Who says Bolivia is all about minerals, coca leaves production, and the Amazon rainforest? This country that is considered the heart of South America is definitely more than that. With mountain ranges that can go as high as 21,000 feet, plus its extreme and diverse landscapes make it ideal for some of the most epic adventure and extreme activities.

Now, it’s no surprise that this country has some of the best, the coolest, and the most death-defying biking trails that enthusiasts can only dream of. In fact, mountain biking is considered one of the most popular activities in the country for visiting tourists and even among locals. Shout-out to my good aussie friend, Brad Gall, who took time out from air conditioning repairs in Brisbane to try out some of these trails.

Top 10 Biking Trails to Check Out in Bolivia

Chacatila Inca Road (El Camino Inca de Chacatila)

If you want to have a very short but truly unforgettable trail biking in Bolivia, you really have to check out Chacatila Inca Road. This is located in the Chuquisaca department, in the city of Sucre, which is around a 16-hour drive from the capital city of La Paz.

It is just a short 2.6-mile stretch with a difficult rating of “intermediate”. If you consider yourself a moderately experienced cyclist and want to test your endurance in an unfamiliar territory, this is a perfect practice road for you.

Choro Inca Road (El Camino Inca del Choro)

Also known as La Caminata del Choro, this is considered one of the oldest roads to trek and mountain bike in the country. It is located in La Paz with about a 31.5-mile distance, with a difficulty rating of “hard”, and definitely caters to those adrenaline junkies with years of experience cycling in similar terrains.

This trail starts from an old paved and wide road that the Incas had built hundreds of years back, then gradually descends to the Yungas Valley. This is also a chance for you to witness beautiful landscapes, lagoons, Inca walls, waterfalls, and snowy peaks within the valley.

Pairumani Eco Touristic Park (Parque Ecoturístico Molinos de Pairumani)

If you want to hit two birds with one stone, Pairumani Eco Touristic Park is the right place to practice mountain biking in this country. That’s because you can both enjoy your favourite hobby while also enjoying the beauty of nature.

This is located within the department of Cochabamba, which is about 7-hour drive from La Paz or a distance of 235.06 miles. It has about 32.07 miles in length and a difficulty rating of “intermediate”. This trail is a loop with uphill sections and will take you around 3 hours to complete, depending on your speed. You can’t be blamed if you want to slow down a bit to relax and appreciate nature because it is definitely breathtaking up here.

Religious Circuit (Circuito Religioso)

Another easy-peasy route located in Cochabamba; this 31.5-mile route is for those who just want a more relaxed bike ride. And what’s nice about this is that it was built with the intention of making it easy for the cyclist to also visit some churches and temples within the city.

This is probably one of the most relaxing bike rides that you could ever get from this list and was also created as a cultural activity for bikers and tourists alike. With no adrenaline rush to dispose of, you’ll get more sense of your spirituality if you want to take time and visit these religious structures.

Route Faro Murillo Aranjuez (Ruta Faro Murillo Aranjuez)

If you want a quick fix for your adrenaline rush and don’t want to go far off La Paz, this is the perfect spot for you. However, despite this being a very easy road, it is still a demanding route and will still consume 10 hours of your time to complete for it is a 28.06-mile-long road with a difficulty rating of “intermediate”.

Though still within the city proper, it will not run short of natural spots and landscapes that you can simultaneously enjoy while biking. There are also resting spots and even nice restaurants to enjoy meals in between biking.

Santa Cruz – Portachuelo Circular Route (Ruta Circular Santa Cruz – Portachuelo)

For an all-in experience, this route in Santa Cruz is the perfect choice for you as a hardcore cyclist and nature lover. Within this 96.49-mile road, riddled with uphill paths that will surely pant your heart out, you can definitely enjoy this circular trail that starts easy in Santa Cruz and goes all the way through Portachuelo for the hard part.

As you traverse this rural side of Bolivia, you can do some trekking and other nature activities. You will also be able to see the Rio Moreno and El Rio Cuchi rivers along the way.

