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  #1  
Old 25 Apr 2013
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Route suggestion Arica - Buenos Aires
I'll be in Arica today or tomorrow and will need to head back to Buenos to ship out.

I'm trying to decide between going the Peru/Bolivia route (Tacna-La Paz-Oruro-Potosi-Villazon) and then onto BA vs. dropping down highway 5 in Chile back to San Pedro and then crossing into Argentina through Susques and then onto Salta and BA.

Although I can, I don't really do ripio (I reckon I'd gladly ride 3km tarmac to avoid 1km ripio) so this will all largely be with the main roads.

Is there anything to recommend the Peru/Bolivia route? I'm guessing it's more effort given it's Peru and Bolivia, but would that effort be worth it? Also is that route along some silly altitude where I need to take a few days to adjust (can't get map of Bolivia for love nor money here)? If the route above is nothing special, it seems I might as well take it easy and stay in Chile.

Thanks in advance for any tips.
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Old 26 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by s445203 View Post
I'll be in Arica today or tomorrow and will need to head back to Buenos to ship out.

I'm trying to decide between going the Peru/Bolivia route (Tacna-La Paz-Oruro-Potosi-Villazon) and then onto BA vs. dropping down highway 5 in Chile back to San Pedro and then crossing into Argentina through Susques and then onto Salta and BA.

Although I can, I don't really do ripio (I reckon I'd gladly ride 3km tarmac to avoid 1km ripio) so this will all largely be with the main roads.

Is there anything to recommend the Peru/Bolivia route? I'm guessing it's more effort given it's Peru and Bolivia, but would that effort be worth it? Also is that route along some silly altitude where I need to take a few days to adjust (can't get map of Bolivia for love nor money here)? If the route above is nothing special, it seems I might as well take it easy and stay in Chile.

Thanks in advance for any tips.
If you have time, go via Bolivia. Why have you got Peru on that route ?

From Arica you can go over the R11 through the Tambo crossing, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chungar...3Tambo_Quemado . Go straight to Oruro (unless you want to go to La Paz.

From there, Potosi (detour to Uyuni if time). Then down to Tarija and into Argentina at Aguas Blancas.

This is paved *all* the way now. Even Potosi -> Uyuni.

Bolivia, map, just download a few shots from google maps. You only need to use 1 road :-)

Bolivia defo worth it.

Not sure if dropping back into Peru just to nip around is worth the effort I think you will miss osme of the best of Peru that way.

But Arequipa is nice.

For a map of Bolivia, hunt out the Happy Days Hostel in Arica. Owner is friendly and may help, people leave maps there. Also if you go into Arequipa drop in at the Casa De Los Penquinos.

But yes, go to Bolivia.
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Old 26 Apr 2013
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Bruce, you're a star! Thank you very much - have given me the confidence to have a pop at Bolivia with just google maps....

I don't have a definite date by which I have to be back - it's more I'm starting to feel the miles 8,000 miles into the trip.... BUUT... having said that, I can't imagine I'll ever be able to explore Peru with my own motorbike. So....if you had say 1,500km to spend on Peru and were in Arica, what would you do?

For some reason, I'm really not that drawn to Macchu Picchu and Cuzco - I can't help but feel it will be a box ticking exercise overran with tourists which is not my bag. But if there's a stunning route to ride and end up in Bolivia without ripio, I might well go for it.

IN any case, thanks again for the Bolivia tips - it's a huge load off to know I don't have to do ripio at 7,000m to cross it.
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Old 27 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by s445203 View Post
Bruce, you're a star! Thank you very much - have given me the confidence to have a pop at Bolivia with just google maps....

I don't have a definite date by which I have to be back - it's more I'm starting to feel the miles 8,000 miles into the trip.... BUUT... having said that, I can't imagine I'll ever be able to explore Peru with my own motorbike. So....if you had say 1,500km to spend on Peru and were in Arica, what would you do?

For some reason, I'm really not that drawn to Macchu Picchu and Cuzco - I can't help but feel it will be a box ticking exercise overran with tourists which is not my bag. But if there's a stunning route to ride and end up in Bolivia without ripio, I might well go for it.

IN any case, thanks again for the Bolivia tips - it's a huge load off to know I don't have to do ripio at 7,000m to cross it.
I've not been to MP/Cuzco either, nor do I intend to :-)

Places to see in Peru, Arequipa. The road to Puno is quite good (as far as Juliana).

Or, nip further north and see the Nasca lines, then the road from Nasca to Cusco via Abancay is meant to be one stonker (if it does not rain), I;ve only done part of it and will return again one day.

Or pop up the road to the H

Most of the mountain roads I have done in Peru have been further north,

But Arequipa->Nasca->Cusco->Puno would probably be a good route. Head for Copacobana in Bolivia and the follow Ruta 1 all the way to Tarija and Argentina :-)

Or to avoid Cuzco, just go to Arequipa thenthe 34a to Titicaca


Just make sure you have plenty of gas leaving Copacobana, enough to get about 100k past La Paz. It is hard to get gas in a foreign reg bike there.

Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Two Pegs to Patagonia

We managed it on a Funduro with 17 litre tank, so not hard.
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Old 4 May 2013
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Bruce - entirely down to you I plunged straight in, and have just arrived in Cuzco after riding Nazca - Cuzco over two days.

Nazca to Cuzco was just the most incredible road I have ever been on (and will likely ever see). It was simply breathtaking and without a doubt the highlight of my 9,000 South Am miles so far. It was quite tough going as there's a hairpin every 500m, but worth every second. I read your blog - I really felt your pain with Peru border! So you're an absolute legend for helping me get here.

I'll be riding into Bolivia next couple of days, and I've got my list of unknowns down to two questions. If you or anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

1. Puno to La Paz. Google doesn't seem to think there's much between crossing at Desaguadero or Yunguyo (apart from a short boat). Which would you choose?

2. Crossing to Argentina, ideally I'd like to pick up ruta 9 rather than cross at Aguas Blancas. I read somewhere that Aguas Blancas involves 80km of ripio from Tarija. If I head for ruta 9 in Argentina, what's the best route, and how much ripio does that involve?


Sounds like I need to avoid La Paz like the plague - let's hope I can make the GPS co-operate with that endeavour...
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