Name: Cycling Bolivia: Andes, Altiplano & Salt Flats
Brand: SpiceRoads
SKU: BOL-LPU

Trip Profile

La Paz is located at an altitude of 3,650 metres ASL, and the tour reaches heights of over 5,000 metres. To allow your body to acclimatise to the lower oxygen levels and reduce the risk of altitude sickness, please arrive at least one day before the tour begins. We ride a total of 233 km over six riding days. With the exception of days 2 and 7, all of the rides are thrilling descents; to make this possible, we utilise the support vehicle throughout the tour, transferring up and cycling down. The cycling is complemented with a wide variety of opportunities to be immersed in the raw nature and indigenous culture of Bolivia, including island hopping by boat on Lake Titicaca and discovering the Uyuni Salt Flats – two unmissable highlights of any visit to Bolivia.

The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This is an advanced-level mountain biking tour that should only be attempted by experienced cyclists comfortable in remote, high-altitude regions. Because this adventure is designed specifically for mountain biking, you should have experience cycling on rough surfaces and off-road trails. This requires confident bike-handling skills, particularly on the descents. Cycling at altitudes of over 3,000 metres adds a further layer of challenge, as the thinner air affects exertion levels and recovery times. A support vehicle follows the group throughout the journey; however, please be aware that it cannot always follow directly behind and will instead meet the group at designated intervals.

Biking Conditions: The majority of the route consists of vehicle-width dirt and gravel tracks, alongside sections of singletrack and off-road riding. The occasional paved surfaces range from high-quality tarmac to broken, bumpy, and cratered roads. The non-paved portions of this trip offer fantastic riding for mountain bikers, though it is important to remember that some sections consist of loose gravel and sandy patches that require careful navigation. Additionally, several descents are quite rocky and demand extra caution. While traffic on the paved sections is generally minimal (except for La Paz!), be prepared to share the road with cars, motorcycles, and buses from time to time. The Andes can be incredibly windy, which may work for or against our favour depending on the direction. When conditions are dry, the dirt roads can be dusty; when it rains, they can turn muddy. Although we generally ride rain or shine, adjustments to the planned route can be made at the guide’s discretion or to suit your comfort level – it is all part of the adventure!

Accommodation: Five out of ten nights on this tour are spent in La Paz, where we sleep at a centrally located, modern city hotel. Outside of the city, we stay in some of the best 3-4* hotels Bolivia has to offer, including a premier waterfront property on Lake Titicaca, an eco-lodge in the sub-tropical Sorata valley, and unique stone and salt hotels on the Uyuni Altiplano. Throughout the tour, all rooms are private and en-suite with heating facilities. Depending on the property, you will have access to comfortable lounging spaces, terraces, gardens, wellness areas, restaurants, and bars. Please note that because infrastructure at high altitudes can be unpredictable, heating and water pressure can vary and bringing some extra layers to sleep in is recommended. For larger groups, we may need to use more than one property and, in case of limited availability, switch to an alternative from the one listed in the itinerary.

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. We provide mountain bikes from various well-known brands – reach out to us for more details on the fleet. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike in good mechanical order and do not bring a gravel or a hybrid bike as they are not suited to the terrain.
E-bikes are not available for hire on this tour. As the route has been designed to be primarily downhill on off-road trails, the weight and handling characteristics of E-bikes present a safety hazard.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Passports and Visas

Bolivia organizes entry requirements into three groups based on nationality. Travelers from most EU countries and Australia do not need a visa and receive a free entry stamp on arrival for an initial stay of 30 days, extendable up to 90 days at any immigration office in Bolivia. Travelers from the United Kingdom also fall into the visa-exempt category. As of December 2025, US citizens no longer require a tourist visa for short tourism trips and may enter visa-free with a valid passport; however, it is strongly advisable to carry supporting documents such as proof of onward travel and hotel reservations. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt for tourism purposes. Citizens of certain countries (Group 2) must obtain a visa in advance at a Bolivian embassy or consulate. You can check your specific requirements using the official Bolivian migration tool here. If you require a visa, please contact the nearest Bolivian embassy or consulate well in advance and do not leave it to the last minute.

