INFO: Border Crossing – Ollague, Chile to Bolivia
TRIP INFO BOX |
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| Route | Ollague, Chile – Uyuni, Bolivia (RN5) |
| Distance | 250Km |
| Travel Time | 3.5 Hours |
| Road Conditions | Gravel, mostly hard pressed |
| Weather | Clear, Cold |
| Terrain | Altiplano, Curvy, Rocky |
| Food and Petrol | Ollague (some hostels & shops), San Cristobal, Uyuni |
| Accommodation | Hosta El Cactu, Uyuni |
We head off early to the border station.
The Chileans check our paperwork, stamp our passports and go about their stuff in a pleasant and helpful way. A kilometre further down the road we check in with the Bolivians. They’re also really tranquilo and pleasant. No hassles, no baggage inspections, no worries. They even ask us how long we’d like a visa for; they give us 3 months but only 2 on the temporary import permit for the bike. They stamp our papers and bid us a good journey. That was easy.
We make the 150Km or so to San Christobal in about 2 hours. The road is dirt but it’s pretty solid. Again the scenery is awesome!
Good thing we got ten litres of fuel in Ollague because the petrol station here hasn’t got any.
The thing to keep in mind around here is that everything is high up! We’re talking average around 4000 metres, so it’s cold!
The bike is powerful and not making any worrying noises, but at 5000+ revolutions, I feel split-second losses of power. Strange. Is this related to the distribution chain? Another problem in development? I’m guessing at fuel filter or carburetor contamination perhaps….
5 Comments
Tim Cheung
Hi 2fortheroad,
I saw your article about border crossing from ollague to bolivia.
I am travelling in Chile and Bolivia at Feb 2015. I am planning to go to Bolivia via Ollague. Do you know what transport can I take from Calama to Ollague border office ?
ebru
Hello Tim,
Sorry about the late reply. I hope you are having fun in Bolivia. I am afraid I don’t know the answer of your question as we travelled by motorbike. I hope you will find a reliable transport from Calama. Safe Travels!
Mikedefieslife
Hi,
Just planning my trip for 2015.
When you say you got 10l of fuel from ollague, was that on the Bolvian side?
I was planning to enter Bolivia further north then camp on the Salar for th 2nd time.
Then head to ollague (Bolivian side) for fuel before riding through the lakes.
If there is no fuel in ollague in Bolivia, I’ll have to cross into Chile and then back again, but I thought they don’t like you carrying fuel across borders.
Ken
Wow! Sorry for not replying in time. So-called “Real Life” sucking up all my time again. Fuel was on the Chile side, at the border.
Mikedefieslife
Arriving at this border tomorrow then planing on taking the western route to the Laguna’s. Hoping the road isn’t badly corrugated.