MTB Tours Travesias de mountain bike, cicloturismo en Argentina, Uruguay y Chile - Patagonia y Cruce de los Andes en bicicleta

Location:

Argentinian and Chilean North Patagonia. Río Negro and Neuquen Provinces in Argentina and XIX & X Regions in Chile.

Duration:

Fifteen days. The best weather will be fine between November and march, from the end of springtime to the beginning of the fall.

Activities:

1° day:
Arrive in Bariloche airport, in Río Negro Province, transfer to Bariloche down town.In the afternoon and after setting up, we´ll have some free time to walk around and have our dinner.

2° day: Bariloche (Arg) to Ensenada (Chile) First Andes Cross through Perez Rosales Paso.
We drive to Puerto Pañuelo to take the first Ferry towards Puerto Blest (one sailing hour ). Arrive in Puerto Blest. There we first take the mountain bikes, only for some few kilometers until arriving in Puerto Alegre, where we will take a second ferry that will cross the Lago Frías, surrounded by an impressing natural countryside of mountains, blue lakes and marvelous green rainforest vegetation.
From this time we will have a short ride to arrive to the limit between both countries and then we will enjoy a great downhill until arriving in Peulla. Then we will take the last Ferry to cruise the lake “Todos los Santos” in two hours. Once in Petrohue we will have a great outlook of the absolutely perfect design of the “Osorno” snowcapped volcano. The last sixteen kilometers ride will take us to Ensenada.
49 kilometers of dirt and paved roads

3° day: Ensenada to Puerto Octay
After watching the overwhelming landscape, composed by the “Llanquihue” lake, the third in size in South America, and the “Osorno” Volcano, whose last eruption was in the year 1835, we head north, bordering the eastern side of the lake, through a typical “Valdivian” rainforest dirt road:
compact, green, humid and surrounded by great views.
We will pass by the volcanic scoria left during the last Volcano´s eruption that it´s starting to be covered by gaining vegetation. The scenery will show the legacy of German immigration influence: huts, constructions, Christian and Lutheran Churches and green fields until arriving in Puerto Octay.
60 kilometers of dirt and paved roads

4° day: Puerto Octay - Frutillar - Puerto Montt
We leave Puerto Octay, on a brief piece of paved road towards the South, bordering the western side of the Llanquihue lake. Then we take a downhill, narrow and beautiful shortcut of dirt roads to arrive in the coast of the lake, accompanied by the Alps looklike surroundings. In Frutillar we will load the bikes and drive the last 40k. to arrive in Puerto Montt. The city, main capital of the X Region and founded in 1853 hosts now 150.000 souls and it´s the doorway to the famous “Carretera Austral” and the fjords from the whole area. It´s an active harbor that traffics its huge fishing industry and a strong tourist district, frequently visited by international cruises, that invites us to see the “caletas” and try the local fresh fish.
33 kilometers of dirt and paved roads

5° day: Puerto Montt to Pucón
This non biking day will be excellent to enjoy the city. We suggest to walk the “Caleta Angelmó” where lays the “Feria Artesanal” (Handicraft market), the “Puerto de Islas” (Islands dock) and the “Mercado de Mariscos y pescados” (Fish Market) where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we will depart on the support vehicle going over 335k., to arrive in Pucón, a great adventure tourism center that is surrounded by the Lake and the Volcano, both named “Villarrica” where will find a huge adventure offer.

6° day: Pucón
Pucón is a temptation for everybody seeking for exploration and hospitality, so we will have a free time to enjoy, perhaps resting on the black volcanic sand of Villarrica´s lake shores or looking after more adventure in the surrounds. We suggest to:
- Do a rafting excursion on the Trancura river, whose rapids of international level are considered two, three and four.
- Or to climb the “Villarrica” Volcano (Ruca Pillán or Devils House in “Mapuche” language), from where we will have an amazing and unforgettable view of the Andes, the surrounding lakes and the astonishing volcanoes of the area: “Quetrupillan”, “Choshuenco”, “Mocho”, “Lanin”, ”Osorno” and “Llaima”. And if lucky, we will see the red magma, showing up in the crater of the volcano!!

