Motorcycle trip: Wild West Bolivia

We pick you up at the airport of Santa Cruz/Bolivia and drive to the town of Samaipata (120 km, 2.5 hours). In Samaipata we check into a comfortable hotel and use the rest of the day for relaxation and exploration. If your flight arrives late, you will stay overnight in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. In this case, the following day counts as day 1.

We start with a briefing in which we learn more about safe driving, our route, the local traffic rules, and each other. To get used to the motorcycle, we ride to the archaeological site "El Fuerte." This ancient Inca city, built around a much older, largest stone sculpture in America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some consider it an ancient alien landing field! The Wild West starts here!!

Early in the morning we set off and make a stop in Vallegrande to visit the hospital building where the revolutionary hero Ernesto Ché Guevara was shown to the world in 1967. After lunch, we continue to the tiny mountain village La Higuera, where Ché was captured and executed. On the way, we can observe condors, the largest birds in the world. Before arriving at the hotel in La Higuera, we have the opportunity to make a small detour to a fantastic viewpoint. In the evening, we listen to stories from the time of the guerrilla war from Don Juan around the campfire in the courtyard of our hotel.

We leave Villa Serrano early in the morning to visit the Sunday market of Tarabuco. This is the only place in Bolivia where we can take photos of traditionally dressed Indigenous people without them turning away. After lunch, we continue to Sucre, the capital of Bolivia. The rest of the afternoon and evening is available to explore this beautiful colonial city. The entire city center is painted white and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We leave Sucre early in the morning. On smooth asphalt, we ascend towards Altiplano (high plateau). We stop to visit an unusual monumental bridge and then continue on to the mining town of Potosí, which is located at an altitude of 4,100 m and is considered the highest city in the world as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the ascent, the guides give us instructions on dealing with altitude sickness. In the afternoon, we visit the mine market, where one can buy everything from coca leaves to dynamite. Afterwards, we visit the mines and equipped, make our way into the "belly" of the Pajcha Mama (Mother Earth) to explore the 500-year-old, but still active silver mine. This is not suitable for people who do not like tight spaces or suffer from claustrophobia.

Through a breathtaking landscape we drive past a spectacular gorge. Along the way, we keep an eye out for vicuñas (camel species), emus, and thousands of llamas. We reach the small mining village of Pulacayo, where we visit the old train station, walk past the entrance of the mine, and can board the train cars. These cars are the same ones that the American bandits Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid came to Bolivia with 110 years ago. The next stop is Uyuni, where we visit the “Train Graveyard,” a fantastic collection of old railway machines from the 19th century, including at least a dozen steam locomotives. Perfect for photos.

The Salar de Uyuni is a dried-up salt lake, as large as a small country (11,000 km²). Since the largest salt lake in the world has no references and there are only two colors (blue sky and white salt) there, any perspective is lacking. Our brain gets confused, and we can take the craziest photos. On the way, we visit the cactus island "Inca Huasi," the flag monument, the first salt hotel, and the Dakar monument.

In the morning we leave Uyuni on a new asphalt road. To our surprise, we find in a small village a huge espresso machine, where we have lunch. We hope to see a few emus on the way and visit some dinosaur tracks and a ghost town. Before we reach Tupiza, we drive through the Bolivian Monument Valley, where the notorious bandits Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid "operated" and were ultimately killed. Don't forget the hotel pool amid all the spectacular rock formations!

As soon as we reach the gravel road, the landscape changes immediately to picturesque side roads with deep gorges. Since there is no infrastructure, a picnic is the only option for lunch. The drive to Tarija, the wine capital of Bolivia, remains varied. After the last mountain passage, a fantastic panorama opens up over the Tarija Valley. In the evening, an event dinner awaits us in the best restaurant in the city, the culinary highlight of this tour. Opportunity to visit the Casa Dorada, the Castillo Azul, and the paleontological museum (extinct mammals).

Serpentine-like mountain roads lead us from the gentle hills of Tarija to the dry Chaco region. The last part of this route is considered one of the most dangerous bus rides in the country. On the motorcycle, where we have control, it is much less risky. Photographers pay attention… and if you miss the section, no problem, we will ride it again!

After all the gravel road stages, it is pleasant to feel asphalt under the tires again. Our way takes us through the gas production area of Bolivia. We make a detour to a monastery and cross an abandoned, very narrow railway bridge. An exciting ride, not for people with a fear of heights. In Abapo there is only simple catering, so there is a Bolivian barbecue dinner.

The road to Samaipata leads us along asphalt roads next to the rivers Grande and Piraí and over the eastern Cordillera to Samaipata, our starting point. Just before lunch, we drive one last highlight: a very narrow suspension bridge... Caution, it sways! In Samaipata, we leave the motorcycles and hurriedly jump into the hotel pool.

Late in the morning we make our way to Santa Cruz, where we can relax, walk around the plaza and buy souvenirs. In the evening we have a farewell dinner.

A always sad moment, when we say goodbye. But who knows? You would not be the first, who comes back!!