Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures

BMA did an amazing job… 4 guys, 8 days on a custom highland tour. Great views, twisty roads, the surreal Salar de Uyuni, silver mines in Potosí, amazing meals and decent hotels in beautiful remote small towns in the highlands of Bolivia. Rolando took care of everything, the only thing we had to do was to have a great time riding motorcycles is this beautiful country.

Went on the Highlander 2 tour in Nov 24 with two friends from Australia and had an absolutely fantastic time, and visited some amazing places. About a week before the trip Roland explained that there were currently big problems in Bolivia with petrol and diesel supplies and was willing to refund us if we decided not to go, but said that if we were ok to be flexible then he would put a together a great tour which may or may not be exactly to the original. As it was, there were massive long queues at most petrol stations, but Roland did a fantastic job of somehow getting us to the front of the queues or being able get supplies from "alternative sources" to keep us going. We did have to queue twice for fuel, but only for 45 mins maximum (many of the lorry drivers were waiting for days in queues several km long). On arrival In Samaipata (start point of the riding) Roland gave us a very detailed briefing on riding safetly in Bolivia and the rules of the road (almost none!) and answered any questions we had. The next day we went to his (incredibly tidy) garage/workshop where we were allocated a bike each. We then got to test ride them around his (very large) garden after which he would make any adjustments we needed to customise them to our fit. After this we all went for a short ride to a local landmark which further enabled us to get used to the bikes and the roads. The bikes were Suzuki DR650s which when we got them were immaculately clean and obviously very well maintained and serviced. As we all concluded after a few days, the bikes were perfect for the conditions we encountered - fast enough on the roads, and easy to handle off road. As I said at the beginning, the trip itself was amazing. Bolivia has some amazing roads, scenery and sights. Riding in formation at over 85kph on the largest salt lake in the world was a highlight for me, but there were so many others including the "1000 Llama valley", and going into a Silver mine. Apart from the scenery and sights we got to see and experience how real Bolivians live away from the cities and large towns. The hotels and food are not generally as good as western standards, but that is all part of the experience. Roland assured us that wherever he had selected for us to eat, the food and hygiene was safe for us, and none of us got ill as a result. As it was, our route was not all as the original itinery due to problems getting fuel, but I have absolutely no complaints, we just went to some different amazing places and sights.

We had a great tour, Highlander 1, 15 days in May and June with a mixed European group of 3 riders and my wife in the support vehicle. BMA has been very helpful from the beginning of my contact with Ronaldo, instructions and tour itinerary were clear. Although because of roadblocks and gasoline shortage in the Cochabamba area we had to deviated to a plan B halfway the tour. But BMA managed thru their network of Bolivian acquaintances to get some extra gasoline so we could continue on our journey. BMA made sure we could visit the, for me, highlights of the tour like Potosi, Uyuni and the Altiplano. Ronaldo is a professional guide with a lot of knowledge on the amazing landscape, culture and lokal sites and attractions, where to lunch, have a rest and get some coffee. We also made some smaller detours for some extra scenic photoshoots as I was carrying my cameras with me.. Bikes where well maintained and easy to ride. No technical troubles during the ride, not even a flat tire.. Hotels are as can be expected in the Bolivian country side and better quality in the bigger city's. That's part of the adventure. We had a beautiful ride in a beautiful country with a friendly group of like minded travellers. Thanks for the company Ronaldo and to Yerson in the support vehicle, and T. and P. as fellow riders. We would do it any time again! Best wishes.. H&A

I recently rode the 17 day Bolivia wild wild west tour with Roland (owner/guide) and Yerson (his mechanic/chase truck driver). The bikes all looked like new and were meticulously maintained low mile DRZ 650's (until one of the guys on our tour crashed one!) and the chase truck was very well stocked with parts, tubes, new tires, and medical supplies. Roland previously worked in the medical field as a nurse and was always very attentative to small details like where to eat without getting sick and our blood oxygen levels that we monitored daily since we were riding at elevations over 18;000 feet. He had a very comprehensive emergency medical kit and the field training to use it. This was Comforting because Bolivia truly is a remote country. The riding is appropriate for intermediate level riders who are looking to vacation, sight see and ride at the same time. There were no extreme technical hard enduro sections just fun scenic dirt. Some of they locations we visited were truly spectacular and you would never find on your own: Dinosaur Brontasaurus tracks, The Alien Hatchery (rocks that look like giant eggs), ghost towns, crawling inside silver mines...etc. The trip was a good value for the money. Food and accommodations were great considering where we were on the planet, and the scenery was amazing. I would consider the riding on the light easy side but I spent my life as an offroad/motocross racer.. At this point I've ridden in almost every country in Central and South America. Bolivia posts many challenges to ride on your own like simply buying gasoline. They won't sell it to bikes without a Bolivian liscence plate.. Roland actually siphoned gas from his tank three different times to help out foreign Adventure bike riders at gas stations that could not buy gas. This tour is a great option to see Bolivia.

4 of us just completed the Highlander 2 tour from 12 November to 2 December 2024. Roland the tour guide advised us that the current political situation with road blocks and fuel shortages would make for a challenging ride and we needed to be flexible in our itinerary. We were all up for the challenge and away we went. From our first day we enjoyed the off road and road riding through some of the most amazing mountain roads in Bolivia. Roland speaks several languages, knows everyone and has a great knowledge of the history and Bolivian way of life. His knowledge and recommendations of where to eat and where to get a good coffee proved invaluable. His organisation skills and planning the trip was put to the test due to fuel shortages....Roland never failed to impress...just like a magician he made the impossible look easy. We all had a fantastic time with Roland and we got special treatment right until the very last evening in Santa Cruz. I would highly recommend Bolivia Motorcycle Adventures as the best way to see Bolivia. The Suzuki DR650's are reliable and well maintained by Roland and his helpful mechanic Yerson. Both love munching on the coca leaf and making " bollo"...a local tradition enjoyed by many. When you see someone with a swollen cheek...they are enjoying the "bollo". A great cultural experience filled with fun and some of the best motorcycle roads in the world with no sign of any police anywhere to ruin your fun. Bolivia is motorcycle heaven...high in the clouds enjoying motorcycling at it's finest. Just do it and enjoy it!