Bolivia

The geography of Bolivia is unique among the countries of Latin America. Here you can encounter some of the highest elevations of the continent. At the same time, you will also find vast plains such as the Salar de Uyini that appears to come from another world.

Our tour starts in the state capital Sucre where, for the first three days, we can acclimatize to 2,810 m, before we move into higher sceneries. During the tour we reach hights of about 4,500 m, but we will master it relaxed and peacefully with the support of our engine and a delicious coca tea.

The majority of the bike stages we will drive on are paved roads, some asphalt, some gravel or sand roads. We have preferably selected minor roads and low-traffic routes in order to be very close to nature and the local population. Sometimes these routes do not even appear on Google Maps! They mainly lead through national parks, highland plains and mountain landscapes. Just like in the other Andean countries, cycling in Bolivia is not as developed as in Germany and Europe. The roads, whether asphalt or gravel, serve or served mainly as transport routes. In some parts of our tour we travel completely offroad – as for example in the Salar de Uyuni.

There are two seasons in Bolivia:  the rainy and the dry season. The best time to travel to the Bolivian highlands is undoubtedly during the dry season, from April to the end of November. However, one should not forget that during the German summer it can get very cold in Bolivia, especially in higher altitudes. During the rainy season between December and March hiking or mountain tours in Bolivia are not recommended. But you can easily pursue other activities at this time.

In the Amazon lowlands there is a tropical humid climate throughout the entire year. However, in the months of May and June, temperatures can drop to 12 to 15 degrees Celsius due to cool winds.

The choice of clothing for your trip to Bolivia should be made depending on the climatic conditions of the regions you want to visit. Light and comfortable clothing should definitely be included in the luggage. Moreover, we recommend to pack warm clothing such as a fleece jacket and a sweater for higher regions. If necessary or wanted, you can also buy warm alpaca wool clothes at local markets.

For a cycling trip in Bolivia, we also recommend the following equipment in your luggage:

daypack / biking backpack, a wind- and waterproof jacket, (bicycle) gloves, legwarmers, enough additional clothing, sunscreen and lip care, sunglasses / bicycle glasses, cocoa butter or other skin creams, cycling pants, cycling helmet and suitable footwear.

In any case, you should be equipped with: a good spirit, patience, respect, humor and tolerance!

If you enter directly from Germany, Switzerland or Austria, no vaccinations are required. Nevertheless, there are a few that are recommendable. These include tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. Malaria and yellow fever are only common in a few provinces of Bolivia. Before you travel, you should always consult your family doctor or a tropical institute.

If you travel to the Bolivian highlands (over 3000 m), you should take your time for the acclimatization. Your body is not used to breathing at such high altitudes where the air pressure is low and oxygen won’t be absorbed into the blood as well. Experts advise giving the body at least 3 days to adapt to this unfamiliar situation through physiological reactions. If you experience nausea, dizziness, headache, breathlessness and / or palpitations you may be suffering from altitude sickness. Coca tea, for example, can help in this case. In addition, you should avoid too heavy food and alcoholic drinks in the beginning.