COIPASA & UYUNI SALT FLATS ON A MTB, 4 Days
 Code: MBUYUNI

Mountain Biking over Coipasa & Uyuni salt flats; a unique experience riding on this surreal landscape.

Dates: Upon request
Price: Upon request More information about prices (land services only)
Single Room Supplement: N/A More information about prices
Difficulty: Moderated More information about Difficulty grading
Accommodation: 1 night in hostel, 2 nights camping
 

Mountain biking the Uyuni salt flats. Picture J.Camarlinghi The largest salt concentration on the world, Uyuni salt flats is a nature wonder. Driving our 4WD vehicle, we will overland the Bolivian highlands towards Uyuni salt flat. There you will have the chance to ride across this amazing landscape and also to descend from Tunupa view-point. This Mountain Bike journey has been designed for those who would like to visit the main Salt Lakes in the Bolivian highlands with a closer contact to nature.

Please note that this trip may not be possible during the rainy season (December through March) because the salt flats get flooded and impossible to cross.

We strongly suggest to be acclimatized to the highlands, ideally to have spent at least 1-2 days at the highlands before signing for this trip. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website.

Itinerary:

D1. Transp.to Huachacalla. Ride in the highlands. Camp.
D2. Transp.to Coipasa. Ride over Coipasa Salt Flats. Camp.
D3. Transp.to Tawa. Ride over Uyuni Salt Flats. Transp.to Jirira. Basic hostel.
D4. Transp.to La Paz.

 Highlights:
  • Physically moderated but mind-demanding mountain bike traverse of Coipasa & Uyuni salt flats; an unforgettable experience riding on unique salt concentrations surrounding by bizarre surrealistic landscape.
  • Great sightseeing of the highlands on the way in and out to the Uyuni salt flats.

Day 1. 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 2. Transport to Fishback island. Ride over Uyuni Salt Flats. Camp.
Elevations
Pescado Island 3,685m (12,086f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Mountain Biking: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
As mentioned, depending of the road conditions we may be entering to Uyuni salt flats either by the north or by the west. By the north, we drive through a landscape of flat grass fields, sandy hills and small villages on our way to the Uyuni salt lake. By the west we have to cross Coipasa Salt Flats on the way. Either way we will spend as much time as possible riding our bikes over the lake and navigate over the rock hard salt. Uyuni with its 12,000 square km it is located at the lowest part of the Altiplano. Riding over the white plateau to the south seems endless until the islands come into view. Tonight we will camp on one of them: “Isla Lomo de Pescado” (Fish back Island). Late evening, we can have a short walk up in order to enjoy the sunset.


Day 3. Transport to Jirira. Ride over Uyuni Salt Flats. Basic hostel.
Elevations
Jirira 3,675m (12,054f)
Timing
Driving: 1-2 Hrs
Mountain Biking: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
Today we have the whole day length to ride our bikes over the salt crust. Basically, we only need to travel north towards Jirira village located at the foot of Tunupa volcano but, we can make some short side trips on the way. We could ride east of Jirira to a small island, which normally we cannot visit because the crust of salt could break with the weight of the car. We could ride west in instead and traverse over secondary sandy roads the southern slopes of Tunupa volcanoes and visit Tawa and Coquesa villages on the way. Tonight we will spend the night at a charming Indian Hostel.


Day 4. Transport to La Paz.
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Driving: 8-9 Hrs
Meals
B,L
A long drive will take us back to La Paz. There may not be enough time to ride our bikes on the way but, certainly we can make a short stop to explore a gigantic meteoritic crater.


ALTITUDE CHART

SERVICES

Included

Not included

MORE INFORMATION

Please get into our “Resources” page in our website, there you will find plenty of information about pre-departure, National Parks, suggested reading, useful links and much more.

If you would like us to make additional hotel reservations besides the accommodation that is included in your trip, please get into our Reservations page