Mountain Biking In Bolivia: Is It Possible?

Bolivia is a wild adventure for mountain biking, with its soaring mountain ranges, the Amazon basin, and extreme landscapes. La Paz, the country's capital, is the highest city in the world, sitting at 12,693 ft above sea level. The thin air and high altitude make exercising a challenge, but there are plenty of trails to explore. One of the most popular destinations for mountain biking is the infamous Death Road, a narrow unpaved road stretching 43 miles from an elevation of 15,000 ft outside La Paz down to a small town in the rainforest at 4,000 ft. This road, now mostly used by mountain bikers, is extremely perilous with narrow passageways and steep drops. Bolivia offers a range of trails, from the challenging North Yungas Road to the more relaxed urban route of Faro Murillo Aranjuez, making it an ideal destination for thrill-seekers and beginners alike.

The Death Road

Mountain biking in Bolivia is a popular activity for tourists, especially in La Paz. The country's diverse and extreme landscapes make for some pretty epic adventure activities. Bolivia is home to the world-renowned "Death Road", a 43-mile (64-70 kilometre) stretch of road that winds through the mountains from La Paz to Coroico in the Yungas region.

In the 1990s, a new, safer road was constructed, and the Death Road became a popular tourist destination for thrill-seekers. Today, it is primarily used for downhill mountain biking, with tour operators offering guided rides. While it may no longer be considered the "World's Most Dangerous Road", it still poses a significant challenge and should not be attempted alone.

The full Death Road experience is a challenging and lengthy endeavour. The journey begins with a freezing cold start at a high-altitude lake, followed by a zip down a paved road for about five miles. The official start of the Death Road is marked by a sign, and here the road narrows and turns into dirt. The trail is so narrow that large buses would have difficulty navigating it, and wild waterfalls soak the road. It takes several hours to descend the 11,000 feet, with stops along the way for food and photos. The journey ends in the temperate rainforest, where injured wild animals are cared for at the Senda Verde animal refuge.

La Paz

Mountain biking is one of the most popular activities for tourists visiting La Paz, Bolivia. The city is surrounded by incredible trails, including the famous Death Road, which is considered the World's Most Dangerous Road.

Death Road

"Death Road" or "Camino de la Muerte" is a 43-mile-long, narrow, unpaved road that starts at an elevation of 15,000 feet outside La Paz and descends to a small town in the temperate rainforest at 4,000 feet. The road, constructed in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners, features hairpin turns, verdant mountain slopes, and wild waterfalls. It is extremely perilous, with cliffs that drop 2,000 feet on either side, and has witnessed numerous deadly accidents over the years.

Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking is the top-rated company offering guided tours of Death Road. The trip costs $125 and includes a bike, gear, guides, meals, and snacks. The company provides Kona downhill bikes with full suspension, ensuring a more comfortable and safe experience.

Other Trails in La Paz

The following are some notable trails and experiences in and around La Paz:

• San Antonio a El Triunfo: One of the best and most popular mountain biking trails in the La Paz city region.
• Centenario Bike Park: A dedicated bike park offering various trails and features.
• Sorata: The hills and mountains surrounding Sorata feature some of the world's best downhill single-track mountain bike riding. The Loma Loma Trail is an epic descent into the Sorata Valley, and the Uchu Trail offers a steep, sandy, and gravelly descent with technical rocky sections and stunning views.
• Choro Trek: A 2-day descent into the Yungas rainforest, following an ancient Inca trail from La Cumbre to Coroico, a peaceful village nestled in the lush green ridges.
• Collana Trail: A smooth descent with technical rock sections, located on the outskirts of La Paz.
• Salar de Uyuni: The largest salt flats in the world, located near La Paz, offer a unique and spectacular landscape for mountain biking.

Salar de Uyuni

Bolivia is a wild and underrated country, ideal for mountain biking. One of the most popular routes is the 13-day tour from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the infamous "Road of Death" in the Yungas region near La Paz, and finally, the Salar de Uyuni.

There are many possible directions to take across the salt flats, and it is recommended to plan your route in advance and stay on the 'roads', which are fixed car tracks crisscrossing over the plains. It is easy to get disoriented if you go off the tracks, and the terrain is very uncomfortable and slow. A compass can be a useful tool, as telephone GPS is not always reliable.

The salt from the flats can be very damaging to bicycles, so it is advisable to grease the bikes in advance and wash them as soon as possible afterward. The white salt also reflects the sun's rays, so it is important to bring sunscreen with a high SPF, snow goggles, and a brimmed hat.

There are a few options for accommodation on the salt flats. You can sleep anywhere in a tent, although it can be quite cold at night, as the salt does not store heat. There is also accommodation available on Isla Incahuasi, although this might be more difficult now with stricter regulations. In Llica and Coipasa, you can find accommodation and restaurants at local rates.

The Yungas region

The original road from La Paz to Coroico, a town in the Yungas, is widely considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Nicknamed "Death Road" or "Highway of Death", it hugs the forest-covered mountain slopes as it winds above fearsome precipices. The road is extremely perilous, with narrow passageways and jarring cliffs that drop 2,000 feet on either side. However, it is also one of the most scenic routes in the world, offering breathtaking views of the dramatic landscape. The road is particularly popular among mountain bikers, who can experience the thrill of navigating the challenging terrain while taking in the spectacular surroundings.

Mountain biking in the Yungas region provides a unique opportunity to explore this diverse and rugged landscape. The Loma Loma trail, for example, offers an epic descent into the Sorata Valley, with a path that runs along a rolling cliff overlooking a deep valley. The Uchu trail, starting from the Uchu Pass, features a steep slope on a sand and gravel track, allowing for high-speed "surfing". The Gruta San Pedro trail leads to the cave of San Pedro, which shelters an impressive lagoon more than 400 meters deep.

The Choro Trail, an ancient Inca trail, offers a challenging two-day descent into the Yungas, starting from La Cumbre at 4,700 meters and ending in Coroico, a peaceful village nestled in the lush green ridges of the region. The first part of the trail begins on a paved road before branching off into a technical rocky path. As adventurers descend, the snow-covered peaks give way to lush vegetation, ending in the heart of the Yungas Rainforest with its tropical climate.

The Yunga Cruz Trail, connecting Chuñavi and Chulumani, is another challenging route that takes three to four days to complete. This trail follows the spine of a giant ridge, providing trekkers with a condor's-eye view of the landscape. Water is scarce along this route, and the weather can be unpredictable, so proper preparation is essential.

Lake Titicaca

Bolivia is a wild and underrated country, ideal for mountain biking. A 13-day tour of the country will take you to the shores of the legendary Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, which sits at 12,507 feet (3,812 metres) above sea level. The lake straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia, with the western part lying in the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side in the Bolivian La Paz Department.

The lake's name, Titicaca, is uncertain, but it has been translated as Rock of the Puma or Crag of Lead. The lake is of huge cultural significance, with ruins on its bottom, shore, and islands, attesting to the existence of one of the oldest civilisations in the Americas. According to Incan mythology, it is the birthplace of Manco Capac, the first Inca king. The Aymara people, who live in the Titicaca Basin, practice ancient methods of agriculture on stepped terraces, growing barley, quinoa, and potatoes.

The town of Copacabana is a convenient entry point to the lake from Bolivia, and from here, you can visit Isla del Sol, one of the lake's largest islands, which has over 180 ruins, mostly from the Inca period. Another island, Amantani, is the highest point of the lake, with amazing views. Isla Taquile is known for its handicrafts, and the floating islands of Islas Uros are the most scenic, with their reed boats and crafts.

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