Description
Quite deservedly, this mountain bike ride is our most popular and World famous. Featured in more than 60 magazine and newspaper articles, (as well as six television shows and on the lips and Blogs of almost every backpacker and adventure traveler in South America), this ride is not only famous, but so is GRAVITY!
Notable Highlights:
Incredible scenic variety and a spectacular descent of more than 3,600m/11,800 feet, from snow-covered high-altitude plains and mountain ranges down to the steaming Amazonian Jungle. Part of the ride is on the dramatic and scenic "World's Most Dangerous Road," dubbed such by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995.
64kms (40 miles) of downhill riding with only a few small uphills and a couple of flat bits!
After the ride relax at La Senda Verde Cabins and Animal Refuge, complete with rescued monkeys, parrots, a snake, and much more.
Stay a night or three at La Senda Verde (camping or in cabins), enjoy the swimming pool and the river, return with us to La Paz the same day, or we can arrange to take you up to the quiet, sub-tropical jungle town of Coroico where you can find a wide variety of hotel accommodation. Continue from Coroico to Rurrenabaque and the Amazon Jungle, or return at your leisure to La Paz.
Suitable for:
Confident beginners to experts, average fitness and above, and in particular, those looking for a long, world-class, downhill mountain bike ride.
Description:
We begin the ride at wind-swept La Cumbre (4,700m/15,400 feet) where you'll see fantastic views of a number of snow-covered peaks, including Huayna Potosí (6,088m/19,973 feet). From here we descend rapidly down a twisting asphalted road among mountain peaks, grazing llamas and alpacas, tiny villages and a drug check-post (?!). We stop for refreshments, photos, and rests along the way -- all the better to give us time to take in the scenery: towering cliff faces, dramatic drops and ever greener vegetation... while preparing ourselves for the next breath-taking section.
"GRAVITY =
QUALITY +
FUN +
GR8 GUIDES!!",
Female, South Africa, Age 23, June 2006.
After a snack we descend further, and after a brief undulating section of road we enter the jungle itself and the most challenging part of the ride. This infamous narrow dirt road is cut precariously into the side of the mountain and descends 2,000m (6,500 feet). With 1,000m+ (3,300 feet) sheer drops off to our left and hulking rock overhangs and cascading waterfalls to our right, we ride through mist, low cloud and dust. With your positive attitude and our expert instruction, coaching and supervision you can safely enjoy some of South America's most dramatic and beautiful scenery as you hurtle down the road. (Note that since March 2007 the majority of traffic has stopped driving down the WMDR, and now drives down the new road ... leaving the road for us to enjoy without battling very many trucks, buses and cars!)
As we near the end of the ride it gets progressively hotter and dustier. By the time you arrive at the bottom in Yolosa (1,100m/3,600 feet) you will be tired, hot, dirty and exhilarated. Just below the village of Yolosa we ride down to La Senda Verde Animal Refuge -- where we enjoy a late pasta and salad buffet lunch, take in the magnificent scenery, spend time relaxing by the pool, enjoying a cold drink and getting to know the rescued animals. Note: We can offer you the option of overnighting at La Senda or up in Coroico rather than returning to La Paz the day of the ride, in which case we'll deliver you and your backpack to the town square of Coroico. Many people take this option and then take a bus the next day from Coroico to Rurrenabaque and the Bolivian Amazon Jungle.
Total Time Required: Start in La Paz at 7:30 am, drive to La Cumbre 1 hour, riding time 4-5 hours, rest and relax at La Senda Verde Cabins and Animal Refuge for a couple of hours, then 3-4 hour drive back to La Paz, for a return time of around 8-10pm. Those staying in Coroico should be in the town square around 4-5pm.
Approximate Riding Time: 4-5 hours
Approximate Downhill: 90% (one section contains a few small uphills).