Santa Cruz Municipal Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Municipal de Santa Cruz)

This is where biking literally seems like a walk in the park! This short and circular 8.1-mile trail is considered one of the easiest mountain biking experiences you could ever have in Bolivia.

This is a beginner mountain bikers’ haven as it has a difficulty rating of “easy” but even the experts can truly enjoy it. And since it is a botanical garden, you’ll be able to enjoy lush flowering and non-flowering plants and trees along the way. Add to that a plethora of birds and small mammals for a complete nature experience.

The Death Road (La Carretera de la Muerte)

If the name can be an indication of what to expect in a place, then, The Death Road isn’t something to mess around with. Surely, it is one of Bolivia’s most dangerous terrains for mountain biking. And by no means the name is playing around because there were actual biker casualties recorded here, locals and tourists alike.

Situated in La Paz, with 38.82 miles long, and a difficulty rating of “hard”, Bolivia Road of Death is also touted as the world’s most dangerous road. Notwithstanding its negative reputation, it is still one of the most popular among adventure and sports enthusiasts. The trail starts at the summit called La Cumbre at the height of 15,000 feet and can be completed within 12 hours if you can withstand the cold temperature at the beginning.

The Devil’s Tooth (La Muela del Diablo)

Another one that is located in the country’s capital La Paz, this is named so because of this volcanic formation’s resemblance to fangs at the peak. It has a 5.4-mile stretch of road and is considered one of the best for beginners or “easy” difficult rating.

This place is easily accessible via public transportation and has a fairly straightforward route. People trekking and dirt biking are also a common scene here as this is also a perfect spot to do sightseeing of the mountains and the overall nature of the city.

Tunari Park (El Parque Tunari)

Another one for the expert cyclists, Tunari National Park is one of the protected areas situated in Cochabamba, which is around two and a half hours drive from the city proper. It is a 26.94-mile-long cycling route where you can enjoy nature while being one with the government in practicing ecotourism.

It has a difficulty rating of “hard” for a reason as this biking trail can be physically demanding, especially with its uphill road. It is also loop-shaped and while it can be very exhausting, the descent from the summit will be heavenly. This is especially so with the beautiful sceneries that you get to witness as you go down and while resting.

Are you an exotic animal enthusiast? Do alligators, monkeys, spiders, tarantulas, and other wildlife excite you? How about different species of plants and trees? If you are, then, a trip to The Amazon is probably included in your bucket list.

It is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, which covers around 5.5 million sq. km. or about 3.4 million sq. miles. No wonder, Amazon Jungle Tours are the perfect adventure for nature lovers like you. However, most of these trips cost a fortune, especially if you target popular destinations.

Well, good news! This famous jungle stretches across nine countries, with some of these can give you the same experience and more at a fraction of the price you would normally pay for, say, a Brazilian Amazon trip. The Bolivian Amazon Rainforest has them all, and then some!

Not many people might actually know that Bolivia was also a segment of the southern part of the world-famous Amazon Jungle so they are basically off the radar of jungle enthusiasts. Because of this, not a lot of tourists visit here. You may treat this as an advantage as it only means it is less crowded and you’ll get to enjoy the experience without much interruptions.

Depending on the season of your visit, it can be hot and humid, but some rains can occasionally pour which can make your tour a bit challenging. And since it is a forest, mosquitos can be an added distraction. Reminds me a bit of my visit to Queensland, Australia. I stayed with my friend, Scott, a Rockhampton pressure cleaning expert. We got hit by some might tropical storms that week!

How To Get to Bolivia’s Amazon Jungle

The gateway to Bolivia’s Amazon is the small town of Rurrenabaque in the northern part of the country. To reach this place, you have two options. The first and very convenient way, albeit a bit pricey, is a short flight (40 minutes) from the nation’s capital La Paz.

However, take note that depending on the airline you choose, flight delays and cancellations are not uncommon. Be sure to have plenty of lead time before your scheduled Jungle tour to avoid missing some of the things on your itinerary.

