Chos Malal, Los Angeles, Neuquen (Argentina
& Chile)
This is our new MTB Tours journey, a fantastic plenty of
contrasts Andes ride that starts under the Domuyo Volcano
domains, the highest mountain in Patagonia, until arriving
in "Los Angeles", the capital of the 8° region
in 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. Live this once-in-a-lifetime
experience with us!
Location:
The starting point is Chos Malal, in the Argentine province
of Neuquen - the heart of the Andes. The destination is
"Los Angeles", Chile where we arrive after crossing
the Andes at Pichachen Andean Pass.
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: Neuquen, Argentina
Flight out: Neuquen, Argentina or Concepción,
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 Neuquen, in Neuquen Province. If you
choose to fly to Neuquen, you must arrive in Chos Malal by
Friday or Saturday. The nearest airport is Neuquen, which
is 380 km from Chos Malal. We can arrange for your transfer
from Neuquen airport to Chos Malal (Flight and transfer not
included).
Saturday Day 1:
Those travelling by land must expect twenty hours on the road
until arriving in Chos Malal. The left time will be used to
set the bikes up and meet the staff and your travelling colleagues.
We'll stay the night at the nicest hotel in town (Hotel included,
dinner free and not included). Chos Malal is famous for chivito,
the local name for goat. Of course, you will also find the
famous Argentine grilled meat here.
Sunday Day 2: Chos Malal - Huinganco
After breakfast, the organization staff will give a speech
of the tour before starting to ride. Once on the road, we
start the first stage from Chos Malal towards the northwest,
looking after "Cordillera del viento", the windy
Andes range.
Just after some few miles, we'll see the "Domuyo"
Volcano (4700 meters over the sea level) the highest mountain
in Patagonia, one of the most important icons for trekking
and climbing expeditions in North Patagonia. The morning ride
will take us through a wide open valley and over a nice paved
road. In the afternoon, views will change completely: We'll
enter the Huinganco Valley and enjoy a narrow and undulating
path, surrounded by dense pine forests until arriving in Huinganco
summer village. Riders must expect a wide range of temperatures
between the day and the night.
61.65 km (38.50 miles) - 1375 meters (4500 feet) uphill/1037
meters (3400 feet) downhill
Monday day 3: Huinganco - Río Reñil Leuvú
In the second stage of the Andes cross, we leave "Huinganco"
and will soon pass by "Andacollo", the last town
we'll meet in Argentina towards the limit between both countries.
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. 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. After passing by "Andacollo"
and after crossing the "Neuquen" River, we'll continue
riding over a gravel road, surrounded by a semi desert landscape
that will clearly allow us to see the snowcapped mountains
in the west. Before arriving to the campsite, we'll be following
different snaking rivers, first the "Nahueve", then
"Lileo", to finish camping on "Reñil
Leuvú" riverbank.
43km (26.70 miles) - 968 meters (3175 feet) uphill/1077
meters (3533 feet) downhill
Tuesday Day 4: Río Reñil Leuvú - Cajon
del Pichachen
After breakfast, we'll put the campsite down and listen to
the daily mini-speech that will give us the accurate information
about the general conditions for the day in terms of temperature,
highlights, biking distance and elevation gain. Always following
the "Reñil Leuvú" River, the landscape
will start to vary: The soil will get the dark color of the
volcanic rock and this one will be blended by different tones
of emerald vegetation.
Today will be an uphill day. After doing 26km, we'll arrive
to "Gendarmeria" border control, where we'll do
the Argentinean migrations and customs paperwork. We'll seize
that period to have lunch. In the afternoon we'll see the
"Moncol" mountain, different valleys and woods of
"Lengas", a typical strong tree from Patagonian
Andes.
In the end of the day, some downhills will give us a break!
37.5km (23.30 miles) - 960 meters (3150 feet) uphill /390
meters (1280 feet) downhill
Wednesday Day 5: Cajon del Pichachen - Sierra Velluda
The most overwhelming day is awaiting us: The challenging
uphills, the fascinating downhills and the stunning scenery,
composed by the perfect cone of the "Antuco" volcano
and the sharp top of the "Sierra Velluda", will
take your breath away!
