Route 6 from Sucre to Oruro - how is it?
 

Hey guys,

its so hard to find good Information about this special route:
route 6 from Sucre to Oruro.

Is there anyone who did it? And how was it? We saw some quite old pics in the net with rivercrossing and bad gravel.

We are thinking of doing this route because it goes more directly in direction la Paz.

So, if anyone has tipps that would be very nice :scooter:

greetings from sucre (Hostal cochabamba is really nice, adress:aniceto arce)

gravel
 

February 2012 I was hanging out in Sucre and took a day trip north of town to see the Maragua crater, a geological phenomena caused by erosion. From space it looks like a shell; you can pretty much see it mountain ridge if you approach from the north. I got a taste of Route 6 on this day trip.

What you should know is that Route 6 on the outskirts of Sucre quickly turns to gravel. A friend and Sucre resident that conducted tours for years did not recommend this route for long distance travel, but take that advise with a grain of salt if you enjoy extended riding off the tarmac.

Your post spoke to the route appearing to be more direct. I will go out on a sturdy limb and say that the trip will be considerably longer in time due to the speed restriction of traveling on gravel and number of switch backs. Route 5 in comparison is straight as an arrow. If in doubt zoom into Google maps, then zoom in some more to get a sense of the twisties ahead.

Route 6 looks like a serious mountain road with limited services. I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just get a good idea of what you are taking on.

If you do decide to ride Route 6, be prepared to ask at each village who is selling gas. There will likely be few gas stations on this route and as you likely know at this point they don't always have gas or won't sell it to tourists. I bought gas on the side of the road and in a little store (not a gas station) when there wasn't a gas station to be found and unknown miles ahead to the next opportunity. Think about carrying soda bottles filled up as a spare. My friend pulled two out of his saddle bag for me on a ride in northern Bolivia when we couldn't find a gas station for my bike.

I wish I could advise you on the altitude that Route 6 reaches. If you take the "easy road" (Route 5 to Potosi, then PanAm 1 to north to Oruro) the road climbs fairly high north of Potosi where I encountered hail three times and snow twice out of the three times I rode the PanAm between Potosi and La Paz (Feb/March 2012.)

route 6
 

hey wow thanks for your long answer :thumbup1:

We are now in La Paz- but we went there over the paved route Sucre-Potosi-La Paz.

Problem was after an accident I had I wanted a "not too bad" road ;) So I went to a few places ins Sucre (touroperators) to ask about the routa 6.

Mostly they said its not good and they do not recommend it on a motorcycle.
So I wanted to drive the paved route ;)

greetings from La Paz ;) :scooter:

I did it in reverse from Oruro to Sucre last year.

It is a dirt road with Altiplano scenery along the way, but there are some issues;
- not many services along the way at all so bring everything you need.
- "Route National 6" makes it sound infinitely more significant than it is.
- I read that it can be unsafe due to being a drug running route, but i read this after I rode it... I had no issues.
- It is a very long day ride. I took 12+ hours at an average of about 30kms/hr riding a bike setup for dirt. It took way, way, way longer than i expected, so I ended up finishing riding into Sucre at night. It is a windy dirt road most of the way so slow going.
- if you like remote dirt roads then go for it. Prepare and it will be fine.
- As Peter mentions, hail and storms are quite possible in these areas. I had a storm right on my tail for the last 3 hrs

Hope that is useful, if you have not already departed. I can get more info by looking through my GPS track from that day, and the map, if you need.

Hi Inna
You replied while I was typing. Too late anyway!
Enjoy your trip

road warrior
 

snatchy

thanks for posting your experience. next time I want to take more roads like route 6, so its really useful to get the skinny from those that rode it. peter b

It might be more direct on a map but it will take 3 days longer. I did this last year . It was a realy nice ride through remote farmland. Each small village on route sells fuel from the small general store. Enjoy the ride

Yep, we did it last week and its 100% asphalt and fine with plenty of gas along the way. Oruru is a super ugly town but we stayed the night in a hostel and there are amazing steak houses on every corner.