The second option is through a longer bus ride. This is cheaper but can be a little inconvenient. However, this is more reliable than taking a flight, especially for backpackers, although can be sketchy on rare occasions.

You can sign up for your tour of choice directly from here as this place is mainly the starting point. In fact, it is a lot cheaper if you do it this way compared to when you book in advance from La Paz like what most tourists do. What’s nicer is that you can search for a decent place to stay in this town at a very affordable price.

What to Enjoy in This Jungle?

There are two ways to enjoy Amazon in Bolivia: The Pampas and The Jungle.

The Pampas Tours

If you are working on a budget or just want value for money, this is definitely the inexpensive option without being shortchanged in terms of experience. Some of the main stars of this wildlife tour are alligators, capybaras, and squirrel monkeys.

Perhaps the main difference when compared to the classic Amazon jungle experience that some might have already tried was that the pampas, being wetland savannahs, are expected to be seen on the edge of the Amazon basin. However, in this tour, they are deep in the jungle. But the wildlife isn’t that hard to spot due to the lack of trees.

The tour will be composed of the following:

• You’ll be taken to the edge of the jungle via a three-hour jeep ride.
• You’ll hop into a motorized canoe for another three-hour river travel to your lodge. On this specific water trip, you’ll be up close with some amazing wildlife, including capybaras, turtles, squirrel monkeys, and a wide array of birds such as blue kingfishers, eagles, egrets, herons, hoatzin, and roseate spoonbills.
• The lodge situated on the riverside and set among the trees gives off a tranquil atmosphere, which is also a perfect opportunity to spot some wildlife even from your windows. On a good day, you can even spot monkeys taking a peek into your room. Your power source up to 10 PM is a generator so you could enjoy some cold drinks while chilling at the sound of howling monkeys or while watching the sunset.

Just don’t expect too much about the tour guides from cheaper tours as they will not be the most knowledgeable. But they are definitely not that bad and still better than exploring on your own. 

The Jungle

If you are after the real-deal Amazon experience, you should opt for The Jungle tour. This is, understandably, more expensive for a lot of reasons. For one, you will be staying at an eco-lodge, which is a nice and large bungalow where you can also do some nature activities and be served with great food.

Another thing is that all activities will be of higher quality compared to their cheaper counterpart. The trip will be professionally run and guides will be more expert in the field.

Depending on your tour company, these lodges can be reached through a similar three-hour canoe ride with a short jungle trek. There is a wide range of activities that you may want to explore, including, but not limited to the following:

• Canoe trips on the lake which some tourists prefer to do at night so that they can witness caimans and their red glowing eyes. They belong to the family of alligators.
• Piranha fishing.
• Day and night jungle treks.
• Jewellery making using seeds and nuts.

On a side note, jungle treks during the day can be very hot and humid where mosquitoes are plenty. So, make sure to bring any protection if possible.

Also, the possibility that you wouldn’t be able to spot any wildlife can be high at times. However, there will always be giant bugs and spiders to save the day, not to mention, different plants and tree species.

Bolivia boasts of many tourist attractions that are too good to miss out on just because you are following an itinerary by the tour company or you fear missing your bus or flight schedule for your next destination. Fret not as you have the option to drive yourself around where you can enjoy every place at your own pace, whether guided or not.

Driving tours of Bolivia are another popular option for tourists who want to have a more out-of-the-box experience, especially guided motorcycle trips. Guided car tours are not so prevalent but there are a lot of car rental companies catering to tourists with similar goals.

Important Things to Note 

Some might think that if you are hiring the services of tour companies, everything will be covered for you. That’s not how it works. Surely, they will just provide you with the vehicle and guide you. Everything else will be on you.

