Why this ride
304 km from La Paz to the finish, about 5 h 30 of riding. The stops in between: Patacamaya and Sajama. The highest point is about 4,700 m. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Bolivia Sajama Route
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 304 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 30
- Journey
- One way; return travel is separate
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Scenic road chapters
Bolivia Sajama Route
Expect company on a summer weekend. Early is better than fast. For 64 km this is Bolivia Sajama Route, a road with a name of its own and a reason for it.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 64 km
- Named road
- Bolivia Sajama Route
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. La Paz
La Paz sits in a canyon, and that is the first strange thing about it. The city is the seat of Bolivia's government, and it lies at around three thousand six hundred metres, with the poorer and larger city of El Alto perched on the rim above at over four thousand. From the rim you look down into a bowl of red-brown buildings spilling down the slopes, with the great snowy peak of Illimani, over six thousand four hundred metres, standing over the southern edge like a guardian. The air is thin, so arrive early, rest a day and drink coca tea, which locals swear by and which really does help a little.
Read the complete La Paz write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
La Paz is where the day begins. Next is Patacamaya.
2. Patacamaya
Patacamaya is a market town on the altiplano, the high plain of Bolivia, at around 3,800 metres on the main road between La Paz and Oruro. It is not a pretty place, and that is part of its character: a straggle of concrete and adobe buildings along the highway, with lorries, minibuses and food stalls clustered at the junction. For motorcyclists it matters because of that junction. Here the road to Chile turns west toward the border at Tambo Quemado and the great volcano Sajama, and anyone heading for that route passes through, with a need for fuel, a meal and a rest.
Read the complete Patacamaya write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Patacamaya comes up 183 km in. Next is Sajama.
3. Sajama
Sajama rises alone from the Altiplano, a perfect volcanic cone of 6,542 metres, the highest peak in Bolivia, and the national park that surrounds it, created in 1939, was the first in the country. The mountain stands in the west, near the border with Chile, in a flat, high, windswept country of yellow grass, with twin snowy peaks of Parinacota and Pomerape, on the Chilean side, standing as neighbours. Seen from the road in the clear, thin light, it seems close enough to touch and takes hours to reach.
Read the complete Sajama write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
365 km in you reach Sajama. Next is Tambo Quemado.
4. Tambo Quemado
Tambo Quemado is a border post on a road that runs across the roof of the Andes, and it is more a place you pass through than a place you visit. It sits at about 4,600 metres on the frontier between Bolivia and Chile, on the highway that links La Paz with the Pacific port of Arica. On the Chilean side the post is called Chungará, named after the nearby lake, and the customs sheds, trucks and little food stalls make up most of the scene. The air is thin and cold, and the wind blows constantly.
Read the complete Tambo Quemado write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tambo Quemado closes the day.
Leg by leg
La Paz to Patacamaya
La Paz → Patacamaya is 183 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Patacamaya to Sajama
Patacamaya → Sajama is 301 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Sajama to Tambo Quemado
Sajama → Tambo Quemado is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.