Cycling Bolivia: Andes, Altiplano & Salt Flats

The Bolivian Andes are a high-altitude adventure paradise unlike anywhere else in South America. Yes, there are majestic snow-capped peaks and cheeky llamas. But there's also Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, and the Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest salt desert on the planet. And wherever the route goes, gritty trails await thrill-seeking mountain bikers.

On this 11-day tour, La Paz serves as the base for venturing into the surrounding mountains and the vast plains of the Altiplano, structured around three highlights: the Sacred Lake, with waterfront trails and a boat trip to Incan cosmology's sacred islands; the Salar de Uyuni, ridden across its infinite white crust before unwinding at a remote lodge beneath a dormant volcano; and the Great Andean Descents, including the legendary Yungas Road, which drops 4,000 metres from the Andes to the edge of the Amazon.

The tour is built around transfer-up, ride-down logistics, so nearly every riding day is a thrilling descent, complemented by island-hopping on Lake Titicaca, a 4x4 exploration of the salt flats, and a free day back in La Paz to rest between the big rides.

Highlights:

• Ride lakeshore trails on Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water
• Boat to the sacred Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol, birthplace of Inca civilisation
• Descend the gritty Loma Loma Trail from Andean steppe into subtropical Sorata valley
• Cycle across the infinite white crust of the Uyuni Salt Flats to a cactus-covered island
• Ride the legendary Yungas Road ("Death Road"), dropping nearly 3,500m to the Amazon's edge
• Finish with a singletrack descent through the sandstone obelisks of Palca Canyon

Surface and terrain:
Mostly vehicle-width dirt and gravel tracks with singletrack sections; occasional paved surfaces range from good tarmac to broken and cratered. Rocky, technical descents feature throughout, and the tour is built around large elevation drops via transfer-up, ride-down logistics. Average climbing is a modest 315m/day, but descents are far larger and more demanding.

Weather:
The Altiplano has a dry season (May–October, cool and clear) and wet season (November–April); dry season is best for cycling. Temperatures at altitude can drop well below freezing at night, even on the salt flats, while the Yungas valleys are subtropical and humid year-round.

Suitable for:
Rated "Advanced" difficulty. For experienced mountain bikers only, comfortable on rough, technical off-road descents at high altitude (rides begin near 5,000m). Confident bike handling is essential; the support vehicle cannot always follow closely. Group size 4–12, minimum age 18.