175Likes
|
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
La Paz
We went of a bit of a walk thru the old city and the Iglesias of San Francisco.
la Paz 37
la Paz 40
la Paz 38
la Paz 41
la Paz 42
la Paz 46
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
La Paz
You can climb to the roof thru this very narrow stairway.
la Paz 47
la Paz 48
la Paz 49
la Paz 50
la Paz 55
la Paz 52
la Paz 57
la Paz 58
la Paz 56
la Paz 60
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
La Paz
In the large cities in Bolivia they have these Zebra crossing guards to keep people following the traffic rules.
la Paz 53
The main square of the city is quite small and over run with pigeons.
la Paz 65
la Paz 66
la Paz 64
la Paz 62
la Paz 67
la Paz 68
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Death Road
The big event for today is the famous DEATH road or Yungas road of Bolivia. This is a 69 km road to Coroico from the RN 3 about 56 km from La Paz. Leaving La Paz the RN 3 ascends to 4650 m (15,260 ft) at la Cumbre Pass and then descends to 1200 m (3,900 ft) at Coroico.
Screen Shot 2014-06-08 at 5.01.10 PM
Screen Shot 2014-06-08 at 5.01.23 PM
death road 1
death road 2
death road 3
death road 4
death road 5
death road 64
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Death Road
The road is largely 1 lane (3.2 m or 10 ft wide) with few guardrails and cliffs up t 600 m or 2000 ft. The downhill driver must stay to the left to get a better view. There is little uphill traffic now unlike in the past when the road earned its name. The most dangerous thing on the road now is the mountain bikers. About 1 a year has died since 1998.
death road 7
death road 9
death road 10
death road 15
You enter the death road off of the RN 3 and head down hill all the way.
death road 11
death road 12
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Death Road
There are some cool waterfalls that you drive thru.
death road 24
death road 23
We met another couple from BC on their way up. They had started early and were almost at the top or otherwise they would be constantly running into moutain bikers taking over the road.
death road 26
death road 27
death road 30
death road 35
death road 17
death road 16
death road 37
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Death Road
You have to pay a tourist tax at the bottom of the road, but this fee does supposedly pay for road maintenance, signs, and ambulance service. It is 25 Bolivianos each (about 4$).
death road 47
Then there is about another 20 km of dirt and water crossings to join back to the asphalt to head back the 100 km to La Paz.
death road 48
death road 49
death road 53
death road 57
death road 56
death road 59
death road 60
death road 62
death road 61
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
south again
Now its time to head back south to get a flight home from BA June 19. What we found out about the still continuing road blockade is that they are protesting a lack of public transportation. The blockade started ironically on the same day that the new 250 million dollar cable car system from this area El Alto to the center opened. It transports 18,000 people an hour!
potosi 2 1
From La Paz going south on the 1 is construction all the way to Oruro, but this is only 220 km.
potosi 2 3
potosi 2 2
The next town is Challapata in 121 km more, but it is pretty sketchy, so that leaves a big ride all the way to Potosi at 535 km.
Screen Shot 2014-06-05 at 10.01.32 PM
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
south again
It was pretty windy at times, but at least it was mostly with us. Arriving here we ended up going up the same crazy steep stupid road as we did last time. Well at least we knew the way to the hotel from there.
Mike Waterman had suggested we visit the mint and we did. This is the Casa de Modena and you can only visit by going on a tour. It was pretty interesting, but if you had to choose I would go to the Santa Teresa Convent like we did the first time we were here.
potosi 2 5
potosi 2 7
potosi 2 21
potosi 2 15
potosi 2 9
potosi 2 23
potosi 2 22
potosi 2 29
potosi 2 30
potosi 2 41
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Potosi Bolivia
Mules powered the early machines, then steam machines took over and these were ultimately replaced with electric presses.
potosi 2 49
potosi 2 52
DSC08890
potosi 2 97
There were all kinds of scales for weighting various metals. The strong boxes had very intricate keys and lock mechanisms.
potosi 2 57
potosi 2 61
potosi 2 59
potosi 2 82
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
south again
There were also on display a number of silver art objects and a huge mineral collection.
potosi 2 64
potosi 2 70
potosi 2 73
potosi 2 74
potosi 2 84
potosi 2 86
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
south again
Getting out of the city is a lot less traumatic then getting in and we had come from Uyuni last time and so finally we were on virgin road again.