All travelers visiting Bolivia are required to complete a pre-registration form (called SIGEMIG) before or upon arrival. This registers your accommodation details with the Bolivian migration authority. It is recommended to complete this online before departure. Please access the SIGEMIG registration form here. Keep a copy of your registration on your phone, as this may be requested by immigration officials.

Note: Visa policies for Bolivia can change at short notice. We strongly recommend verifying your entry requirements with the Bolivian embassy or consulate in your country before travel.

Health

Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and polio. Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended if travelling to lowland regions such as the Amazon basin, and proof of vaccination may be required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk. Malaria risk exists in rural areas below 2,500 meters, particularly in the north and east of the country; consult your doctor about appropriate precautions. Altitude sickness (known locally as soroche) is a very real consideration in Bolivia, as cities like La Paz sit above 3,600 meters. Allow yourself time to acclimatize upon arrival, stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol on your first days, and consider speaking to your doctor about preventive medication. See here for full CDC recommendations. Please speak to your doctor or physician for the most recent and personalized information.

Weather

Bolivia's climate varies dramatically depending on altitude and region. The Altiplano and Andean highlands — including La Paz, Potosí and the Salar de Uyuni — have two main seasons: a dry season running roughly from May to October, with cool, clear days and cold nights, and a rainy season from November to April. The dry season is the best time for cycling on the Altiplano and the salt flats. In the Yungas valleys and lower-altitude areas, the climate is subtropical and humid year-round. Regardless of the season, temperatures at high altitude can drop sharply at night, sometimes well below freezing on the salt flats. Warm layers, a windproof jacket and cold-weather cycling gear such as arm warmers and a gilet are essential. The strong UV radiation at altitude also demands quality sun cream and a head covering at all times while riding.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature traditional Bolivian highland dishes, including hearty soups, rice-based plates and fresh produce from Andean markets. Salteñas — a baked, juicy Bolivian empanada — are a must-try morning snack. Any special dietary requirements can be catered for; please let us know at the time of booking. In remote areas, options may be limited, but we always do our best to accommodate your needs.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated at altitude is a top priority. Water, refreshments and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Tap water in Bolivia is not safe to drink; bottled or purified water is recommended at all times. Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and other beverages during meals are NOT included. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are available in most towns but are not included. Note that alcohol affects the body more strongly at altitude — drink with extra caution.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you set aside a few extra US Dollars for possible incidentals. It is always wise to carry some cash, as ATMs can be scarce or unreliable outside of major cities. Even in tourist towns like Uyuni, ATMs can run out of cash or be temporarily out of service. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worry. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; the amount is at your discretion and should reflect the level of service received.

Money

The official currency of Bolivia is the Boliviano (BOB), divided into 100 centavos. Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 bolivianos, and coins in 10, 20 and 50 centavos, and 1, 2 and 5 bolivianos. ATMs are widely available in La Paz and larger cities, but can be difficult or impossible to find in smaller towns and rural areas — plan accordingly and carry sufficient cash when heading into remote terrain. US dollars are generally accepted in larger cities and can be exchanged at official casas de cambio (exchange bureaux). Ensure that any US dollar bills you bring are in pristine condition, as torn, crumpled or marked notes are routinely refused.

Be Aware

Bolivia, like many countries, has areas where petty crime can occur, particularly in larger cities such as La Paz. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and theft in crowded markets or on public transport are the most common risks. Use only reputable, radio-dispatched taxis and avoid hailing cabs off the street. Do not walk alone at night, and store valuables securely. Express kidnappings, in which victims are forced to withdraw money from ATMs, have been reported in La Paz, though they remain infrequent. Stay vigilant, be discreet with electronics and cash, and ask your guide or hotel for up-to-date local safety advice.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

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Trip Profile

Day 1: Meet in La Paz

Welcome to La Paz, Bolivia’s high-altitude culture and adventure hub! Sitting at 3,650 metres above sea level (ASL), La Paz is the highest administrative capital city in the world. Please arrive at least one day prior to the start of the tour, as living at this altitude takes some getting used to. After some rest and drinking plenty of water, you can take a ride on the famous cable car for a bird's-eye view of La Paz, stroll the historic plaza, or check out the curiosities on display at the Witches' Market. We’ll be in La Paz several more times on the tour, so don’t worry about missing anything and focus on getting your body adjusted to enjoy the cycling days ahead. Today we convene in the afternoon for bike fittings, a trip briefing, and a welcome dinner. Airport transfers are included regardless of the day you arrive but please let us know if you need assistance with pre-tour hotel bookings.

