Itinerary: Tour 1 (South Bound)
*This tour has been canceled. Please contact us with any questions.
Tour 1 (South Bound)
November 6 - November 22, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Day One: This is the day most riders will fly from Santiago to Osorno. We will pick everyone up at the Osorno airport. You will get to pick up your rental motorcycle and ride it back to the hotel. If you fly in earlier, this could also be the day to shake off jet lag or see and explore the fuji-esque Osorno volcano. Everyone will stay at the Hotel Waeger. Evening welcome dinner. Internet computers are available in the hotel.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Day Two: 150 miles (all paved): Ride to Bariloche, a charming city bathed by the beautiful blue waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi. One of the most popular destinations in Argentina for travelers. Plenty of time in the afternoon to ride to the popular swimming and sunbathing beach, or take a hike at the ski area. Dinner on your own. There are many great restaurants within a short walk of the downtown Hotel Ayres del Nahuel. Internet business center on-site.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Day Three: 207 miles (all paved): Ride to Esquel. Travel paved roads that wind around four mountains containing lakes, thousand year-old trees, crystal clear rivers and hundreds of water bodies protected by thick woods. Divine riding. We will stay at the Hosteria Angelina. The on-site internet business center has computers available.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Day Four: 183 miles (58 gravel / 125 paved): Ride to Puyuhuapi via Futaluefu. Several interesting miles of dirt riding along this picturesque, old highway in Chile. Spectacular lakes, glaciers and world famous rapids. Tonight we are guests in a cozy home on the lake, called Hosteria Alemana. Hot springs are nearby for the adventurous.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Day Five: 147 miles (65 gravel / 82 paved): Ride east toward the Andes to Coyhaique; gorgeous, lush green landscapes with aromatic flowers alongside the road everywhere. You will ride by several blue ice glaciers hanging overhead, to sparkle up the view. Miles of gorgeous hiking trails available in the local state park. Internet computer is available at the front desk of the Hotel Coyhaique, a lovely hotel near the center of town with lush green lawns and several great restaurants within walking distance. From here on, we will ride many miles of dirt and gravel roads.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Day Six: 177 miles (62 gravel / 115 paved): Ride to Los Antiguos. First we cross the Andes on some amazing paved switchbacks, then, welcome to the dry country, where the landscape turns to arid desert with herds of guanacos and nandus running alongside the long gravel roads. The ranch we stay on is an oasis of lush green pastures. Estancia Telken is a very remote sheep ranch. Limited space requires double accommodations.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Day Seven: 162 miles (108 gravel / 79 paved): Ride to La Angostura. Hang out with real Gauchos and live the cowboy lifestyle for a little while. Optional guided horseback rides around the ranch are available for a fee. These ranchers will grill and serve some of the best mutton you will ever taste. After many miles in the high winds of the legendary Route 40, the solitude and restful quiet of the remote hacienda will make up for the bunk house style sleeping arrangements.
Friday, November 13 - Saturday, November 14, 2009:
Day Eight: 206 miles (62 gravel / 144 paved): Ride to Calafate. Rolling vibrant desert colors throughout. Amazing nearly new asphalt with big radius corners, in the middle of absolutely no-where, with no traffic. View the incredible Fitzroy Mountain from a distance, or up close on a short optional side trip. We are staying two nights in this beautiful town.
Day Nine: 111 miles (optional, all paved): Rest day in Calafate to either take a ride out and visit the fabulous Perito Merino Glacier or to shop, explore, hike, etc.. The Hotel El Barranco is famous for its delicious homemade jams that the owners produce from local berries, including the dark purple calafate berry. An internet computer is available in the lobby for free use 24 hours a day.
Sunday, November 15 - Monday, November 16, 2009
Day Ten: 134 miles (31 gravel / 103 paved): Travel over more gravel roadways to the ranch house turned lodge, the classic Hosteria el Pionero. Meals are served on site in the large formal dining room.
Day Eleven: 135+ miles (all gravel): Ride a beautiful loop out to the magnificent Torres Del Paine park, where the world-renowned “Towers Of Blue” jut raggedly into the deep blue skies. See emerald and cobalt blue lakes, and plenty of condors, geese, and guanacos, and too many blooming flowers to count. Over 135 miles of exquisite dirt roads and scenery to explore. Stay again at the quaint Pioneer Hotel and feast on another delicious local meal.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Day Twelve: 262 miles ( mostly paved with some small gravel sections possible): Race the dolphins across the Strait of Magellan on the transport ferry and then ride to Cerro Sombrero. Big, open country. Ride incredible twisties and sweepers, then get a great hot and high pressure shower in this little inn (Hosteria Tunquelen) and tiny town in the middle of the island of Tierra del Fuego.
Wednesday, November 18 - Thursday, November 19, 2009
Day Thirteen: 261 miles (75 gravel / 186 paved): Ride to Ushuaia. See wild penguins with an exciting side excursion along the Beagle Channel! Hiking trails available in the nearby ski area. We are staying on the outskirts of town in a modern lodge within the forest, Hosteria los Fuegos.
Day Fourteen: 41 miles (all gravel within the Tierra del Fuego National Park): Journey along the Beagle Canal, the same area that Charles Darwin traveled for his research on “The Origin of Species”. Rest day. Many surprises! We ride to the southernmost point in the world attainable by road. You can mail your family a post card or letter from the southernmost postal depot on earth. This lovely park is well cared for and offers many miles of hiking and beautiful picnic sites. Stay again in Ushuaia. Many internet business centers are open on the main street of town.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Day Fifteen: 130 miles (all paved): Ride back North to Rio Grande. This small town along the coast is a friendly place, and the small lodge we stay in, the Hotel de los Sauces, is clean and well cared for. Excellent dinner choices in close vicinity.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Day Sixteen: 265 miles (75 gravel / 190 paved): Today we re-cross on the ferry and ride along the Strait of Magellan to Punta Arenas and turn in our motorcycles. Our lodging this night is in the Hotel Carpa Manzano. We will all celebrate with a farewell dinner in a special local restaurant.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Everyone will get a ride to the airport for flights out of Punta Arenas to Santiago.
Total Miles = 2571
Total Gravel = 732 approx.