Road conditions on Bolivian Altiplano
 

Hi
As part of my tour the Americas trip just after the Christmas I'm going to ride through some remote part of Bolivia. I mean the track from Tupiza to Hito Cajon (border post with Chile) via San Pablo de Lipez and Quetena Chico.
Based on the Google and Openstreets there are around 30-40 river\stream crossings en route.
Did anybody ride this track in Dec\Jan and could share some info how difficult is the road and especially water crossings for heavy loaded small GS?
Thanks

Hi there

I didnt exactly ride that road you mentioned but I rode from Uyuni via San Cristobal, Alota, Mallku and Quetena Chico in february this year. As it was the rainy season some roads were in quite bad conditions and there was a deep river crossing just a few kms before Quetena Chico. A truck from the opposite side turned around and didnt cross the river as I came down a muddy slope and jumped right into the river as I had no option to stop. To my surprise it went well but the river was deep.
I was stuck in Quetena Chico for a couple of days because of heavy rain and thus inexhaustible roads. Its a place you need to entertain yourself if you know what I mean....:rain::rolleyes2:

Hi Snakeboy
Thanks for info
Ziggy

Good video of the area you want to ride.
 

Zwyszomi,

If you have not seen this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mln2HJWzAcE

This may not be the same route you are planing on but it is close.

They did a great job.

Safe Travels,

this episode is about the nationalpark. these roads are in a extraordenary bad condition even in the dry season. I did it with a 1150gs and two persons, a second rider is recommended to lift your bike ones in a while ;)

In the rain season i drove only with a 4x4 and could not imagine riding it! Deep mud, rain, snowfall, hard wind...
But as i mentioned and did you can ride it in the dry season, the east route around laguna colorada is easier than the west one, the west one was very sandy!

to your question: i haven´t biked the route you are refering to, only from tupiza to uyuni. The roads are bad in the dry season, actually every diffiucult underground you can imagine you will find. Also deep muddy river crossings.

In the rain season it must be a hell of a challenge... i would recomend doing it in the dry season. Also because you wanna visit the nationalpark, it´s amazing there!

As another option you could ride from tupiza to potosi and than to uyuni.
Both parts are with asphalt and easy riding.
Of course the experience will be different.

If you are at Salar de Uyuni in rain season, always ask the locals with their 4x4s where to go off the lake! You can drown otherwise and they know the safe exits!!!

Last January I was riding to Quetena Chico from Lagunas. We were on light bikes but I haven't noticed any difficulties. From Quetena we went to Uyuni. Easy. Road from Tupiza is pretty good. They transformed this road last three years. It was a bit challenging in the past. Now it is easy even on a big bikes. Last year my friends on PanEuropa done it...

Two-up on VStrom 650?

Hello!

I am in Peru and headed this way (in about 3 weeks). We are two up on a DL650 and 120lbs of junk on the bike.

I consider myself a decent rider but how stupid is this? Should I arrange transport for my pilion and some items?