Does anyone know the truth of the rumour (that I've heard from a few backpackers) that they are opening up the rail system into Bolivia from the South? Not sure if they meant from Argentina or Chile. We're in San Pedro de Atacama at the moment and are wondering the best (I mean easiest as I'm getting lazy and my nerve has left me after an accident on the infamous Ruta 40) way to cross into Bolivia. I've heard of a few guys putting their bikes on the trains and thought it may be a god way of seeing the south of the country without trashing me or the bike in the wet season. Any info would be much appreciated. Ta.
Michelle

I know there is a train station in Uyuni. but i can´t remember exactly where it goes. i met many a backpacker hanging round trying to buy a ticket at 10pm for it then finding it full and having to wait another day.

I think it goes to Calama in Chile, one of the big mining towns, or near there anyway. not sure if it goes any further in to Boliva.

If you want the to put your bike on the train Uyuni wouldn´t be the best places to start riding again if yuor nerves are a bit frayed. the road from uyuni to Potosi is hard work, badly corragated and with lunatic bus drivers. The route in to argentina is even harder i´ve been told. i never did that though. Or you could cross the Salars back in to chile. but i think they are wet this time of year. but again hard riding. amazing sceneray though , very much "out of this world" type stuff.

i was told there is a newish paved road that goes from argentina straight to santa cruz, then the "new" road (as opposed to the old one, as teh locals call it) via cochabamba was also quite smooth. then from there to sucre or la paz is again ok. There are only about 5 goad paved roads in teh whole of bolivia, but thats what makes it so fun ;o)

But the driving standards are awful. i was run over by a truck while standing at the side of teh road with my bike! the locals just looked at me and shrugged so it must have appeared quite normal to them haha!

don´t mean to scare you off. it is definately worth visiting. amazing place.

cheers
mike

Thanks Mike. There is a train from Uyuni to Calama I have since found out but we've decided to brave the bad roads and ride up through the south west and the salar if it isn't under water. Reports from the back packers coming from there today was that it was dry. And I guess its better to brave the lunatic tour jeeps than the crazy bus drivers from the sounds of it though.

Hi Michelle,
the crossing from San Pedro - Uyuni is fantastic but at this time of the year can be very difficult with the river crossings especially. If you do it it doesn't get a lot easier when you get to Uyuni either. The road to Potosi is pretty good these days but is dirt all the way and the road to Oruru is horrible, lots of corrugations, a few rivers and I find it dead boring. Atleast the Potosi road is beautiful. If you fancy a safer route, I'd go through Yacuiba and up to Santa Cruz. It's probably the best road in Bolivia. The road from Villazon to Potosi is all dirt and not too good. If you want to go to Uyuni there is a road from Tupiza which is all dirt and fantastic but at this time of year I think it will be very hard. When you get to Atoche you have to do a few km on river bed and I think you might be turning around if you try. I do this road in dry season because it's great scenery but wouldn't try just now.
If you do the train from Calama -Uyuni there is another up to Oruru which might be a good option, you don't want to miss the Salar. Some friends just got back, they are burn't to xxxx and had a great time but it changes dailly.
Have fun whichever way you go.
Fraser

Thanks Fraser,
We made it from San Pedro to Uyuni and as everyone said, it was tough. I´d recommend it though, even at this time of year as the scenery is stunning, but to anyone thinking about doing it, just make sure you have GPS (any maps we had were useless and there are so many tracks), warm, waterproof clothing and can handle deep, deep gravel for kilometres on end. Plus snow, rain, lightening and crazy drivers passing you at scary speeds while their passengers lean out the windows taking photos of you while you try depserately not to drop your overloaded (extra fuel and water) bike. Oh and not to forget the washed out roads.
The Salar we will tackle in a jeep and give my throttle arm a day off.
Michelle

I should clarify the route we took, just in case anyone else reads this. San Pedro to Laguna Verde (make sure you exit your bike in San Pedro as well as getting your exit stamp for Chile here as there is no immigration at the border). After Luguna Verde you need to register your bike in Bolivia at some weird little office at 5200m above sea level. We didn't as my Spanish is bad and I thought the guy at the info centre at Laguna Verde told me NOT to go down this road. Apparently we were supposed to. We will hopefully sort the paperwork out in Potosi. Past the Dali field and onto Laguna Colorado. The 10km or so into the hotel area was very hard with fields of gravel. You can get water, a bed for the night, dinner and breakfast here. The next day past some rock formations including the Piedra tree thing, (Sorry can't remember the name) more horrible gravel. Then past some lakes, through the snow and up some rocky tracks streaming with water - the only time we coped better than the tour jeeps. We then intersected a good road past a mad lava field into Villa Alota where you can get a bed, water, fuel and food. Up through San Cristobel where you can also get fuel and into Uyuni. We didn't continue up past the Volcano onto the Salar as the weather had turned and we didn't fancy having to back track. Also, we heard that this was the worst part of the route and we also missed the turning as we ended up following a tour jeep as the two GPSs we had were showing contradicting routes.
The Salar was under water when we went yesterday and it hasn't stopped raining since. Just incase anyone was wondering what it was like.
Michelle

Nice to see folk enjoying themselves, as for me I´m having a couple of days roughing it in probobly the most expensive and it must be said, the warmest pub in Quito. But not to worry, in 3 weeks the beach at Catrtageña. Ride safe.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky