Road from La Paz to Potosi and Villazon

ChrisCross · 12-05-2012, 09:48 AM

Hi,

We want to ride from La Paz, Bolivia, to Potosi and from there to Villazon at the border with Argentina.
We are not really good offroad riders and we are wondering how the roads are on that track.
We probably want to do it in about 1 week from now.

Every information about the roads are welcome.

Thanks

Misery Goat · 12-05-2012, 04:25 PM

What happened to going to the salar?

If you're good offroad riders you should take the southern lagunas route, once you reach Laguna Verde you have the option of staying in Bolivia and working your way back to Tupiza through Quetena (and Uturuncu), San Vicente (Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid town), then on to Villazon.

Or from Laguna Verde you can pop down to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) then on to Salta (Arg) via Paso Sico or Paso Jamma.

Both these routes offer experiences and scenery you won't get anywhere else in SA.

kevinmc2000 · 12-06-2012, 09:03 AM

We are planning a trip over there from argentina next april. Our most recent investigations stated that you can ride 100% paved roads from La Paz to Villazon if you wish. A few miles of an alternative road which leads from Salar de Uyuni to Tupiza are quite rough to ride due to sand pockets, but you can avoid this route if you stay on the main road and ride through Potosi.
Hope this helps

Radioman · 12-06-2012, 05:17 PM

Just rode in Bolivia. You can indeed take pavement from La Paz to Potosi then to the border Villazon on Pavement.

We actually rode the Death road, then all gravel in the Yungas (awesome), then down to Salar off road. But connected up from Uyuni to Potosi (all nice pavement) to Sucre and then back down to Villazon.

I was asked for Insurance for the Bike as I crossed into Argentina and you cannot get it in the town

Lucky when I returned, another Aduana guy was there and did not ask me. Purchased it in Salta. But you might be so lucky. Have some insurance at Argentinean border.

But I would say do not miss the Salar, even if you do it is a jeep ride..... See my RR for info, or PM me.

MArk

ChrisCross · 12-07-2012, 11:43 AM

We still haven't decide which route we will take but want to know what the options are.
The salar sounds great but with not so much experince with off road riding we are not sure yet.
We will see.

Thanks for the information.

Misery Goat · 12-07-2012, 04:27 PM

Sorry, I misread your first post as saying you are good offroad riders.

If you stick to the main jeep routes the southern lagunas route is not too difficult and is well traveled by the jeep tours. The route turns to asphalt once you're in Chile for the descent to San Pedro.

ChrisCross · 12-08-2012, 07:48 PM

That sound better. We will go to Uyuni anyway to see the salt lakes and then decide what we will do.
Is there a proper bordercrossing to Chili or do we have to do some paperwork and immigration in Uyuni.
Thats what i have read somewhere. Hope you have some info about that aswell.

Also we are wandering if we need some insurance for the bikes in Bolivia. At the border in Copacobanna the asked for insurance but we didn't had it and they said that we had to buy it in La Paz, but i'm not sure if we need it. Hope you have some info about that.

Thanks again for the advise.

MAXVERT · 12-09-2012, 04:26 AM

We're in Santiago Chile, trying to decide if we should head North for Bolivia,
or ride South to Ushuaia first and loop North through Argentina, getting
to Bolivia in March.
How's the weather there now ?

Max

ChrisCross · 12-09-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioman

Just rode in Bolivia. You can indeed take pavement from La Paz to Potosi then to the border Villazon on Pavement.

We actually rode the Death road, then all gravel in the Yungas (awesome), then down to Salar off road. But connected up from Uyuni to Potosi (all nice pavement) to Sucre and then back down to Villazon.

I was asked for Insurance for the Bike as I crossed into Argentina and you cannot get it in the town

Lucky when I returned, another Aduana guy was there and did not ask me. Purchased it in Salta. But you might be so lucky. Have some insurance at Argentinean border.

But I would say do not miss the Salar, even if you do it is a jeep ride..... See my RR for info, or PM me.

MArk

Hi Mark,

So if i'm right you can buy argentinian insurance at the border in villazon?
If not where can you buy it then?

Thanks Chris

ChrisCross · 12-09-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAXVERT

We're in Santiago Chile, trying to decide if we should head North for Bolivia,
or ride South to Ushuaia first and loop North through Argentina, getting
to Bolivia in March.
How's the weather there now ?

Max

Hi Max,

The weather in Bolivia now is pretty good but it is the raining season right now and i'm not sure how it will be in one or two weeks. They say that the salt lakes should be dry to the end of december but you never no. I would go for Ushuaia and be in Bolivia in March. Ride safe and stay between the lines.

Chris

aussie_explorer · 12-09-2012, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCross

Hi Mark,

So if i'm right you can buy argentinian insurance at the border in villazon?
If not where can you buy it then?

Thanks Chris

I got mine in BsAs through ATM - good for MercoSur & they have a website, it looks like you might be able to get it online. worth a shot...

ChrisCross · 12-09-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie_explorer

I got mine in BsAs through ATM - good for MercoSur & they have a website, it looks like you might be able to get it online. worth a shot...

Do you have the website for me?