So, it is important to know everything you need when planning to have a driving tour in Bolivia. Here are some of the most crucial ones for smooth, hassle-free travel:

• Make sure to secure an International Driver’s License before you go to Bolivia. It’s a MUST.
• Traffic laws in every country in the world differ, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the regulations of the country you target to have driving tours in. The most important parts to know are which side of the road the country drives, its speed limits, and whether they apply nationwide or whether are there specific speed limits per area, particularly those included in your target places.
• Know the road conditions because this will be your gauge if you can drive safely or not. Bad, poorly maintained, unpaved roads, and such not only take away the fun but can also compromise your safety, especially if you are not used to driving on those types of routes.

Motorcycle Tours of Bolivia

Regardless of where you are in the world, the motorcycle is perhaps the most inexpensive and convenient way to privately drive around a place, whether there’s an intended destination or just wandering around to explore unfamiliar places. And this even extends to touring any country of choice. I fondly remember my first motorcycle touring experience – my good friend Peter, took a break from his Sunshine Coast roof cleaning services endeavours to take me on a tour of that beautiful part of Queensland. We covered the whole coast from Noosa to Caloundra and across the Hinterland through Nambour and out to Maleny and Montville. It was amazing!

If you are considering exploring South America, particularly Bolivia on a two-wheel, then a motorcycle tour is the perfect choice for you. There are several driving tour companies that offer very affordable and straightforward trips that you only need to think about how to savour every moment exploring the places.

What’s Included in a Bolivia Motorcycle Trip?
To give you an idea of what goes with getting the services of inexpensive motorcycle tour in Bolivia, here is a sample:

1. Contact the tour company. Give them the following information:

• How many days do you plan to tour around Bolivia?
• What type of terrains and specific tourist spots you’d want to explore. 
• Do you have any preference on the type of motorcycle to use?

2. If you are not particular about the motorcycle type, then proceed to choose one in their list of options. Be sure it is the type that can withstand the terrain you are planning to traverse, although the company will surely give their suggestions.
3. Since this type of tour is highly customizable based on your choices and preferences, add-on options are almost always inevitable. Here are some of the things to add to the basic tour so you can plan your budget well:

• The tour companies have hotel packages so you wouldn’t have to look elsewhere.
• They also offer GPS usage.
• If you need to transfer from one place to another that’s not within the motorcycle route that you need to take public transportation like booking a ferry, you need to pay extra.

Car Tours of Bolivia

As mentioned, guided car tours in this country are hard to find, as most of the features on the internet are car rentals in Bolivia. Some search results just share the routes and photos, but not the entire description of the things included in the package or the exact itinerary. If you find one that does, the same information in this article applies.

But to give you a rough idea about travelling this South American country by car, an ideal and comprehensive Bolivia road trip will have the following:

• The start and end would be the city of La Paz.
• Routes: Copacabana – Cochabamba, Cochabamba – Yapacani, Yapacani – Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz – Samaipata, Samaipata – Sucre, Sucre – Potosí, Potosí – Salar Uyuni, Salar Uyuni – Challapata, Challapata – Oruro, Oruro – La Paz
• The total distance to cover would be about 2,518 km.
• The duration to complete the itinerary would be roughly 16 days.
• The best months to drive are from May to October.

Please take note that information about all accommodation options, attractions, restaurant recommendations, and campsites, among others will be provided on your official itinerary once you have found the driving tour company that caters exactly to your driving plans in Bolivia. A ballpark estimate of the cost for two persons would start at around 1,500 EUR for economy up to roughly 5,300 EUR for both premium and camper.

South America in general has been stereotyped as a continent with not-so-tourist-friendly countries. So, it’s natural to feel intimidated, especially if you are travelling alone and for the first time. In Bolivia’s case, it doesn’t help that the information about its tourist attractions is not readily available to anyone interested in visiting the country.

However, that shouldn’t stop you from exploring this country with the most diverse national park in the entire world. There are just too many unique tourist attractions to miss here if you let your apprehensions consume you.

In fact, Bolivia is known to have some of the most interesting landscapes, high-altitude salt flats, and pristine rainforests, and it is even very rich with cultural diversity that makes it even more exciting to explore. Your trip will definitely be worth the hassle.

