you have mastered the traffic, you rush straight to the plaza, from where you cuddled the bustle. At one plaza corner is the best known coffee “cortado” café, and for dinner, you will enjoy the best known “Pique Macho”, a traditional dish.

Day 13: Cochabamba - Totora (145 kilometers / 91 miles)

• Altitude: 2,800 meters
• Terrain: 0% off-road

In the morning, you will visit the largest “Christo” sculpture of South America. With almost 40 meters of height, it is a bit higher than the famous “Christo de Rio de Janeiro”.

After this, you will leave the big city to have a fresh fish lunch and passing beautiful valleys. You make your way to Totora, a small colonial town in the mountains, where time stands still since 100 years, a paradise for photographers.

Day 14: Totora - Samaipata (265 kilometers / 165 miles)

• Altitude: 1,650 meters
• Terrain: 40% off-road

This last day starts with an 80-kilometer (roman!) stone road, feel like Ben Hur! Passing the valley of Rio Mizque, the scenery becomes one of rough and colorful mountains and the road becomes challenging.

In the afternoon, you arrive back in Samaipata, on a marvelous motorcycle road though the mountains. You leave your bikes behind and hurry to jump into the hotel's pool.

Day 15: Samaipata - Santa Cruz

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

Day 16: Santa Cruz - departure

Always a sad moment when one say goodbye. But who knows? You would not be the first to come back for more.

Terrain

The 20% off-road sections are mostly well maintained gravel roads with little to no traffic and on days with off-road, the distance is limited so there is plenty of time to go easy.

Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures' bikes

Kawasaki KLR 650/685

• A reliable “thumper”
• One cylinder 650/685cc, no surprises travel bike
• The large fuel tank gives it a comfortable range and the seating position is relaxed
• Suitable for a passenger

Honda XR 650 L

The “little” sister of the XRR. Not as fast, not as light, but with an electric starter and more comfortable suspension and seat.

Honda XR 650 R

This monster would do great in the Dakar rally. With more than 60 HP and less than 140 kilograms, it is like sitting on top of a crate of dynamite (only kickstarter).

Suzuki DR 650 SE

• The bike for shorter people or woman
• Easy to handle
• Steers like a razorblade

Riders are participants that ride a Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures motorcycle (the standard). Passengers are participants that accompany the riders, either as a pillion, in the support vehicle or with their own bike. Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures will try to give you the bike you like, but if everybody chooses the same bike, they will have to decide who gets which bike. For this, they need to know your gender, experience with motorcycling, your height, and weight and age.

Riding gear

Note that you will only be provided with a motorcycle. You need to bring your own bike gear. A helmet is of course obligated, boots, pants, jacket, and gloves are requisite as well as a daypack for your daily needs. When booked, you will receive a list of recommendations for bike and urban gear and a lot of other infos.

4x4 assistance vehicle

Each tour is accompanied by a 4x4 assistance vehicle with a motorcycle trailer and for some tours also with a spare bike: luggage, medical material, technical assistance but also offers riders the opportunity to rest during the tour. Riders drive only with a small daypack, containing camera, bike gear, snack, drinks, personal belongings, etc.

Skill level(s) required for this tour: beginner

Beginner:

• can ride for 2-3 hours
• minimal riding experience
• assistance required
• comfortable with curves and leans
• basic experience with unsurfaced roads
• short distance ascents and descents

Novice:

This level is for: beginners with less confidence / Competent riders new to enduro/off-road riding / Motorcycle refresher needed.

This tour will take you to most of Bolivia's highlights through off-road trails with varying intensities. You will visit among others: La Higuera, Villa Serrano, Sucre, Potosí, Uyuni, Oruro, Cochabamba, Totora, and more.

+−

During this tour, you will be served daily meals according to the itinerary. All meals are included, and generally, it will be nice and tasty, but again, this is Bolivia and sometimes there just is no good restaurant in the area.

• 15 nights accommodation
• 3 daily meals
• Motorcycle rental
• Fuel
• Museum and other entrance and tour fees
• Road taxes & tolls
• Ferries
• Multilingual guide on motorcycle
• Transfers from and to airport
• Support vehicle with spare parts and mechanic
• Pre-tour off-road training

• International flight
• Alcoholic drinks
• Personal items
• Drinks and snacks
• Bike gear

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 28 days before arrival.