Thanks

aussie_explorer · 12-09-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCross

Do you have the website for me?

Thanks

http://www.oaseatm.com.ar/

luciosiq · 12-09-2012, 10:19 AM

March is still very wet.
It should be dry again around May/June.

I'd say, if you want to see the salar still dry, it's better to hurry.
We are going to be there next week.

Have fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCross

Hi Max,

The weather in Bolivia now is pretty good but it is the raining season right now and i'm not sure how it will be in one or two weeks. They say that the salt lakes should be dry to the end of december but you never no. I would go for Ushuaia and be in Bolivia in March. Ride safe and stay between the lines.

Chris

Radioman · 12-11-2012, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCross

Hi Mark,

So if i'm right you can buy argentinian insurance at the border in villazon?
If not where can you buy it then?

Thanks Chris

Chris, I was not able to buy insurance on The Argentinean side of the border. Long story but I ended up buying in Salta at this place and it was good for all the southern countries. But no one has asked for it yet.

Federacion Patronal Suguros SA

Hope that helps.

12-05-2012, 09:48 AM	#1
ChrisCross ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland Oddometer: 10	Road from La Paz to Potosi and Villazon Hi, We want to ride from La Paz, Bolivia, to Potosi and from there to Villazon at the border with Argentina. We are not really good offroad riders and we are wondering how the roads are on that track. We probably want to do it in about 1 week from now. Every information about the roads are welcome. Thanks

12-05-2012, 04:25 PM	#2
Misery Goat Positating the negative Joined: Jun 2003 Location: AZ Oddometer: 73,616	What happened to going to the salar? If you're good offroad riders you should take the southern lagunas route, once you reach Laguna Verde you have the option of staying in Bolivia and working your way back to Tupiza through Quetena (and Uturuncu), San Vicente (Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid town), then on to Villazon. Or from Laguna Verde you can pop down to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) then on to Salta (Arg) via Paso Sico or Paso Jamma. Both these routes offer experiences and scenery you won't get anywhere else in SA. __________________ "So what you gonna do when the novelty is gone.."-- Joy Division Same as it ever was 2010 Latin America Route

12-06-2012, 05:17 PM	#4
Radioman dreaming adventure Joined: Dec 2005 Location: GDay from Australia Oddometer: 4,167	Just rode in Bolivia. You can indeed take pavement from La Paz to Potosi then to the border Villazon on Pavement. We actually rode the Death road, then all gravel in the Yungas (awesome), then down to Salar off road. But connected up from Uyuni to Potosi (all nice pavement) to Sucre and then back down to Villazon. I was asked for Insurance for the Bike as I crossed into Argentina and you cannot get it in the town Lucky when I returned, another Aduana guy was there and did not ask me. Purchased it in Salta. But you might be so lucky. Have some insurance at Argentinean border. But I would say do not miss the Salar, even if you do it is a jeep ride..... See my RR for info, or PM me. MArk __________________ Onto Chapter 3 of my life...... with Faith, Hope and Courage! New thread 5/11/2011 http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...0#post15950430

12-07-2012, 04:27 PM	#6
Misery Goat Positating the negative Joined: Jun 2003 Location: AZ Oddometer: 73,616	Sorry, I misread your first post as saying you are good offroad riders. If you stick to the main jeep routes the southern lagunas route is not too difficult and is well traveled by the jeep tours. The route turns to asphalt once you're in Chile for the descent to San Pedro. __________________ "So what you gonna do when the novelty is gone.."-- Joy Division Same as it ever was 2010 Latin America Route

12-09-2012, 04:26 AM	#8
MAXVERT Rough Rider Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Sun Valley Idaho Oddometer: 838	Weather in Bolivia We're in Santiago Chile, trying to decide if we should head North for Bolivia, or ride South to Ushuaia first and loop North through Argentina, getting to Bolivia in March. How's the weather there now ? Max __________________ Da oggi la strada é senza limiti

12-06-2012, 09:03 AM	#3
kevinmc2000 n00b Joined: Dec 2012 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Oddometer: 2	We are planning a trip over there from argentina next april. Our most recent investigations stated that you can ride 100% paved roads from La Paz to Villazon if you wish. A few miles of an alternative road which leads from Salar de Uyuni to Tupiza are quite rough to ride due to sand pockets, but you can avoid this route if you stay on the main road and ride through Potosi. Hope this helps

12-07-2012, 11:43 AM	#5
ChrisCross ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland Oddometer: 10	We still haven't decide which route we will take but want to know what the options are. The salar sounds great but with not so much experince with off road riding we are not sure yet. We will see. Thanks for the information.

12-08-2012, 07:48 PM	#7
ChrisCross ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland Oddometer: 10	That sound better. We will go to Uyuni anyway to see the salt lakes and then decide what we will do. Is there a proper bordercrossing to Chili or do we have to do some paperwork and immigration in Uyuni. Thats what i have read somewhere. Hope you have some info about that aswell. Also we are wandering if we need some insurance for the bikes in Bolivia. At the border in Copacobanna the asked for insurance but we didn't had it and they said that we had to buy it in La Paz, but i'm not sure if we need it. Hope you have some info about that. Thanks again for the advise.

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