FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Pick-up and return of the bikes is at Novō HQ in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which is the main hub for international flights (airport code = VVI). For rentals, we can arrange drop-off in La Paz for an additional fee of $250/bike.

To secure the booking, if you are paying in cash, we just ask for proof of purchase of the flights to/from Bolivia for each rider. Alternatively, we can secure the booking with a 10% non-refundable deposit (payable to a UK bank account). 

The bikes have a 15 litre fuel tank and we can also supply you with up to 20 litres of capacity in side and tail mounted tanks. They also have a large waterproof tail back and side panniers, both soft luggage, giving you 90 litres of luggage capacity. We will also supply you with well-thought-out tool and spares kit. 

Absolutely! Many of our riders do just that.

Yep! You can view our contract, along with other paperwork you will need to complete when you begin your tour/rental, here:

• Novō Adventures Rental Contract

Our guided tours are led by an experienced English-speaking tour guide who takes care of the bikes, books hotels and restaurants, and helps you to get the most out of your Bolivia experience. His job is to ensure you can relax and enjoy the journey!

The local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB). Credit card payments are less common in Bolivia than in much of the world, so we recommend that you bring cash (USD) with you, which you can exchange at the beginning of the trip and later in larger cities.

Each route is different but most are primarily tarmac with sections on dirt and gravel roads, some of which are of medium difficulty.

We understand that sometimes unexpected things happen and you may no longer be able to go on the trip you’ve booked. In this instance, your options are:

• Defer your deposit to a future trip
• Apply for a partial refund

Our policy for returning deposits is as follows:

• Cancellation more than 120 days before Day 1 of the trip = refund of 75% deposit
• Cancellation more than 90 days before Day 1 of the trip = refund of 50% deposit.
• Cancellation less than 90 days before Day 1 of the trip = no refund

Drinking tap water in Bolivia is not safe outside of Santa Cruz. Tap water is only recommended for showering and washing hands. To avoid health problems, only drink bottled water and use it for brushing your teeth as well. By following general health and hygiene rules, the chances of getting sick are very small.

Yes, it is included in the price and the group leaders will take care of it.

From time to time Bolivia faces fuel shortages. We do our best to avoid being impacted by carrying spare fuel with us and sourcing fuel, even during shortages, from local resellers. It is possible that we have to make adjustments to our plans due to fuel supply issues but we haven’t had to do so yet!

We cannot provide official information regarding vaccinations because of the specific medical history, physical condition, and other factors of each traveler determine the necessary vaccinations.

• Yellow Fever – please take special notice of sections pertaining to proof of yellow fever vaccination.
• Malaria – while there is a low-risk of malaria in some areas, infection is extremely rare.

For up to date information on health and vaccinations, please consult Travel Health Pro

 For up to date information on visa requirements, please go to: Bolivia Hop

If we have 4 riders or more, we’ll take our support truck.

If we have 3 riders or less, we run tours without a support truck. We find this gives greater flexibility and sense of freedom and we are able to carry all essential tools and spares with us, as well as having a good network of friendly local mechanics across the country. We will supply you with a large waterproof tail back and side panniers, giving you 90 litres of luggage capacity. We can securely store any additional luggage at our shop in Santa Cruz.

We recommend using an altitude sickness prevention medication (e.g. Acetazolamide) in preparation for the higher altitudes we will experience in places such as Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni and La Paz.

Once symptoms of altitude sickness set-in it can be too late to treat them without hospitalization. As such, we recommend taking medication to prevent the onset of symptoms from the beginning of your tour in Santa Cruz.

Our tours run with a maximum of 10 riders, including the guide.

Yep! You need to have a motorcycle driving license valid for a 500cc motorbike (at least).

Please ensure you always carry your ID and motorcycle license with you on the trip. We recommend having a photo of your passport, ID, and license on your phone in case of loss.

The motorcycles have insurance coverage for third-party liability and is fully licensed to operate on Bolivian roads. 

We operate with three Damage Protection plans:

1) No Protection – $0/day. Renter is responsible for the full cost of any damage, loss, or theft of the motorcycle.

2) Standard Protection – $15/day. Renter’s responsibility is limited to $2,000 if the motorcycle is damaged, stolen or totalled.

3) Premium Protection – $20/day. Renter’s responsibility is limited to $1,000 if the motorcycle is damaged, stolen or totalled.

Protection Plans will be null and void and the Renter will be liable for all expenses if loss or damages are caused by riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Absolutely! We ask each client to purchase their own private travel/medical insurance covering motorcycle usage, before the start of the tour. We also ask for contact details of a family member or friend in case of an incident.

Our motorcycles are inspected to the highest standard before the start of every tour. While on the trip, every day we carefully check for any possible problems to ensure the motorcycles are safe to ride for the next leg of the trip.

On every trip, we come equipped with two first aid kits – one in the support truck and one carried on the guide bike. We maintain a strict formation so that the guide is always at the front of the group and the support truck is always behind, ensuring staff are ready on either side of the group to aid when needed.

The support truck always has at least one passenger seat available, as well as the ability to carry a motorcycle in the unlikely event a rider is injured or is no longer able to ride that day.

We aim to stay in the best available accommodation in each location. In some places this is 4-star modern hotels. In others, authentic guest houses in the countryside, including (depending on your route) a hotel in the old telegraph house, where Che Guevara surrendered. There be one night on your trip where the only options is a simple, small-town hotel.

If we tour with the support truck, all your luggage will be transported for you. However, if you want to carry a few odds & ends on your bike, we can provide bungee straps as required. We do not allow the use of tank bags, as they tend to scratch up the motorcycle tanks.

If we tour with just the bikes, we will give you large waterproof tail back and side panniers, both soft luggage, giving you 90 litres of luggage capacity. Any luggage you don’t want to take on the tour can be stored securely at our HQ in Santa Cruz.

Unfortunately, we’re not able to rent riding gear – though we do have a few items we can lend to you in the event of your luggage getting lost!

As an absolute minimum, you will need to bring your own helmet (preferably ECE rated). We strongly recommend you also bring the following: riding boots (preferably with ankle & shin protection), riding gloves, reinforced jeans or riding trousers, and a motorcycle jacket. This is to ensure your safety throughout the tour.

In addition, it’s worth knowing that our trips cover a massive variety of terrains and climates, so having waterproof gear, warm layers, and the ability to strip down into breathable layers will be very beneficial.

Bolivia is a challenging country to traverse by motorcycle, but don’t let that put you off! We have had people with very little motorcycle experience come and successfully do tours and we feel confident our tours can be done and enjoyed by riders of all skill levels.

The Royal Enfield Himalayans are a great bike for both beginners and experienced riders, as they sit fairly low and have great stability, as well as a smaller engine that won’t run away from you with an accidental twist of the throttle.