This fantastic journey will take you
over and through the Andes Range, over a little-used mountain
pass (the Vergara Pass, at 2460 meters above sea level -
8070 feet). You will share the road with the desert wind,
condors soaring high above, and your fellow cyclists. The
tour begins in Malargue, a small city in the province of
Mendoza, Argentina, bordering with the Northern edge of
Patagonia. After 6 days of exhilarating cycling, we'll arrive
in Curico, Chile. The challenging climbing is rewarded by
long downhill rides once we enter Chile. We will camp under
incredibly huge skies, involved in a magical setting of
jagged peaks, snow-capped mountains and desolate desert
landscapes.
Our experienced team of tour leaders, support staff and
cooks work as an efficient team, always a step ahead of
our guests´ needs. You will always have a team member
nearby; if you prefer cycling alone, whether it be cycling
strong at the front, or at your own relaxed pace in the
rear, you will have this freedom. Our team members will
greet you around the next curve with an encouraging word
and a friendly smile, supporting you every step of the way.
We have been successfully running this tour for years, so
you can be assured that every detail has been thought of,
letting you concentrate on fully enjoying your journey across
the Andes, and to deeply experience our country and culture.
Live this once-in-a-lifetime experience with us!
Location:
The starting point is Malargüe, at the argentinian
province of Mendoza- in the heart of the Andes and the destination
point is Curicó where we arrive crossing through
Vergara Paso ( 2460 meters over the sea) the Andes mountains.
It´s advisable to fly to San Rafael, the nearest city
to Malargüe at 180km, stay one night in a hotel and
wait for the group arriving by land from Buenos Aires.
At the end of the tour, if you don´t need to return
to Argentina, you can fly back from Santiago de Chile.
(Flight to San Rafael and night hotel no included)
Duration:
9 days/8 nights*.
The trip can be done only in January and February, due to
the weather and path conditions. From March to December
this dirt road is closed to transit.
*8 days for those flying home from Santiago, Chile
Flight in: San Rafael, Argentina
Flight out: Santiago de Chile
Activities:
Depart: (Friday) Guests starting with
us in Buenos Aires will depart in our van on Friday afternoon.
Our meeting point is in Buenos Aires (flight to, and accommodations
in Buenos Aires are not included in tour price). We recommend
flying to the city of San Rafael, in Mendoza Province. If
you choose to fly to Mendoza, you must arrive in Malargüe
by Friday or Saturday. The nearest airport is San Rafael,
which is 180 km from Malargüe. We can arrange for your
transfer from San Rafael airport to Malargüe for a cost
of us $67.
Saturday Day 1:
We'll arrive in Malargüe in the afternoon, giving you
free time to stroll the town, visit a museum or rest. Tonight
we'll be lodged at a local hotel. Dinner is on your own, so
that you can visit the town and choose from the varied regional
options. Malargüe is famous for chivito, the local name
for goat. Of course, you will also find the famous Argentine
grilled meat here.
Sunday Day 2: Malargüe - Bardas Blancas
After our detailed welcome and safety talk, we begin biking
from the town's central square. The first stage involves leaving
Malargüe heading south, over the famous Route 40, which
stretches the length of Argentina along the spine of the Andes
from the border with Bolivia in the North, to the edge of
the continent in Ushuaia, in the South. We'll have the Andes
Range in sight on our right, cycling over a paved road to
the Chihuido Slope, climbing 550 ms (1804 ft) in the first
42 km (26 miles), and stopping for lunch after accomplishing
this first stage. Our support team will prepare lunch and
dinner every day we are cycling, welcoming guests at midday
with a hearty outdoors lunch, and preparing dinner at our
previously organized campsite in the evening.
Today's ride ends by the Rio Grande at Bardas Blancas, a small
border settlement where we will spend our last night near
civilization. This also marks the end of the pavement - we'll
be on a dirt road from here on. During this first stage, the
temperature will be around 30º Celsius (86º Fahrenheit)
at day, and as low as 0ºC at night (32ºF).
67,5 km (42 miles) - 774 meters (2530 Feet) uphill/740 meters
(2420 Feet) downhill
Monday day 3: Bardas blancas - Las Loicas
We'll begin cycling at our campsite, our goal being to reach
Las Loicas, the last border control in Argentina. The road
is still wide and will be paved for the next sixteen kilometers,
with a river always snaking alongside it within site. As always,
you can choose from cycling hard ahead of the pack, or at
a relaxed pace, taking your time to snap pictures and marvel
at the landscape. Our support vehicles will be used to move
our equipment and baggage ahead as well as to give support
to riders. Tonight we'll set camp at a local puesto, basically
a hamlet where locals will treat us with the famous chivito
of Mendoza.
37,5km (23 miles) - 330 meters (1080 Feet) uphill/160 meters
(523 Feet) downhill
Tuesday Day 4: Las Loicas - Río Montañes
After leaving Las Loicas, we'll cross the Chico River and
start biking along it's left margin, entering the Valle Grande.
The scenery is amazing, with vast views of our desert landscape,
strange rock formations and high snow-covered peaks all around
us. The river is fed by snow-melt, and becomes clearer as
we ascend. We will also cross large fields of sand, bike over
long straight paths, and hopefully get a glimpse of the majestic
Andean Condor, flying high above us near their nesting sites.