MET Hotel

Dinner

Day 2: La Paz → Lake Titicaca → Copacabana

Early in the morning, we transfer around three hours to the shores of Lake Titicaca, with breakfast provided at a rest stop en route. The highway ends at the Tiquina Strait, where a quick zip on a public ferry brings us to our cycling start point on the Copacabana Peninsula. The first part of today’s ride takes us on lakeshore trails hugging the deep blue waters of Titicaca, which are shared by Bolivia and Peru. After around 30 km, we’ll jump in the support van and fast-track ourselves on the highway towards the north side of the peninsula, and ride predominantly downhill through rocky, windswept hills to reach the laid-back lakeside town of Copacabana. The late afternoon is free to explore the town and choose your own dinner. Make sure to swing by the main plaza dominated by the grand, white-washed facade of the Basilica, which draws Catholic pilgrims from all across the country.

Rosario del Lago

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 50km

+709m

-1042m

Day 3: Lake Titicaca's Sacred Islands

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable body of water, a fact we’ll experience first-hand today as we leave our bikes on dry land and cruise to discover sacred Inca islands. From Copacabana, we drive around 45 minutes to a pier and step into a private motorboat, taking us to our first stop: Isla de la Luna, the Island of the Moon. Here, we walk up to the ruins of Iñak Uyu, once a sanctuary for Inca priestesses tasked with keeping the cosmic order in check. Back on the boat, we then hop over to Isla del Sol, the Island of the Sun, the mythical birthplace of the entire Inca civilisation. Stepping ashore, we climb up the 550-year-old iconic Inca Steps and hike through the terraced hillsides. Lunch today is traditional apthapi: a communal spread of Aymara delicacies shared on hand-woven blankets. Afterward, we walk back down to our boat and return to Copacabana for a second night.

Rosario del Lago

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Copacabana → Loma Loma Trail → Sorata

You know those snow-capped Andean peaks we’ve been seeing across Lake Titicaca for the last two days? This morning we head straight for them, with bikes in tow. It’s a three-hour transfer, re-crossing back to the Bolivian mainland and driving up to a mountain pass sitting at 4,225 m ASL. Here, we pull off the main road and saddle up for an epic downhill along the Loma Loma mountain bike trail. It’s a gritty 30 km descent that drops nearly 2,000 metres, transitioning from the barren, high-Andean steppe (puna) to increasingly lush, subtropical valleys. The colossal, glaciated twin peaks of Ancohuma and Illampu, two of Bolivia's tallest mountains, dominate the horizon. The trail leads directly into Sorata, a small town with beautifully preserved Spanish colonial architecture, from where it is only a short distance to our ecolodge nestled in the valley. Unwind and enjoy the all-surrounding Andean panorama from a lower vantage point of around 2,500 m ASL.

Altai Oasis Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 30km

+193m

-1829m

Day 5: Sorata → Chacaltaya → La Paz

This morning we have a four-hour drive back towards La Paz. Rather than heading straight into the city, however, we take a detour up to Mount Chacaltaya which sits at a lofty 5,228 m ASL. Formerly home to the world's highest ski resort, the mountain's glacier melted entirely by 2009, leaving a stark, rocky landscape in its place. Today’s downhill route begins right by the abandoned resort, taking us down rough, twisty trails past puna, streams, and small lakes. After around 10 km, we join a wider gravel road parallel to a river, leading us into the outskirts of La Paz where dense clusters of communities, farms, and forests cling to the hillsides. For the remainder of the ride, we weave through the city’s maze of streets, back alleys, plazas, and parks to reach our hotel. With plenty of options to choose from, dinner is on your own tonight.

