Dates: 11th January to 9th of February 2009.

Duration: 30 days

Distance: 2.700 km. (1.500 km gravel road).

Description: A trip down Patagonia from Bariloche to Ushuaia. Cycling through the most spectacular places in Argentina and Chile. With this tour you can cover the diverse scenarios of one of the most enchanting places in the world. With you mountain bike the connection with nature is straight forward and the feeling is unique!

Places: Nahuel Huapi National park Los Alerces Nat. park. Esquel and Trevelin. Patagonian desert (Route 40) and the incredible steppe.Lake Cardiel. Cave painting Cueva de las Manos, El Chalten and Laguna del Desierto. El Calafate and the "Los Glaciares"National Park (Glacier Perito Moreno), Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales (Chile). We cycle along the Magallanes strait and cross at "Primera Angostura". Tierra del Fuego: Rio Grande and Tolhuin. Lake Fagnano and Escondido. Ushuaia, Glacier Lemartine, La Pataia Bay.

Difficulty: Approx.. 2400 km of the total 2700kms are on bicycle. Some parts will be done with our support vehicle. The distance has been divided into 21 days of cycling, with 4 to 5 days for walks and rest. The daily biking rate is approx.. 6 hs at 17 km/h

Group size: minimum 8 people. Registration should be confirmed two months in advance otherwise a 15% will be added to the price.

Click here for a Patagonia map



Program and itinerary:

Day 1: Bariloche:
We meet in Bariloche and get ready all our gear and bikes.
Lodging: hostel


Day 2 to 7: section Bariloche to Perito Moreno
Departure to Esquel, past El Bolson and Los Alerces national park heading south towards the town of Perito Moreno on the legendary route 40
Lodging: camping


Day 8 to 10: Trekking: Cueva de Las Manos.
Trekking to the "Cueva de Las Manos" cave paintings along the Pinturas river. This is the most important cave painting site in whole Patagonia, worldwide known by its quality and uniqueness. Here we have a leisure day
Lodging: camping.

Day 11 and 12 - estancia La Siberia by Cardiel lake:
Returning to Route 40 we continue heading south to Cardiel lake.
Lodging: camping


Day 13 to 15: Laguna del Desierto - El Chaltén:
This detour is done with our support vehicle.


Day 16: El Chaltén to Calafate
In El Calafate we take our longest break, leisure day.
Lodging: hotel or cabins.




Day 17 - El Calafate:
Leisure day in El Calafate.
Lodging: hotel or cabins.



Day 18 - Perito Moreno glacier:
We take the excursion by bus to the los Glaciares national park to Moreno glacier returning in the afternoon to El Calafate around 5 o' clock.
Lodging: hotel or cabins.



Day 19 - Tapi Aike :
We continue bike riding toward West to the surrounding area of Tapi Aike. 13 km before we stop and set up our camping site.
Daily biking ride: 150 km (90 km paved road) approx. 8,5 hours.
Lodging: camping



Day 20 - Cerro Castillo:
We enter Chile in a nearby area to Paine towers National Park.
Daily biking ride: 69 km (40 km paved road) approx. 5 hours
Lodging: camping


Day 21 - Puerto Natales:
We arrive at noon to Puerto Natales in Chile.
Daily biking ride: 65 km (30 km on paved road) approx. 3,5 hours
Lodging: in cabins with privilaged location at sea side, for two nights



Day 22- Puerto Natales:
We take a day off to rest with optional tours on your own: visit Paine towers national park, take a boat to the glaciers or take a horseback ride at nearby area, or a stroll in the town area.



Day 23 - Río Verde (estancia - ranch at sea side):
we start with a mountain biking leg of 100 km, on paved road (with very likely strong wind from the West on our back), the we have a section on our support vehicle ( 50 km), ending mountain biking for about 27 km (gravel road),
Daily biking ride:127 km (paved road with strong wind and gravel road 27 km)
approx. 6 hours
Lodging: cabins



Day 24 - Punta Arenas:
We continue mountain biking for about 47 km on a gravel road by the ocean front side (great landscape), the last leg on paved road heading south to Punta Arenas one of the most important cities in south Chile with important harbor and commercial center.
Daily biking ride: 96 km (49 km on paved road) 4,5 hours approx.
Lodging: hostel in Punta Arenas



Day 25 - Inútil bay (camp site on Magallean strait sea side):
After crossing the Magallanes strait on boat (2h 40m) we arrive to Porvenir town on Tierra del Fuego. We continue mountain biking after noon. We ride along the Magallanes strait with amazing views
to Porvenir. We ride on gravel road with strong wind.
Daily biking ride: 85 km gravel road. Approx. 6 hours
Lodging: Camping by sea side



Day 26 - Rio Grande - Argentina:
We cross the boarder into Argentina through the San Sebastian pass. Most of our biking tour in Tierra del Fuego rides close to the river Rio Grande, always with the southern sea next to us probably with wind helping us.
Daily biking ride: 159 km (84 km paved road) approx. 6,5 hours.
Lodging: hotel



Day 27 - Tolhuin:
We head South with crossed winds and some parts helping us from behind near Tolhuin we set our camp site on the shore of lake Fagnano.
Daily biking ride: 115 km (paved road). approx. 5 hours
Lodging: camping


Day 28 - Ushuaia:
Finally we ride up the Garibaldi pass where before we go downhill into Ushuaia, we enjoy the breathtaking view from one of the most beautiful passes.
Daily biking ride: 100 km (paved road) approx. 5,5 hours
Lodging: hostel-inn - hosteria



Day 29 - Excursion to Lapataia bay:
We take the day off, but we suggest taking the tour the surrounding areas of Ushuaia, National park Tierra del Fuego and the Lapataia bay area or take a boat to the Beagle channel.
Farewell dinner
Daily biking ride: 45 km
Lodging: hostel-inn - hosteria



Day 30 - Ushuaia:
End of our services after breakfast.





Services included: Permanent expert guide assistance, Support vehicle, transfer - ferry boat to cross the Magallanes strait, All meals (4 daily plus snacks and beverages), lodging at tents and 10 nights at hotels, hostels, cabins and inns, mechanical assistance and spare bike.
Not included: entrance fee to national parks, meals and beverages at days off or leisure days, optional excursions.


Price: € 1.950.-

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Check also the shortest version of this trip El Calafate Ushuaia
For dates, prices, booking terms and conditions click here

Equipment:
Mountain bike or hybrid, with gravel and paved road tires and prior mechanical check up
Helmet.
Water bottle or water backpack (Camel).
Sleeping bag and Thermarest
Tent only if you want a single tent
Head lamp or flash light with spare batteries
Sunglasses ,
Personal medication ,
Sunblock lotion and lipbalm ,
No need for saddlebags unless you want to carry your own camera.

Recommended clothing : Bike pants short & long, Running pants, Windbreaker, synthetic long sleeve shirt, T-shirts, Polar fleece jacket, Gloves, Socks synthetic & wool, Rain poncho (optional) , Sandals or spare tennis shoes.

If this mountain biking trip expedition is not what you expected and you are looking for a different itinerary, activities, length, please contact us about our tailor-made mountain biking trips

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