Tonight we'll camp near the Río Montañés,
in this arid, almost surreal mountain setting. We'll savour
today's success at our campsite, with a hearty, replenishing
group dinner. Temperatures will be near 0ºC (32ºF)
tonight, but we'll sleep cozily in our warm sleeping bags.
49 km (31 miles) - 620 meters (2027 Feet) uphill/410 meters
(1340 Feet) downhill
Wednesday Day 5: Río Montañes - Termas del
Azufre
Today's challenging stage will see us begin early, getting
us ever closer to our ultimate goal. Our objective will be
the wonderful sulphuric hot baths under the Peteroa Volcano,
which last blew ashes in the 90´s. We'll see this amazing
smoking massif high above us. The ride involves plenty of
climbing, getting us into the very heart of the mountains.
We'll also see fields of volcanic stone and ash as we reach
our campsite, which will be set up under a nearby glacier,
with the hot baths at our reach. No better way to celebrate
today's accomplishments!
48 km (31 miles) - 1145 meters (3745 Feet) uphill/455 meters
(1488 Feet) downhill
Thursday Day 6:
Termas del Azufre - Río Teno
Emotion and excitement will abound us, as we finish our climbing
and we leave Argentina across the border into Chile. This
is the start of some amazing downhill riding! After 14 km
we'll reach the border control, as well as the tour's maximum
elevation of 2,465 ms above sea level (8,070 ft). The zigzag
downhill path will get your adrenaline flowing; but be sure
to stop for the amazing views. We'll arrive at our campsite
near the famous Teno River, where Olympic kayak teams train.
One more night to replenish ourselves with a nourishing meal,
enjoying the company of our group, which will by now be a
unified team!
39.5 km (25 miles) - 420 meters (1374 Feet) uphill/1620
meters (5298 Feet) downhill
Friday Day 7: Río Teno - Curicó
More downhill riding on this last stage of our High Andes
Crossing. Still, there are plenty of challenges, as we must
carefully steer our bikes over the winding dirt road. The
temperatures will rise today as we near sea level, so we'll
begin early to enjoy the swimming pool at the hotel this afternoon
(well worth it!). The landscape will differ drastically, as
we experience a change in vegetation in the more humid Chilean
region. After crossing the town of Los Queñes, we'll
once again cycle over a paved road, with 26 km to go before
reaching Curicó. The support team will await at the
hotel with lunch prepared, ready to celebrate the success
of our tour with champagne! After loading our bikes, you'll
have time for a relaxing shower, with a free afternoon to
enjoy the pool, followed by a group dinner at our hotel.
68 km (42,5 miles) - 420 meters (1374 Feet) uphill/1420
meters (4644 Feet) downhill
Saturday Day 8:
We'll leave Curicó in our minibus, heading towards
Santiago, where you can fly home or extend your travels in
the amazing country of Chile. From the famous wineries of
the Central Valley, to the deserts of the North and the glaciers
of the South, Chile offers truly magical destinations. The
van will continue from Santiago back to Mendoza, Argentina,
travelling 600 km over a paved road, under the Aconcagua massif
(the highest mountain in the Americas) and eventually back
into the valleys of Mendoza Capital. We'll arrive in the evening,
spending the night in cabins.
Sunday Day 9:
After an early start in Mendoza, we expect to arrive in
Buenos Aires around 10pm, travelling over paved roads throughout
the day.
Note:
if plane is not required, land transportation is about
16 hours.
Difficult level: Advanced
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Services |
13- to 18-person van equipped with tv & video
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Support vehicle equipped with two-way communication
radio (everyday, with on-board service, including
granola bars, fruits when possible, and other snacks
and drinks) & Mountain bike transportation during
the extent of the tour
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All meals, at campsites, hotels or restaurants (except
meals while on transit, dinner on Day 1 and lunch
on Day 8)
Complete breakfasts, fruits, granola bars, cold
lunchs (salads, meat, rice) barbecues and carbohidrates
for dinners. Wine from Mendoza included
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Medical insurance
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All accommodations:
While camping, our comfortable 2-person
tents (individual tents are available - please
inquire), with dining structural tent, latrine
tents, and comfortable camping equipment including
tables, chairs and dining ware
Hotel in Malargüe: Double & triple
base
Hotel in Curico: Double & triple base
Mendoza Cabines: 5 people per cabine
Please ask us for single supplement
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Mechanical assistance and spare bike available (in
case your breaks down)
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Support staff in charge of setting up camp and preparing
meals every day of the tour
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Bilingual Tour Leaders, equipped with two-way radios,
and local guides
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Daily Trip Information Notes, with maps, routes
and detail on the region
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Pre-trip information package with details on how
to prepare, what to bring, and more detailed information
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Difficulty Level:
Advanced
Price: 1150u$
dollars
Private tent: 130u$
Transfer from San Rafael airport
to Malargüe: 70
u$ dollars
Visit
www.xe.com for exchange rates.
Ask us for flights, extra hotel nights in Mendoza or
Santiago de Chile, extra activities in Santiago de Chile
or Buenos Aires.
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