Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, & Perú... "Salar de Uyuni Tour"
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In this stunning nineteen day tour, find yourself exploring four South American countries from the back of a BMW motorcycle! The vast, wide open salt flats in Uyuni are the perfect terrain for a motorcycle adventure - and you'll also get a taste for some of the best winding mountain roads in the Andes. Experience unique cultures and cuisines. If you've always wanted a taste of South America, this tour is a dream-come-true!
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Ride across the salt flats of Uyuni, the ancient Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, Humahuaca, and the mountains and volcanos of the Andes. This is the perfect tour for adventurous riders!
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Tour Details
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Location:
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Santiago, Chile (SCLMO4)
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Terrain:
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Paved roads, gravel roads, and dirt roads
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Duration:
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15 days (incl. arrival and departure)
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Riding days:
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11+ days
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Route length:
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Approximately 4,000 km (2,486 miles)
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Motorcycles:
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BMW F650GS (2008)
BMW F650 two cylinder (2008)
BMW F650X country (2009)
BMW R1200GS (2008)
BMW R1200GS Adventure (2008)
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Group riding:
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Required
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Group size:
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Maximum 8 riders per group
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Accommodations:
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Comfortable three-star and four-star hotels.
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Highlights:
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Uyuni Salt Flats, Northern Chile, Humahuaca in Argentina, La Paz, Colca Canyon, Nazca Lines, Uros Island, volcanos, Andes
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Tour Dates
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This tour is available year-round, at your convenience!
Contact us with the dates that interest you!
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Tour Price (maximum 8 riders)
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PER RIDER
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Rider on a BMW F650GS (2008)
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$6685
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Rider on a BMW F650X country (2009)
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$6905
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Rider on a BMW F650GS two cylinder (2008)
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$7430
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Rider on a BMW R1200GS (2008)
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$8008
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Rider on a BMW R1200GS Adventure (2008)
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$8344
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Passenger
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$3073
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Single room supplement
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$788
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 Itinerary
Day 1:
Santiago - Antofagasta
We will see a variety of desert landscapes, ranging from the lonely salt flats, called "salares", to the splendid "flowering desert", which blooms during the months of September and October.
Day 2:
Antofagasta - Ollague
(210km/130mi paved, 200km/124mi gravel)
We will travel to Ollague, a beautiful road ascending to a height of 3,500 meters (11,483 ft). We will sleep in a very simple place beyond the quechuas.
Day 3:
Ollague - Uyuni
(250km/155mi gravel)
We will travel to Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt flat in the world! Located in southeast Bolivia, at an altitude of 3,653 meters (11,984 ft), the enormous salt flat covers an area of 10,582 km², like a static sea touched by the southern winds. This semi-desert region includes volcanic lands and natural resources of extraordinary beauty, all united by a surprising characteristic: the color. The Uyuni Salt Flat and Heavenly Lake, Yellow Lake, Green Lake, and Red Lake (so named because of the existence of different types of algae) exemplify how colorful this region is.
Day 4:
Uyuni
Like any other desert, the weather conditions in Uyuni, Bolivia, are extreme, from freezing night temperatures to fierce desert sun. In the Salar itself, you can find several hotels which have been made from salt bricks, including beds, chairs, and cocktail bars. Everything is made of salt! Salar de Uyuni also has impressive views. Visitors can admire a flat whiteness, fringed by peaks of mountains on the horizon beneath a bright blue sky. The silence and tranquility is captivating. As in many parts of South America, this developing are has little to offer in terms of commodity. However, if you have an adventurous spirit, you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this fantastic region.
Day 5:
Uyuni - Potosí
(250km/155mi)
In 1553, the city of Potosí - capital of the department of the same name in southwest Bolivia - received the title of imperial city on behalf of Carlos V, King of Spain. At that time in history, it was difficult to forsee the decline of the splendid mining village - yet these days, only a few gleams of its splendid past can be seen. Potosí's silent and solitary streets, old houses, and narrow sidewalks are the first thing you'll notice. Even more, the image of the Cerro Rico mountain dominates the highland; even now, dozens of miners get lost in its tunnels and mine entrances. But there are no longer deliriums of silver in this old imperial village, which in 1987 was declared a Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Day 6:
Potosí
During colonial times, the silver extraction in the Cerro Rico mountain of Potosí transformed this city into the biggest in the Americas, with more than 160,000 inhabitants; then, everything was opulent - exquisite churches and elegant mansions were built by famous architects and artists. People say that with the silver extracted from the Cerro Rico or Sumaj Orcko mountains, it could have been possible to build a gigantic bridge to connect Potosí with Madrid! As glittering as it would have been, people also note that the same bridge could have been made with the bodies of the enslaved indians who died in the tunnels to extract that silver. This area remains rich in history and stories.
