Ollague to Uyuni

Ollague – Estacion Avaroa – San Juan – Julaca – Rio Grande – via railway and Vinto – Uyuni


The most direct route from Ollague to Uyuni, following the railway line rather than the road from Rio Grande to Uyuni. This part is excellent fun, cycling on motorbike tracks without a jeep or train in sight. There is virtually no climbing to do on the whole route and as there are some villages on the way it is not necessary to carry a large amount of supplies.

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Total dist. Stage dist. Description
0km Ollague (3,710m). Village with 6 guesthouses (many of which are occupied full time by miners), 2 free internet places and a couple of shops.
5km Old paving on the Chilean side, then ripio to Estacion Avaroa.
5km Estacion Avaroa. Immigration, water, but no other facilities. Leave on the smaller road heading north of east, not on the main road which heads south of east and goes via Villa Alota to Uyuni.
29km Once you reach the Salar de Chiguana the surface becomes hard, flat and fast.
34km Chiguana (GPS01). Small military post. Water but no food.
37km Good surface to San Juan.
71km San Juan (GPS02). Large village with a number of hospedajes and shops. Leave San Juan on the main road heading northeast.
11km Surface has some washboard.
82km Junction. Go straight for Julaca, (signpost says L (north) for Colcha K).
14km Good road on salar to Julaca.
96km Julaca (GPS03). Once big railway village, but now mostly abandoned. Possible to find water.
33km Road ok.
129km Rio Grande (GPS04). Large village with plenty of shops, and accommodation. From Rio Grande there are a number of options. We chose the most direct way to Uyuni along the railway lines at the north end of town. The main road goes southeast and loops to Uyuni.
14 km Sticking to the motorbike tracks next to (on the south side initially) of the railway line cycle on a good hard surface to reach the bridge.
143km Bridge over Rio Grande (GPS05). Sleepers are awkwardly spaced so it takes a few minutes to cross – make sure there is no train coming before you start!
18km Continue along railway line.
161km Junction (GPS06) where motorbike track/small car track meets main road into Vinto.
2km Head to Vinto.
163km Vinto (GPS07). Small village, but we managed to find basic accommodation in a room on the plaza – ask around. The toilet is anywhere in the outskirts of town. Water, but no shop.
32km Continue following railway tracks (on jeep tracks now to the north of the line) to Uyuni. Just before reaching the outskirts of Uyuni you come to the train cemetery.
195km Uyuni (3,650m). Tourist town with all facilities, including ATM.
Details
Time taken – 2 ½ days and amount climbed – 550m 4 hours: Ollague to San Juan (tailwind).
6 hours: San Juan to Vinto (tailwind).
3 hours: Vinto to Uyuni (headwind).
Traffic Some vehicles from Ollague to Rio Grande. Nothing from Rio Grande to Vinto. A few vehicles from Vinto to Uyuni.
When we cycled Mid July 2010.
Difficulty 2
How much we had to push on this route Only crossing the railway bridge.

GPS Point Description Lat/Long/Altitude
GPS01 Chiguana 21.0590 S, 67.9695 W.
GPS02 San Juan 20.9000 S, 67.7670 W, 3,700m.
GPS03 Julaca 20.9128 S, 67.5675 W
GPS04 Rio Grande 20.8228 S, 67.2975 W
GPS05 Bridge 20.7686 S, 67.1765 W
GPS06 Junction 20.6914 S, 67.0381 W
GPS07 Vinto 20,6819 S, 67.0266 W, 3,670m.



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Nearby routes:        Sur Lipez Lagunas                 Salar de Uyuni & Salar de Coipasa

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