In the morning we start the last uphill riding definitely
over a dark soil, due to an ancient volcanic activity. At
this point, after facing strong winds and tough uphills, we'll
be really looking forward to arrive to the top of the mountain,
where the milestone will show the exact place where both countries
meet.
After riding nine hard kilometers we'll get to the limit between
both countries. There's not much to be said at this point:
the incredible views will hold us not to leave while we stare
at the "Antuco" Volcano (2985meters) and the "Sierra
Velluda" (3865meters). The "Antuco" Volcano
was active until 1853, and its glaciers drag down different
sort of sedimentations, giving different green tones to "Laguna
Verde" (The green lake) and different rivers that flow
into the "Laja" River. The downhill will let us
go until arriving to "Carabineros de Chile" where
local authorities will do the paperwork for us to enter the
country. The campsite will be in a magic place, nearby both
volcanoes.
37,5km (23.30 miles) - 890 meters (2920 feet) uphill/1080
meters (3543) downhill
Thursday Day 6: Sierra Velluda - Campamento Río
Rucue
In the morning we'll cycle between the "Antuco"
Volcano and "La Laja" lagoon, we'll find loose sand
which makes riding a lot more difficult, but an exhilarating
downhill is almost to begin! A fantastic gravel track down
that will show us the slight transformation of the environment
as far as we go forward. The mountain vegetation will leave
space to Cypress, Radales, Lengas, Coihues, Ñires,
and all trees of the humid Patagonian forest.
After 31km we loose more than 600 meters (1960 feet) and we
find the start of the paved road.
The "Laja" River will escort us while we cycle down,
until we arrive to "Antuco" the first Chilean town
and first civilization contact. After some few more miles,
we'll arrive to the "Río Rucue" campsite,
where we spend the rest of the afternoon and make use of the
river to refresh ourselves.
60km (37.28 miles) - 635 meters (2083 feet) uphill/1590 meters
(5217) downhill
Friday Day 7: Campamento Río Rucue - Los Ángeles
We start the last stage and start to roll over a slightly
downhill paved road. Views changed completely: We left behind
the mountain appearance that turned into a very green and
humid farm area that receives the weather influence from the
Pacific Ocean. As we slowly enter an urban area, we make emphasis
in safety and steer our bikes with more self-control. The
support team will wait 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.
51km (31.70 miles) - 178 meters (580 feet) uphill/498 meters
(1630 feet) downhill
Saturday Day 8:
We'll leave "Los Angeles" in our minibus, heading
towards "Neuquen" back in Argentina through "Paso
Pino Hachado" (600km/12 hours). You can choose between
being transferred to "Concepción´s"
airport, where you can fly home via Santiago de Chile 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. You can also travel back to "Neuquen"
the door entrance to Argentinean Patagonia, from where you
can extend your travel plan, or fly back to Buenos Aires.
The van will arrive to Neuquen in the evening, and we spend
the night in a hotel.
Sunday Day 9:
Those planning to fly back to Buenos Aires can choose
from daily flights. The van will early leave to Buenos Aires.
The arrival is expected at 11p.m. at the same meeting point
used for the start of the tour.
Note:
if plane is not required, land transportation is about
16 hours.
Difficult level: Advanced.
Total distance: 290km (180 miles).
Type of roads: 170km (105,6 miles) of gravel roads
& 120km (74,4 miles) of paved roads.
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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 |
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 Doite and
Ocelot 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 Chos Malal: Triple & double
base
Hotel in Los Angeles: Triple & double
base
Hotel in Neuquen:
Triple & double base
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: 1300u$
dollars
Private tent: 130u$
Transfer from Neuquen airport
to Chos Malal: u$
dollars
Transfer from Los Angeles to
Concepción airport:
u$ dollars
Visit
www.xe.com for exchange rates.
Ask us for flights, extra hotel nights in Neuquen or
Santiago de Chile.
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