Day 7:
Potosí - Cochabamba
(420km/260mi paved, 100km/62mi gravel)
Considered the capital of the valleys of Bolivia, Cochabamba is in a fertile and productive area at an altitude of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). The city, surrounded by fields of crops and valuable remnants from the pre-Incan era, conserves its colonial semblance and the customs it inherited from its Quechua and Aymara ancestors. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the valley of Cochabamba (from the Quechua term, cocha=lagoon, pampas=plain), was inhabited by primitive cultures that later fell under the domain of the Collas. Then, the sons of the Sun extended their golden empire to include these rich lands, formerly of the Collasuyo region.
Day 8:
Cochabamba - Santa Cruz
(420km/260mi paved)
Today we will travel to Santa Cruz.
Day 9:
Santa Cruz
In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, you will have plenty to do! If you decide to stay in the urban area, then you have multiple choices to have a great time. If you want to relax, you can visit the Cabins of Piraí. If you wish to discover some of the mysteries of the forest and the ancient cultures, then visit some of the Jesuit missions located close to the city, or the sanctuary of Cotoca, to which thousands of crucinos arrive in pilgrimage. Another interesting option is a visit to the pre-Incas ruins of Saimapata.
Day 10:
Santa Cruz - Cochabamba
We'll ride back to Cochabamba, the capital of flowers. Enjoy the hotels and the fine food in the heart of Bolivia! There is also a wide variety of places of cultural interest near the city for those who wish to explore.
Day 11
Cochabamba - La Paz
(440km/273mi paved)
We will cross to the main city of Bolivia, La Paz. The city of La Paz, founded in 1548, has many tourist attractions, like churches, museums, and open air markets for the traveler. The colonial architecture from the late 1500s has been beautifully preserved in buildings like the church of San Francisco, and in many buildings on Jaen Street. La Paz is also rich in history and museums - such as the home of Pedro Murilla, a hero of Bolivian independence; and the Gold Museum, which contains gold items from the pre-Columbian cultures. Two other fine examples of colonial architecture are the Art Museum and the recently remodeled Tambo Quirquincho, featuring very important national art collections.
Day 12:
La Paz - Yungas
We make sure to wind the tour through this beautiful region because of the amazing changes in nature and weather. Whereas the tour begins in a mountainous area, today we'll move through a semi-tropical area known as Yungas. We'll ride along the Death Road, known as the world's most dangerous road - so be prepared for an adventure!
Day 13:
Yungas - Lake Titicaca
(250km/155mi paved)
Lake Titicaca, the source of life, myths, and legends, is located in the highlands of Bolivia and Perú, becoming a natural border between the two countries. In the Bolivian area, the islands of El Sol, Suriki, and Kalahuta are rural but fascinating places, in which the features of the old Andean cultures can still be perceived. But the island villages of raft weavers and expert fishermen are not the only attractions. Near the lake, you can explore the bucolic town of Copacabana (in the department of La Paz), home of the miraculous Virgen Morena. The image - venerated by the whole highland - was carved by a descendant of the Inca.
Day 14:
Lake Titicaca - Arica
(500km/310mi paved)
On this day, we will ride to our end location, Arica. Due to its geographic location as the northernmost city in the country, Arica is the first or the last city in Chile - depending on your point of view! In addition to being a typical border city (it sits on the border of Bolivia and Peru), Arica is one of the most beautiful cities in the region. The climate and feel of Arica combines the roughness of the Pacific Ocean, the aridity of the desert, and the majestic traits of the antiplano. With 180,000 permanent inhabitants, Arica welcomes many tourists from Peru and Bolivia during the summer months.
Day 15:
Flight to Santiago de Chile.
Note: We reserve the right to make changes.
 Ready to ride? Book here
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Terrain: twisty narrow paved and dirt backroads with tight switchbacks