Things to Consider When Planning to Visit Bolivia

Plan Your Trip

Although some of the most enjoyable trips experience-wise often come from the idea that spontaneity adds to the fun of travelling, however, Bolivia isn’t your typical destination for backpackers. At least, in terms of the itinerary that you need to lay out, that is. It’s not ideal to make plans on the spot without having to encounter a little bit of hurdles along the way.

Since it has that reputation for having social and political tensions, large-scale political demonstrations that may result in some form of violence can erupt without warning at any time. You might want to avoid places known to be the ground zero of these protests and where crime against tourists, although uncommon, but still a possibility, occurs.

Pack for Every Type of Season

Bolivia has multiple climate zones, so the weather can be unpredictable, depending on what specific area you are heading to. The duration of the day can be polar opposites in terms of temperature because mornings and evenings can give you below-freezing point coldness, while the rest of the day, you can wear just your shirt and shorts.

The same goes when you go to a snowy highland and then traverse through a hot and humid jungle. Rain can also surprise you at any moment if you are visiting between November and March. Because of these uncertainties in climate, you might want to pack for all types of seasons just to be sure you have the right protection.

Transportation Isn’t One of Bolivia’s Best Features

While taking a short flight when you’re travelling between locations might be more convenient elsewhere, do note that it isn’t the most reliable mode of local transportation in Bolivia. This is because some airlines have the notoriety for cancelling flights on the spot. The main reason is underbooking.

Other issues with airlines are flight delays or lost luggage. If anything, overnight buses are the most reliable transportation that you can get and the best part is that they are way cheaper.

You Need to Be Flexible

As mentioned, it is better to have an itinerary when visiting Bolivia. However, prepare to be flexible when it comes to the time and schedule as they can be messed up without warning. This is especially true for all forms of transportation.

As mentioned, flights of certain airlines often can get cancelled when the passenger capacity is not met, buses can be inconsistent with their schedule, which often leave late, and even car trips can slow down during rainy seasons due to some roads being in bad shape. Some tourists don’t really mind minor setbacks and just charge these as cultural experiences. Just be ready for these just in case and at least you know that it can get worse before it gets better.

Having mentioned these, you need to allot a day or two in between any major events that you scheduled to attend, especially if they are very expensive or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since you are aware that delays and cancellations are commonplace in this country, you can spare yourself some headaches if one event is adjusted to conflict with your next or your flight to one place gets cancelled abruptly, making you miss your schedule.

Basic Tips When You Are in Bolivia as a Tourist

Passport is King

Your passport is everything when you travel. Keep an eye on it at all times and never put it in a backpack, especially in crowded places. A good alternative is a cross-body bag that you can keep in front so you can see it all the time and always be aware of your surroundings.

Keep Access to Google Maps

Not all places have Wi-Fi and signals, so always pre-download the places you will be visiting on Google Maps or other alternatives. Some places can be confusing especially those with high foot traffic and a lot of establishments; hence, you need to know your way around even if you don’t have access to the internet.

Learn the Basic Lingo

Knowing basic Spanish words and phrases is essential when travelling around Bolivia. It makes a whole lot of difference when locals know that you’ve made an effort to speak their language and that help may come naturally.

Choose Where to Stay Wisely

As much as possible, always opt to stay in places known to be generally safe and tourist-friendly. The city centre is always a wise choice and opt for decent hotels or better yet, a family-owned eco-lodge to feel more like being at home.

Let Someone Know of Your Whereabouts

When you go for a walk and wander around, especially when hiking, let someone know, either from the place you are staying or the hotel staff, where you are heading to and the time they should expect you to return.

Underhydrate When Taking Long Bus Rides

Long-distance bus rides heading to the high-altitude parts of Bolivia have very few stopovers, so as much as possible, do not take too much liquid for the trip. Although a lot of buses have toilets on board, they are often not fit for use.

Befriend A Local

It’s good to have a local friend that you can ask for advice from about your planned trip or even a good recommendation for a place to visit. While there can be suspicious people everywhere, Bolivians are generally very friendly and welcoming.