| Day
1. Arrival in La Paz. Transfer to Hotel. |
Elevations
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450f)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Timing
Driving: 30 min
Meals
None |
Arriving in La Paz, what
impresses the most is the crisp clear sky of the highlands. 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 airport is located
in the city of “El Alto” the highest international airport
in the world from here you will be transferred to your hotel descending
approximately 30 Min. into La Paz city canyon. Do not stress much about
the altitude, our program has been designed to get you gradually acclimatized.
At the beginning we strongly sug
gest 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
and a welcome dinner.
|
| Day
2. Transport to Puerto Perez. Ride in Patapatani peninsula. Camp |
Elevations
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450f)
Patapatani 3,820m (12,529f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Traveling through this
land you will understand how important the shores of Lake Titicaca have
been in the origin of the Andean cultures. Surrounded by desert like hills
and snow caped mountains, lake Titicaca offered, and still offers, rich
lands and a mild climate. Once at the southern shores of the Lake Titicaca
we will start riding our bikes along of Patapatani peninsula towards our
campsite on 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. |
| Day
3. Transport to Huachacalla. Ride in the highlands. Camp. |
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972ft)
Huachacalla 3,657m (11,994f)
Timing
Driving: 7-8 Hrs
Riding: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
In the morning we head
south traversing the Bolivian highlands; the “Altiplano”. En
route to the city of Oruro – 270km (170mi) from La Paz. Lunch in a
very traditional restaurant in Oruro and then visiting the Indian market.
We continue south traversing endless flat lands. We will get on our bikes
to do some exercise but not too much effort though. We need to slowly acclimatize
to altitude. We will either camp or stay in a basic hostal in Huachacalla.
|
| Day
4. Transport to Llica. Ride over Coipasa Salt Flats. Camp. |
Elevations
Llica 3,700m (12,136f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 2-3 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Very early in the morning,
we drive the rest of the way to the Coipasa salt flats. At its shores we
will start riding, again in easy flat terrain but we will enjoy the wild
and deserted landscape that surrounds the salt lake with its colored volcanoes.
After that we head south following sandy tracks towards the town of Llica.
Early evening we stop to camp besides some lava rock formations. |
| Day
5. Transport to Pescado Island. Ride over Uyuni Salt Flats. Camp. |
Elevations
Pescado Island 3,685m (12,086f)
Timing
Driving: 2-3 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We enter the biggest
salt lake and navigate over the rock hard salt. In the midst of the Salar's
blinding sea of white (take sunglasses!) there exist several solid rock
and earth islands each of which has distinct flora and fauna. Again we will
ride our bikes in easy flat terrain. We reach “Fish back” island
where we will set up camp. During the afternoon we can walk up to the island’s
Summit or around the island in order to enjoy the sunset. |
| Day
6. Transport to Cañapa lagoon. Ride around the lagoon. Camp. |
Elevations
Cañapa Lagoon 4,200m (13,776f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We traverse the white
immensity of Uyuni. We leave behind the island and get close to the southern
shores. Riding so far away from the shores gives us the feeling that we
are pedaling on the same place, without movement. Only the salt crystals
formations tell us that we really moving. Finally we will get to the exit
platform and get inland again. A few more hours and we will camp as usual,
close to rock formation to get some protection from the winds. Today we
begin the ascent across volcanic slopes to the high deserts, arriving at
the area named “The Andean Tibet” by the National Geographic.
We will camp by a lake surrounded by extinct volcanoes and full of pink
Flamingoes: “Cañapa” lagoon. After establishing our camp,
we can ride the bikes around the lake. |
| Day
7. Transport to Colorada lagoon. Downhill ride. Basic hostel. |
Elevations
Road pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Colorada lagoon 4,278m (14,031f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We ride our bikes across
the Daly deserts where prehistoric volcanic explosions have given rise to
an infinite variety of color in the rocks, sand and ash of the mountain
valleys and plains, and of course also to the lakes and lagoons. Later in
the way we pay our respects to the “Rock Ladies” walking amongst
the most extraordinary rock formations of the area. Following one of the
various tracks, we will ride downhill towards the famous “Red Laggon”,
home of innumerable pink flamingoes of various types. There we will stay
in a basic accommodation. |
| Day
8. Transport to Verde lagoon. Downhill ride. Camp. |
Elevations
Road pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Chalviri lagoon 4,410m (14,464f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
In the morning we take
the car to visit the geysers and sulphatars of “The Tomorrow’s
Sun”. Then ride down to another lake, Challviri. There we will have
lunch, beside a hot spring. In the afternoon we drive to Laguna Verde and
come back to the springs campsite. |
| Day
9. Transport to Ututuncu Mine. Downhill ride. Camp. |
Elevations
Road pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Uturunco Mine 4,520m (14,825f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We drive to get to the
high pass for Quetena Valley. After the pass we take the bikes and ride
mostly downhill to the base of the valley. It is quite a change. The valley
is a complex of canons with subterranean waters that produce a microclimatic
system. Lots of birds, fish and wild life around. We will camp in one of
the valleys. |
| Day
10. Transport to Uturuncu head-road. Downhill ride from the volcano. Camp. |
Elevations
Head-Road 5.500m (14.040f)
Col 5,800m (19,024f)
Uturuncu 6,008m (19,706f)
Uturunco Mine 4,520m (14,825f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
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 do not only need to push
(or carry) our bikes uphill from the head-road to the col, but descend to
the mine. |
| Day
11. Transport to Mallku canyons. Camp. |
Elevations
Mallku canyons 3,874m (12,707f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Riding: 1-2 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We have a quite relaxing
day. We take the cars to arrive at the Mallku Canyons. These canyons are
60x10km (38x7mi). Water and wind have caved the rocks creating the most
capricious forms, and they constitute a veritable labyrinth of streets,
squares, alleys and even underground passages. Bouldering and trail exploration
will occupy us all day. 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.
|
| Day
12. Transport to Colchani. Luna Salada Hotel. |
Elevations
Colchani town 3,665m (12,021f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Riding: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We start our journey
back, leave the highlands and head for the town of Uyuni, that attained
maximum splendor in the era of the tin mines, 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, although basic, is definitely
Uyuni’s best. |
| Day
13. Transport to La Paz. Hotel |
Elevations
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Timing
Driving: 9-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
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 more direct dirty
road parallel to the railway leading towards Challapata. From this point
we will drive on a paved road all the way to La Paz. |
| Day
14. Free day. Hotel. |
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
None
Meals
B,D |
Free day in La Paz to
rest and do some shopping. Later at the evening, we will have a farewell
dinner and celebrate all together. |
| Day
15. Departure. Transfer to Airport. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Timing
Driving: 30 Min
Meals
B |
Transfer to airport. |
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It
is true, surrealistic places really exist!. Not only in Salvador Daly
paintings or Stanley Kubrick movies, they are in 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 all of these while
riding your mountain bike.