Screen Shot 2014-06-08 at 4.30.15 PM
The scenery is very different here from the high mountain pass and plateau from Uyuni. It is a very windy road going down from 4000m to 3500m and the temperature went from 10 to 18 degrees. We headed south to Tupiza where we spent our last 5 Bolivianos on gas and headed to the border at Villazon in 345 km. If you want to change money all the casas de Cambio are on the Bolivian side. We ended up changing USD at a corner store, as there are NO blue market traders on the Argentinean side. Arriving here at the border park on the bridge and to the right. Just ahead to the left is the Bolivian Aduana (where we got our import papers) so go here and cancel your temporary permit. They want your permit and passport. Then head across the road to the Bolivian Immigration where you get your passport exit stamp. The office next to this is the Argentinean Immigration. Here you fill in the tourist paper and get a passport entry stamp and permission for 90 days visit. They will of course want to see your reciprocity receipt. Now go back across the road to the Argentinean Aduana and get your temporary permit. Here they want your passport, title, and proof of insurance. Make sure you ask for 6 months for the bike if you need it and it much easier to get your stay extended then the bike.
Heading into town it was nice to know where the hotel and a good restaurant were already. Filling up with Argentinean gas was also a good feeling after crappy Bolivian gas.
Today we left 3700 m and ended up 200 km later at 2100 m. It was also very windy with it luckily mostly at our backs and with driving at 100 km/hours we made it with 3 liters per 100 km.
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Peru and Bolivia
Thoughts on Peru and Bolivia.
The coast of Peru is sand, garbage, wind, and chicken farms. The towns north of Nazca all look post- apocalyptic to us and in fact in Chiclayo we thought we were in a Mad Max movie. The scenery and towns south of Nazca do improve and Tacna is quite nice. In the south it is much the same with the exception of Arequipa and Cusco. The garbage here is unbelievable and in huge contrast to the natural beauty.
Bolivia is another myth shattered. We were always sold gas without much issue. The people were universally nice to us and friendly. We were never hassled by police. That said this country also has a garbage problem. With the exception of Sucre, Potosi, and parts of La Paz it too looks like after Armageddon.
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
Purmamarca
From the border we headed south 228 km to Purmamarca, which is a tourist enclave because of the beauty of the valley.
Screen Shot 2014-06-08 at 4.32.47 PM
purmamarca 1
There is a nice walk here thru the valley of the colors.
purmamarca 2
purmamarca 3
purmamarca 5
purmamarca 4
purmamarca 7
purmamarca 9
purmamarca 11
purmamarca 15
purmamarca 22
purmamarca 24
purmamarca 25
|
25 Jun 2014
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,556
|
|
south again
From here we headed to Salta in 156 km for a 3-day stay to rest up and clean up.
Screen Shot 2014-06-08 at 4.33.21 PM
Dan needed to ride the 4- meter section of the 9 one more time!
DSC04982
Now it is time to just ride south to BA! The route we chose was less direct but then we did not need to cover the same ground on the 9. We spent the first night in Catamarca 536 km.
Screen Shot 2014-06-15 at 9.42.34 PM
Today we are completeing our 6 week over 13,000 km loop to and from La Falda. Arriving here after 445 km we were happy to be greated by the friendly faces of Walter and Dagmar and hosted to a great dinner and nights stay.
Screen Shot 2014-06-15 at 9.43.28 PM
Since we did not leave their house until after an asado lunch at 3 pm we only made it to Villa Maria again on the 9 after 224 km.
Screen Shot 2014-06-15 at 9.44.16 PM
DSC05027
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 21 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 21 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|