Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > South America
Bolivia is great riding! DONT MISS IT OUT Bolivia is great riding! DONT MISS IT OUT
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
South America Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 64
Bolivia is great riding! DONT MISS IT OUT
Hi All,

Finally through the Uyuni to Atacama stretch. What an amazing weeks riding. I may have even had one or two falls!

check it out

Global Enduro

Simon







Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Frankfurt/Germany
Posts: 44
Must agree
Simon, thanks for the foto,
I cannot agree more, great nature, lonely mountains, highest altitude. Cool webpage by the way... Have fun, enjoy you trip, and there is more to come. I guess now you will also look forward to the Carretera Austral...
Ras
__________________
Rasmus
www.panamericana.info
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, USA
Posts: 164
Any specific recommendations? I'm working on my list of places to checkout or roads not to miss for my NA->SA trip.
__________________
http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 5 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary AB
Posts: 1,028
Same here. I would prefer semi-challenging dirt roads though. I'm attempting to try and stay away from paved road for the entire south american loop if possible. Dunno if this sounds wanky, but on our last trip, riding through Kazakhstan and Mongolia turned out to be the highlights. So we would love to have the same sort of thing and so far, Bolivia looks like it's going to deliver the most of it.
__________________
Tacos Tyring Travels.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 64
roads
Thanks for having a look guys, I appreciate it. In terms of roads to ride I agreed the tough dirt roads make the trip way more fun, but the bike and the rider takes a huge beating, so Im not sure how much actual dirt you will be able to ride in SA without going stark mad, its sometimes nice to break it up with a bit of the smooth black stuff!

The road I would really reccomend in Bolivia would be the one I rode from the end of the road of death (I forget the town name) south west towards Uyuni.(easy to spot on a map) The road is dirt for a almost 2 days riding and the scenary is great. So as you find the right roads it is the one that passes through a town called Inquisivi (prob spelt wrong knowing me). It was incredible and dead quiet as well.

Apart from that the way from Uyuni to San pedro is littered with so many differnt tracks, I opted to take some round about routes as I had enough fuel. That way you end up staying away from any of the tourist 4x4s almost the whole way, so instead of worrying about being run over you can enjoy the tracks.

hope that helps.

Simon
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 6 Dec 2007
siggsy's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: london
Posts: 76
Smile blooming hilarious !
just spat my early morning coffee all over the lap top simon ! thanks mate !!

its a joy to read about your adventures ! which have definatly have got my excitement up to silly levels for my little rip down that way...

keep it all going old boy !
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 146
go that man
Good on ya, totally agree. Interested to know the route from Coroico (bottom of camino de la muerte) to Uyuni, you did well to stay off tarmax and keep heading south. We went to Sorata so looped behind the range of La Paz/Lake Titicaca.

If you get a change to draw a line on a map, throw it up!

Feels a long time ago I gave away my trip, getting ready for another one already.
__________________
The Road To Rio - Locokiwi
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6 Dec 2007
lorraine's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Definitely Nomadic
Posts: 523
I'm no wimp, but I'm in a 30 year old Chevy van, and a couple I know in a ten year old one had their vehicle trashed driving through Bolivia. I really want to go to Bolivia, love those isolated places, but I need to go via the best roads. I do in fact, have more countries to go through!!! Any suggestions from going from Peru then looping around to Chile?? From what I hear, there's little in the way of tarmac, but maybe I've been misled?? Dirt is in fact fine, but corrogation is out.
Lorraine
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 6 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Mimbres, New Mexico, USA
Posts: 510
Quote:
Originally Posted by lorraine View Post
I'm no wimp, but I'm in a 30 year old Chevy van, and a couple I know in a ten year old one had their vehicle trashed driving through Bolivia. I really want to go to Bolivia, love those isolated places, but I need to go via the best roads. I do in fact, have more countries to go through!!! Any suggestions from going from Peru then looping around to Chile?? From what I hear, there's little in the way of tarmac, but maybe I've been misled?? Dirt is in fact fine, but corrogation is out.
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,

I don't have my map in front of me, but I can tell you that I crossed into Bolivia at Copacabana, and rode from there through LaPaz to Potosi, and Sucre all on good paved roads. From Potosi To Uyuni wasn't too bad as far as washboard goes. The salar is dead smooth, and from Uyuni to La Quiaca on the Argentina border, the road isn't difficult, but it is washboarded pretty badly, at least it was a year ago. I'm told the route from Uyuni southwest to Chile is more difficult. Paved once you cross the Argy border. I think the old van is up to it, go for it! No worse than the roads around Nosara.

Andy
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 6 Dec 2007
maria41's Avatar
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,185
Quote:
Originally Posted by lorraine View Post
I'm no wimp, but I'm in a 30 year old Chevy van, and a couple I know in a ten year old one had their vehicle trashed driving through Bolivia. I really want to go to Bolivia, love those isolated places, but I need to go via the best roads. I do in fact, have more countries to go through!!! Any suggestions from going from Peru then looping around to Chile?? From what I hear, there's little in the way of tarmac, but maybe I've been misled?? Dirt is in fact fine, but corrogation is out.
Lorraine
Lorraine, no fan myself of nasty trails,cost me a lot on repairs! Most of Bolivia can be on tarmac. Road from Puno to LA Paz is paved all the way. Same from there to Cochabamba and further to santa cruz. On the way south it is paved all the way to Potosi (via Oruro). There, unfortunately is the end of Tarmac.
From there to go to Uyuni is track. From Uyuni, to continue south to Tupiza we had various bad reports and went back to Potosi. From Potosi you have about 50kms tarmac road, then a not too bad track to Tupiza and all the way to Villazon (border town with northern Argentina, near also Chile). Good condition more or less. A new tarmac road is almost finished from Potosi to Tupiza. We saw perfect tarmac but it was closed to traffic when we passed few months ago. Might be open soon though... When on track expect lots of corrugations,maybe not great on an old Chevy?
__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11 Dec 2007
lorraine's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Definitely Nomadic
Posts: 523
van travel
Just leaving the internet cafe now, and will go 'home' and peruse my map. Knowing me (and knowing the road isn't as bad as where I lived in Costa Rica for a year), I'll probably chance it. My dogs will hate me....
Mucho gracias!
Lorraine
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 13 Dec 2007
Gold Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Kyle,TX
Posts: 35
Bolivian Pavement
The road from Cochabamba towards Montero, the ¨new road¨. has some 100 meter streches of missing asphalt, but we passed a guy on a Harley headed west, so it can't be that bad. From Santa Cruz south through Villa Montes it is all tarmac to the Argentina border. The only ¨glitch¨ was the train/car/pedestrian bridge at Villa Montes, therest was really smooth. The border was really busy, lots of carts in the narrow streets.

Good Luck

Oh Brother, Where Am I ?
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 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
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Never miss the Colombia..!!! Please.. motoride South America 5 31 Oct 2006 00:05
A big thanks to everyone for a great W/E davidlomax HU Travellers Meetings - UK 34 4 Aug 2005 20:08
Bolivia - Danger, riots etc - June 2005 skip South America 0 10 Jun 2005 09:39
Miss / backfire in 98 XR650L BDF Honda Tech 3 8 Jun 2005 21:30
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT ADVENTURE IN CHILE OR ARGENTIN patandbin South America 6 6 Mar 2003 07:50

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

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. 11-14
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

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

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.

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!



Five books by Graham Field!

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!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

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.

Susan and Grant Johnson 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.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:01.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top