Exploring Bolivia's Bike Trails: An Adventure Unveiled

Bolivia is home to some of the world's most thrilling and challenging mountain biking trails. The country's diverse landscapes, from the high mountains of the Andes to the lush rainforests, provide a stunning backdrop for cyclists seeking adventure. One of the most famous routes is the Death Road or Camino de la Muerte, known for its treacherous terrain and hair-raising descents. Other popular trails include the North Yungas Road, the Santa Cruz-Portachuelo loop, and the Pairumani Eco Touristic Park loop in Cochabamba. La Paz, the capital, offers a range of routes, from the easygoing Religious Circuit to the challenging Route Faro Murillo Aranjuez. With its varied terrain and breathtaking scenery, Bolivia is a mountain biker's paradise, attracting thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike.

The Death Road

Despite its deadly past, the Death Road has become a major tourist attraction, with adventure-seekers keen to get their hands on an "I survived the Death Road" T-shirt. Tour companies offer downhill mountain biking trips, providing equipment, guides, transport, and support vehicles. The trip is not without its challenges, however, as the trail includes dirt roads, rivers, waterfalls, rocks, and varying weather conditions. It is recommended that tourists choose reputable tour companies that prioritise safety and provide well-maintained equipment.

Choro Inca Road

The Choro Inca Road, also known as El Choro, is one of the most popular hiking trails in Bolivia. It is an ancient Inca trail that starts at La Cumbre pass, at an altitude of 4600-4650 metres, and slowly descends through the Bolivian forest into the city of Coroico at 1750 metres. The trail is known for its breathtaking scenery, including snow-capped mountains, canyons, rivers, waterfalls, and forests. It is also possible to see a variety of flora and fauna, such as condors, foxes, and vicuñas.

The Choro Inca Road is part of the La Paz hiking areas and is known for its easy accessibility, stunning views, and varied scenery. The trail is approximately 60 kilometres long and can be covered in 2 to 3 days, depending on the hiker's pace and stops. The first part of the trail requires walking uphill to the highest point of 4885 metres, and then it slowly descends through the Bolivian forest.

For those looking for a more challenging experience, the Choro Trail is also offered as a mountain biking trail. The 70-kilometre (45-mile) trail is almost entirely downhill and takes two days to complete, with one night of camping under the stars at 2,000 metres. This option is only recommended for experienced MTB riders with a good fitness level. During the ride, riders will navigate Inca paving, steps, and singletrack, with some sections requiring them to carry their bikes uphill due to the steepness of the terrain.

The Devil's Tooth

There are a few different options for returning from the Devil's Tooth. You can either return the way you came or follow a steep track that circles the muela in a counterclockwise direction, descending to the Río Choqueyapu before climbing the other side of the valley to the zoo in Mallasa. This option will turn the hike into a full-day trip, taking about six hours. It is recommended to inquire locally about safety before heading out and to travel in pairs, groups, or with a local guide.

The best access to the start of the hike from La Paz is by taking minibus 288, marked 'Pedregal', from the lower Prado. The end of the line is a parking area a couple of hundred meters downhill from Pedregal's cemetery. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or a minibus to Los Pinos from Zona Sur and walk the rest of the way up (about a 40-minute to one-hour walk). If you choose to hike along the ridgeline, be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and sun/wind protection, as there are no services along the way.

Route Faro Murillo Aranjuez

By Bus

The following bus lines have routes that pass near Faro Murillo: 18 and 3. The closest bus stations to Mi Teleférico-Estación Faro Murillo are Estación Tiquira, Estación De Faro Murillo, Estación Mirador/Qhana Pata, Estación 16 de Julio/Jach' A Qhathu, and Estacion Cementerio/Ajayuni. The nearest bus stop is about a 2-minute walk from Faro Murillo.

By Gondola

To get to Faro Murillo by gondola, you can take the LM or LP line. The closest gondola stations are Estación Tiquira, Estación De Faro Murillo, Estación Mirador/Qhana Pata, Estacion Cementerio/Ajayuni, and Estación 16 de Julio/Jach' A Qhathu. The nearest gondola station is about a 2-minute walk from Faro Murillo.

By Car

If you are driving to Teleférico Morado-Estación Faro Murillo, it is located in El Alto, Departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. The site is open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm from Tuesday to Thursday and on Saturday.

Pairumani Eco Touristic Park

The park is a great place for a day trip or camping. It costs 6 bolivianos per person to enter, and there is an additional charge of 50 bolivianos per tent. The park is easily accessible from the city centre of Cochabamba, with a short journey by Trufi, which can be picked up nearby.

Unfortunately, as of October 2021, it seems that camping is no longer allowed in the park, with reports of campers being asked to leave by guards. However, the park is still open during the day, and it is a wonderful place to escape the city and enjoy nature.

The park is also a great starting point for a walk to the nearby city of Cochabamba. It takes about an hour to get there, and you will need to change your Trufi once in Quillacollo.

Frequently asked questions