7° day: Pucón - Villarrica - Coñaripe
In the morning we leave Pucón on our support vehicle, bordering the south shore of the “Villarrica” lake, over a paved road, nicely decorated by flowers, gardens and inns on one side and the lake on the other. Once in “Vilarrica” town we set up the bikes for another adventure: we will bike towards “Coñaripe” a small town that was rub out in 1971 by the last huge eruption of “Villarrica” volcano that produced a big avalanche of mud and trunks. From the second kilometer to the number eleven we will climb a big slope of more than two hundred meters height.
44 kilometers of paved roads

8° day: Coñaripe to Liquiñe
Gradually we go deeper in the heart of the eastern Andes and its “Valdivian” green rainforest composed by “Alerces”, “Coihues” and “Araucarias”. Dirt roads get narrower, and the green, fertile, left, open spaces are used inch by inch by Chileans for agricultural labors. The wooden wheel carriages pulled by old bullocks, the wooden piece bridges, the rich and copious emerald vegetation will be the ingredients that will enrich the experiences of the day. We will visit the “Termas de Coñaripe” where we will have lunch and soak at the healthy hot springs. We will cross the “Cuesta de los Añiques” a strong, challenging slope to finally arrive in Liquiñe, a calm, small town.
31,5 kilometers of dirt roads

9° day: Liquiñe - Lago Neltume - Neltume
From Liquiñe we go back over seven kilometers to catch one of the most beautiful dirt roads of the whole journey. While listening to the Andean songbird chirps and the waterfalls splash, we will transit the eastern side of the “Neltume” lake. The humid and evergreen forest will be the scene that will invite us to admire the nature, while we ride towards Neltume village.
31,4 kilometers of dirt roads

10° day: Neltume- Puerto Fuy (Chile) to Camping Nonthue (Arg). Second Andean Cross through Hua Hum Paso
We leave towards east, uphilling more than one hundred and twenty meters through few kilometers, until arriving to Puerto Fuy, where we will jump over the ferry to cross the “Pirehueico” lake (“Snowpool”) and arrive in Argentina through the lowest passage between both countries. After two hours on the boat, we will bike eight uphilling kilometers to get to the Chilean border and two more to get to the landmark that separates Argentina from Chile. We will arrive at Nonthue camping by the cold water of “Lacar” lake.
23,4 kilometers of dirt roads

11° day: Nonthue to San Martín de los Andes
After our single camping night, we continue our two wheeled journey towards San Martín de los Andes, accompanying the north side of the lake. The path is incredibly amusing, stunning curves that demand us to keep our eyes open and our muscles ready. After many slopes and downhills we will arrive to “Piedra de Trompul” (Trompul´s stone) where local legend says that when the storm thunders and the eco of the loudly sound goes all over the valley, it will rain or snow. The tourist village hosts 17.000 inhabitants with a variety adventure and sky offer, due to “Chapelco” its famed Ski Resort.
36,2 kilometers of dirt roads

12° day: San Martín de los Andes to Confluencia
The day begins with a short drive to “Meliquina” lake through forty k. of great views. When we arrive to the lake, we set the bikes up to meet the face of the “other Patagonia”, that one that it is not green, neither humid and does not has lakes nor rainforest, but that hides spectacular shapes and receives us with a red and dry stunning landscape. We will cross “El Paso del Córdoba” (Cordoba Pass) uphilling over 1400 meters over the sea level through an amazing not traveled rock path that will allow us to watch incredible views. After an exciting downhill, we arrive to our Inns in “Confluencia”.
52 kilometers of dirt roads

13° day: Confluencia - Villa Traful - Camino de los Siete Lagos - Villa la Angostura
From “Confluencia” we head west, watching at first the same kind of landscape as we saw the day before, but as soon as we get closer to the Andes, we get through forest hills and zig-zag paths. We will arrive to “Traful” lake, and some few moment later to “Villa Traful” a tiny tourist town that has six hundred inhabitants. The journey finishes after overcoming the slope “El Portezuelo” at the “Camino de los siete lagos” (Seven lakes path). We load the bikes and arrive at our inn at “Villa la Angostura”.
57,3 kilometers of dirt roads

14° day: Villa la Angostura - Península de Quetrihue - Villa la Angostura - Bariloche
The perfect day to finish a great bike tour: We go over “Península de Quetrihué” where legends say that Walt Disney inspired himself to create "Bambi". Well, do not believe the story, because it is not true, but come and enjoy one of the best singletracks that you will ever ride!! We will have the chance to mix an exciting path with one of the most beautiful endemic forests in the world: the “Arrayanes” forest. The “Arrayan” raises in cold and humid areas, and it is remarkable for its orange, onion like skin and it is protected by a local National Park. The forest is located at the end of the peninsula, by the lake “Nahuel Huapi”. In the afternoon we drive towards Bariloche.
24km of singletracks and 6km of pave roads

15° day:
Free Morning. Lift to “Bariloche” airport in the afternoon.