MET Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 40km

+94m

-2072m

Day 6: La Paz → Uyuni Salt Flats

No adventure in Bolivia is complete without a visit to the Uyuni Salt Flats. Located in the southwest corner of the country, this massive white void is the largest salt flat on Earth, stretching more than 10,000 square kilometres across the Altiplano. To get there we take a one-hour flight from La Paz to Uyuni. Straight from the airport we begin our exploration by 4x4 vehicle, starting with a visit to the train cemetery, where abandoned 19th-century locomotives have been left to be corroded by the salty winds. It’s like a scene straight out of Mad Max. We then drive across the blinding white surface of the salty desert with a few stops for quintessential photo-ops. Our destination is the northern edge of the flats where we spend the night at a cosy lodge at the base of the dormant Tunupa Volcano. Much less known than the heavily visited town of Uyuni, this is the perfect spot to unwind and let the scale of Bolivia’s most iconic geographic landmark wash over us (figuratively and literally as you'll be constantly coated in small specks of salt!).

Tambo Coquesa Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Uyuni Salt Flats Ride

It’s not every day that you can say you’ve ridden a bicycle on the planet’s biggest salt flat. Darting off from the lodge, the first few hundred metres take us past a marshy grassland where we may spot wild Andean flamingos. And then, the infinite white crust of the Salar swallows the entire field of vision, leaving just us, our bikes, and the crunch of the salt beneath our tyres. We ride roughly halfway across the length of the flats, ending at Incahuasi Island. Appearing like an oasis in the middle of the white desert, this rocky outcrop is covered in giant cacti and made entirely of fossilised coral — a reminder that we’ve just cycled across a prehistoric seabed. After some time exploring the walking trails of the island and taking in the incredible views, we hop in the 4x4 and drive roughly two hours to our next hotel, this time on the eastern edge of the Salar and built out of, you guessed it, salt. Feel free to loosen up your muscles in the heated pool and steam room.

Luna Salada

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 38km

+96m

-103m

Day 8: Uyuni Salt Flats → La Paz

This morning we fly back to La Paz (one hour). The rest of the day is yours to tick off any more sights, ramble through colourful markets, lounge at a café, go bar hopping, and sample some of the city’s iconic street food. If you’re into sandwiches and meat, make sure to try Sándwich de Chola. Lunch and dinner are not included today, so you can be as adventurous or restrained as you like, with our local guide always available to give recommendations. We’ve still got two epic rides ahead of us so make sure to give yourself time to rest and recharge. Even after a week in the high-altitude Bolivian Andes, La Paz can still take your breath away!

MET Hotel

Breakfast

Day 9: The Yungas Road Descent

If you’re an avid mountain biker, this is the day you’ve likely been waiting for: South America’s most legendary unpaved descent from the Andes to the Amazon. Infamously known as the “Death Road”, the Yungas Road's terrifying reputation came from heavy traffic on impossibly tight curves coiling down foggy, sheer cliffs. Thankfully, the cars, buses and trucks have now moved to the modern highway and the original road has been rebranded as a thrill-seeker's delight. We transfer around one hour out of La Paz to the start point and begin our ride at close to 5,000 m ASL. The elevation reading after 65 km in the saddle will be below 1,500 m ASL. This is a descent in a league of its own, marked by cascading waterfalls, sheer drop-offs, and a rapid transition from freezing Andean air at the edge of the desolate Altiplano to thick tropical heat in the dense Yungas cloud forest. We finish with lunch and an optional swim in a natural pool to rub off the dirt before a three-hour drive back to La Paz.

MET Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 65km

+778m

-404m

Day 10: The Palca Canyon Descent

We cap off our adventure with a short but vertical ride in the Palca Canyon. Located just 45 minutes outside of La Paz, this rugged, deep-cut gorge is a favourite for local MTB enthusiasts, with singletrack trails that weave down from rim to river. The scenery is completely otherworldly, framed by a maze of giant sandstone obelisks that soar over 200 metres into the sky. We take our time to enjoy every last metre of cycling in Bolivia before returning to La Paz in the early afternoon. Lunch is on your own, but we reconvene in the evening for a celebratory farewell dinner.

MET Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Ride 11km

+22m

-889m

Day 11: Depart La Paz

Time to head home, extend your stay in Bolivia, or head to your next destination in South America. If you want to see a totally different side of Bolivia (and at much lower altitudes!), then consider heading into the wildlife-rich Amazon Basin, accessible from the riverside town of Rurrenabaque. For something more relaxed, check out the historic city of Sucre or the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jesuit mission towns of Chiquitania. If you have a flight out today, we’ll take you to the airport.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.

Nuts & Bolts