Road and weather conditions in South America
 

Dear HUBBers,

I'll go in South America at the end of June and I have many questions :)

I think that I'll open different threads, as to keep discussions separated and more useful for the other users.

This first thread is related to weather and road conditions

The plan is to go in Santiago, buy there a motorbike (not yet decided between Honda XR125R and Euromot GXT200, mainly depending on their availability) through a friend of mine, then start straight to the northern part of the Continent, crossing Bolivia, Peru', Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil

Return is booked at the end of September, 3 months in total

I'm afraid about the weather, since it'll be winter.

For instance, I would like to go to Salar de Uyuni; I read a very recent thread about this, dating back to mid of April and it said that it was really cold. I guess if the roads will be closed because of snow.

Would it be possible to go there from Chile (for instance from Atacama) to Uyuni or the road is usually blocked / closed by snow? Are they maintained (i.e. cleaned, salted, etc like in Europe) or, as I suppose, roads are left "to the Nature"?

What about Cuzco? Also that region is very high, so I wonder if roads are closed or not by the snow

Some regions that for sure I won't be able to cross because of cold / snow / ice? Again, from north of Chile to Bolivia, Peru', Ecuador, Colombia, etc

Finally, a question about how to go to Manaus.

The road coming down from Venezuela (Ciudad Guayana) should be ok, as far as I read, please, could you confirm?

I'm afraid about Venezuela internal situation, it seems very unstable or, at least, potentially quickly changing to clashes more or less widespread

So, I'm checking about other possibilities to go to Manaus if northern road starting in Venezuela won't be crossable
I read that so-call Trans Amazonas is crossable? I have read that it is almost destroyed , in particular the part from Porto Velho to Manaus. Is it true or was it been rebuilt?

Other chances to go to Manaus by motorbike?

Many thanks in advance for your help,

kind regards,

Nelik

Uyuni is always cold but june-august will have even colder nights indeed,. Snow is possible but it is very likely too that you pass by without any. The cordillera at that time of the year is sunny during the days and fezing cold nights. But I must say I prefer that climate over rain.
The road in southern Venezuela is good, beautiful and I felt safe. Ciudad Guyana and beyond is different and it won't see me again for a while (last visit june 2012)

I agree with Marker. I just left Uyuni last week and it was very cold but no snow. Even the days are very cold now but doable if you dress warm. Until you get further north past Cusco and out of the mountains you will be cold just based on the fact of elevation alone. It's a catch 22 go in summer get rain or winter dry but cold.

Many thanks to both of you, Marker and Roameo :)

Roameo, may I ask you indicatively which temperatures there were in Uyuni during day and night? Just to understand if we are talking about temperatures around 0 °C, -5, -10 or even lower

I'll ride wearing technical jacket and pants, using pile and microfiber underwear ... I think I'll use also a warmed dress, produced by Italian brand Klan (something similar to this Gilet donna Riscaldato Klan Hot Inner Lady Grigio : Abbigliamento Moto, Accessori Moto )

Marker, please, could you tell a bit about your (negative, I guess) experience in Ciudad Guyana toward Brazil? I'm supposed to ride that roads in less than two months, so I'm really interested to understand what I should / could expect

many thanks,

ciao,

Fabio

The road from Ciudad Guayana towards Brazil is OK and is a very beautiful area, fit for tourism. You see plenty of tours too, not so in the rest of the country apart from Merida . It was only from here north and west that the police hassled us a lot and we were stopped aprx every 30 km with the record of 3x in 500 m. Direction the brazilian border not so much, and at least they were correct and touristfriendy. Ciudad Guayana itself that time had fuelshortage and the situation at the fuelstation was kind of grim. Also shops were suffering from shortage of many things like milk, sugar etc.
We did not drive the road from Porto Velho to Manaus as we were in the rainy season but apparently it is driveable when dry.

Hi Marker,

thanks for your reply! :)

I took note of your experience, I think I'll find even a worst situation than yours because of current political fight between Maduro and Capriles, anyway, I'll go straight to Brazil, since Venezuela is not a target of my trip

thanks again,

regards,

Fabio

Fabio,

I'm in Cusco now. You'll have no problems regarding roads blocked by snow in Bol or Peru. It is cold at night, but it is dry season now. I've seen no snow on roads yet.

You'll be fine riding in the day with good (windproof essential) clothing. When the sun comes out it is warm, but the air is still cold so the wind when riding is cold. I was on the altiplano at 4500m a couple of weeks back and it was pretty fresh in the morning, but fine if you are well clothed.

At night, amigo, it's freezing up there at 4500m. Literally, the water in my bottle inside the tent froze, so did the condensation from my breath on my sleeping back. If you want to camp, come well prepared with a good sleeping bag. Evenings in Cusco (3400m) are chilly but no big deal with a warm jacket. Uyuni, Titicaca and the Bolivian altiplano at 3800m are probably a bit frisky at night.

So no problems. It's beautiful, dry and fresh up here , and the riding is awesome.

The only thing that may need a bit of further research is if you intend to cross the Andes between Chile - Arg on the way up. The high passes may well be blocked by snow. If you can cross, do it - the riding through the mountains is stunning, whereas I found the coast of Chile a bit dull. The route from Salta to Uyuni via Tupiza is a great ride, and an alternative to coming up from San Pedro De Atacama.

Happy travels!!

Paul

Hi Paul,

many thanks foryour hints!! :)

as regards Argentina, I'm not supposed to go there, anyway thanks for suggestion, I'll follow it in case of plan change ;)

thanks again,

best regards,

Fabio