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We will leave La Paz and go south toward Oruro. After about 125 miles at a constant altitude of about 13,100 ft., through which we’ll be able to admire the surprising landscapes of the Altiplano, the adobe (dry soil) village houses, the herds of sheep and the small towns bordering this very important main road which has to be passed in order to get just about anwhere in the country. After 125 miles, we will turn left at Caracollo and head to the east toward Cochabamba. We will then cross the Royal Cordillera. The winding ascent will take us to about 16,500 ft. (you will feel cold!), after which we will start a vertiginous yet beautiful descent toward the city of Cochabamba, the third largest city in Bolivia, located at just over 8000 ft. Its climate, landscapes and the sweetness of the air you breathe (finally!) will remind you of the Mediterranean shores. Dinner and accommodations in Cochabamba.
We will leave Cochabamba on an a road which is asphalted almost all the way to Villa Tunari. After leaving Cochabamba, we will start a winding ascent through which we will part from the Andean Cordillera and start our descent toward the region of the Chapare, stronghold of the Bolivian coca leaf, located at about 190 ft. Lunch in Villa Tunari, after which we will visit the natural parks, among the toucans and the funny and curious monkeys (careful with your pockets…).
Located in the heart of an agricultural and industrial zone, Santa Cruz is a very modern and dynamic city. Its population is very different from the one you find in the Altiplano, due to its spirit, culture, origins and behaviour, attributed to the influence of the climate.
From Santa Cruz second city and economic capital of Bolivia, we will cover 340 miles that will lead us to Trinidad, capital of Beni, the heart of the tropical region of the country. The road is asphalted and very good, except for a few spots. It will enable us to admire the sumptuous landscapes and the amazing colours of the Bolivian Amazon. Dinner and accommodations in Trinidad.
No rocks in this region! Only sand, more sand and yet more sand. The road is asphalted for only the first 20 miles. Then we alternate from a good heavy trail to long portions of more or less heavy sand (up to several tens of miles). We will cross great savannas and some rivers. Although very weakly populated, it is an important region for cattle breeding. We will see herds of hundreds to thousands of heads of cattle. With a little luck, we may even find some wild animals on the way (monkeys, parrots, tapirs, anacondas, etc.). At Bella Vista, we will stay at Tucunare, in a hotel owned by a fellow Frenchman, Claude, who has settled in this village next to the Rio Blanco. A truly isolated spot, where the telephone and electricity only work sporadically. One of the rare places in the world free from the damaging effects of globalization, and where we can admire an exceptional richness of fauna and flora. Dinner and accommodations in Bella Vista.
We leave the vehicle to rest on this incredible day where we will discover nature that is exuberant, invasive and troubling considering its thick and luxuriant vegetation, as well as the animals that it hides from the underground to the top of the trees and the tumultuous waters of its rivers. Some examples: carnivorous ants, monkeys, panthers, anacondas, giant spiders, caimans, parrots, piranhas and pink dolphins. Many excursions are possible in Bella Vista: You can leave early in the morning on a motor boat and fish lunch, which will consist of piranhas and other local varieties of fish. It is also possible to take long rides on horseback or on foot in the forest accompanied by a local guide so as not to get lost and to avoid any traps. Dinner and accommodations in Bella Vista.
You’ve seen so much, and yet, not enough – there were still so many things to see! You won’t be deceived , we’ll go back to the river and the forest in a true osmosis with this garden of Eden as you had never imagined could exist. Long walks and relaxation on this day of an unforgettable holiday. It won’t take long to rewind your film: “What, 36 pictures already?”
Sand, savanna, a little bit of forest, a river crossing on a small ferry or by pushing the motorcycles… It is also possible we will find mud for several miles. Santa Ana is one of the old centres of Bolivia’s drug traffic, which today remains as a big forgotten village that lives mainly on cattle breeding. Dinner and accommodations in Santa Ana.
Same type of trail – a succession of savanna and forests. Same vegetation and fauna as the day before. A stop for lunch at San Ignacio de Moxos, land of the Chiman Indians, toward other sensations, with the Andes in the horizon. Dinner and accommodations in San Borja.
We will progressively leave the Amazonian forest to slowly approach the foothills of the Andes, the Yungas. We are still in the Amazonian region with its warm and humid climate, its luxuriant vegetation and wild fauna, but the ground begins to change – a little less sand, but rocks begin to appear. During the last 60 miles, the first uphill curves begin.
Hot and cold temperature guaranteed throughout this spectacular last day. We depart at a low altitude with a warm and humid climate to reach a peak altitude at the Cumbre of 15,500 ft. (with suffering motors) located at about 20 miles from La Paz, before descending toward the southern part of the city at about 11,500 ft.! We will stop for lunch half way there in Coroico at 5500ft. a small restful town, very popular among Paceños on week ends. We will then start the ascent toward La Paz by the road known as “the death route” for the danger it represents due to its narrowness, its incredible chasms, to the traffic of trucks and buses that use it, to the very particular traffic rules that people use, all of which explain the number of fatal accidents that take place there every year. This very spectacular road does not represent any technical difficulty, but demands extreme caution and ability to anticipate any problems. VTT amateurs all over the world use it to go down at top speed. Shivers are guaranteed. The last 30 miles to La Paz are asphalted. Upon arrival we end the journey around a friendly glass of wine. |
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