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How safe is Bolivia for 1 bike alone ? How safe is Bolivia for 1 bike alone ?
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  #1  
Old 5 Oct 2009
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How safe is Bolivia for 1 bike alone ?
Hi all. Am in Cuzco with my partner mulling over where to head after Titicaca. We are 2 up on 1 R1200GS. Not much off road experience but have ridden the 65km gravel road to Churin and back in Peru. I would love to ride on the Salar but have ruled out serious offroading. Thinking of heading to Uyuni via the main roads just for a taster of the Salar then back round to N Chile. Long way round but maybe easier riding ? A few bikers have indicated that 2 up even that might be a bit much then today we get warnings that a lone bike with Europians on in Bolivia could likely attract armed robbery. Hmm. Any thoughts appreciated if you have ridden this part of the world esp 2 up on a big bike.

Safe riding all,

Ian
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  #2  
Old 6 Oct 2009
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Ian, safety is a very personal thing. I have travelled to most every country by bike, including Bolivia many moons ago, and always either solo or 2 up, but never in a group of other riders.

If I listened to everyone who expressed safety concerns I wouldn't even ride my bike to work each day.

My experience in Bolivia as a solo rider was that I had no problems whatsoever. No attempts to steal anything, no aggression from the locals etc.

In all my time on the road - totalling around 5 years - I have only once ever had someone physically steal anything from my body and that was in Lima where I was swarmed in the central market. They took my watch from my wrist, but it was covered by insurance so I was not out of pocket.

Apart from that I had a helmet stolen from the bike in Poland and a tent in Zaire.

I'm sure you will get a range of responses on this board but I expect the majority will tell you to go for it.
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  #3  
Old 6 Oct 2009
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bolivia ia awsome
just left there the other day ,you can ride your gs 1200 to uyuni no problem and then a nice road straight out onto the salt flats ,no worries ,the road to chile from there, if you keep going south,you could do on a lounge suite ,so go for it
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  #4  
Old 6 Oct 2009
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hear, hear
what they said.
no drama. friendly peeps. you *must* get to love riding on dirt to get the most out of bolivia. some pretty mad roads tho.
plenty info on our blog, starting here and keeps going if you feel like a read:
Out for a spin: Villazon to Uyuni
keep it upright. prepare for corrugations.
cheers,
andy.
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Old 6 Oct 2009
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or...
Out for a spin: Machu Picchu on a shoestring
but you've probably already been there...
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Old 6 Oct 2009
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I've not been Bolivia; however, been through some very "sketchy areas" and never had a problem. Could be I travel early in the morn and stop early in afternoon, thinking rightfully or wrongly that most criminals are night owls and sleep most of the morning. This may be false logic, but it has worked so far. The only criminals I have run into during the day are police
Just my $.02
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Old 7 Oct 2009
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The dangerous part of Latin America is walking around the cities, i think there is much less risk of robbery when you´re mobile on your own bike.
I´m heading to the south west of Bolivia tomorrow, and planning to ride the Salar two up on an R65. So the road to Chile sounds good, i´ve heard the road down to the extreme south west (laguna colorada, laguna verde) is a lot worse? How bad is it, anyone? Two up on an R65 might not be fun.
Sean
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Old 7 Oct 2009
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This is near Laguna Colorada, very soft/loose gravel with deep ruts so you'll be going slow. We travelled with a couple fron SPDA to Uyuni who were going 2 up on an AT so its definitely possible.



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Originally Posted by seanh View Post
The dangerous part of Latin America is walking around the cities, i think there is much less risk of robbery when you´re mobile on your own bike.
I´m heading to the south west of Bolivia tomorrow, and planning to ride the Salar two up on an R65. So the road to Chile sounds good, i´ve heard the road down to the extreme south west (laguna colorada, laguna verde) is a lot worse? How bad is it, anyone? Two up on an R65 might not be fun.
Sean
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Old 8 Oct 2009
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Thanks all for your feedback - appreciated a lot. Sean - keep in touch. I am in Puno heading for Bolivia tomorrow. Will be interested to hear how you get on :-) Best of luck and safe riding to everyone.

Regards,
Ian
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Old 8 Oct 2009
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hi,

last week i did the lagunaroute : day one: Uyuni- San Juan, day 2 san juan to laguna colorado, day3 colorado to san pedro. i'm on a tt600r, light bike and day two took me 10 hours for 250km. and we had to arrange fuel and food dropoffs.
beautiful but long days. the 2nd day we ended 1 hour after dark.

luckily i did it with another biker on a f650 dakar.

mind you, the jeeps go very fast, so you probably don't see anyone after noon. camping is possible, but it's very cold there at night.

pm me for details if you want.

cheers,
sander
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Old 9 Oct 2009
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Fuel is another issue, what was the longest stretch without being able to buy fuel? I can get close to 400 km on a tank highway travel (even at altitude) down to maybe 200 if the going is really slow and rough. My main problem could be low clearance on a road bike.
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Old 10 Oct 2009
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We´ll be in Potosi until the 13th, then to Uyuni and head off across the Salar the next day. We´ll go to San Pedro de Atacama, but not sure yet which route. If your in the area, let us know.
Sean
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Old 10 Oct 2009
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Coming from SPDA, I bought 10L plastic carriers for extra fuel. They were shit and leaked everywhere but were needed. We picked up more fuel in Villa Alota (syphoned out of a barrel before breakfast...), and someplace else on the way to Uyuni. Another couple going 2 up with us bought some extra fuel off one of the jeeps that ply this route. Took us around 3 days from SPDA to Uyuni stopping overnight at Laguna Colorado and Villa Alota. I thought it was stunning and one of the trip highlights.


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Originally Posted by seanh View Post
Fuel is another issue, what was the longest stretch without being able to buy fuel? I can get close to 400 km on a tank highway travel (even at altitude) down to maybe 200 if the going is really slow and rough. My main problem could be low clearance on a road bike.
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Old 11 Oct 2009
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taking the laguna route, there are no official fuelstations, if your lucky you can buy from locals or jeeps. due to 1st and 2nd gear stuff and altitude a carburetted bike will use way more than you used to.

total distance SPDA-laguna colorada-san juan-salar via cactus island - uyuni is about 550km.

between san juan and laguna colorado, close to 250km, i cannot recall seeing a village except from the restaurant at the flamingo lake. so you have to take food and fuel for two days. best thing is to arrange fuel and food drop offs on your route for a couple of dollars.

it´s a tough ride, beautiful though. don´t leave without a proper map or gps, don´t think too easy about it.

oh, and Bolivia is as save as any country, don´t worry.


sanderd
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Old 12 Oct 2009
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I have a 10 litre fuel can, no GPS but i have compass and the 1:250,000 military maps of the area. Still undecided if we´ll take the Laguna Colorada route or the easier way through to SPDA. Thanks everyone for the info!
Sean
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