South America Dreams

[ringo_300]

Hi,

We're starting to put together a tentative plan to do a tour of part of South America in 2017. Two guys, two gals and two bikes.
We're after any kind of advice and suggestions of places to go, and how much we can expect to fit in. We have 3 weeks and may just squeeze a fourth if I can strong arm my boss.

Thoughts on whether to ship our own bikes, or hire. Camping or hotels, routes and tracks.....mainly tarmac but wouldn't be adverse to a fair bit of gravel. Not too much deep mud. Rough costs of travel, accomodation, ease of fuel / spares / emergency stuff. Useful reading material recommendations.

What is the best month to go?

The wish list includes Uchuaia, and we would like to do Machu Picu if possible and of course some high altitude stuff. Google maps doesn't suggest any route or mileage, but my best guess says that doing both in 3 weeks is going to be a major challenge.

Any sensible comments gleefully recieved.

 

[John RTW]

Can't help you with too much advice as I've only conquered the Santiago/Mendoza latitude and below.

You could start Santiago, either ship your bikes into Valparaiso or hire KLR's from a company there (sorry no idea on price) or hire BMW's from Osorno (expensive but good back up service I believe). Head south down the Carretera Austral get to Ushuaia then head up the RTE 40, around the lakes then from Mendoza over to Santiago then return home. Plenty of beautiful views, fresh air and lovely people, you couldn't ask for more. Plenty of gravel to get stuck into, although if you leave it much longer the Chile side will all be tarmac in a year or two, so get a move on.

I believe from fellow riders that have done South America before me is that where ever you go, you will have a great time, guaranteed.

Best time, Dec, Jan, Feb.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We are down there in January for 4 weeks so can give you lots of real time advice and suggestions when we get back. The container gets into Buenos Airies at the start of January 2016 and we'll ship back 4 weeks later.

Doing the southern tip and then Machu Pichu is 3/4 weeks would be next to impossible according to my planning. Get yourself some decent maps, I use Reisse maps, and you can work out mileage etc etc and then you will realise just how big the area is!!

PM me if you want any info but subject to this trip going well, and there is no reason why it shouldn't, I'll send another container to Buenos Airies for Jan 2017.

 

[John RTW]

As Sgt Bilco says it's a big place and the wind is a bastard, any problems on route and you could be stuck for a while waiting for help. You will have to give yourself a bigger window to allow for riding conditions and road works. Just a reminder it is windy, very windy and can be a shocker if you were expecting a UK summer breeze. Apart from that it's pretty good down here.

Ushuaia to Machu Pichu, impossible unless you want to ride like Nick Sanders.

Sgt Bilco, if you need any help or info, give us a shout. I'll be around Peru, Bolivia come January.

 

[karlp]

Here is just a snippet of info to give you some idea .

Temuco to Santiago can be done in one hit
700kms
Two choices Go up the motorway or take the scenic route via Concepcipn.
Taking the latter will take at least two days.

If you go the motorway route you will pass the best waterfalls in Chile. Seeing these means this one day track will now take two days.

Best to see the waterfalls then double back and take the scenic rote along the Bio Bio river to Concepcion.


All of a sudden your one day trip from Temuco to Santiago has gone to three days, and that is just 700kms of approx 4000kms.

If you are just riding then it will be a hard slog.
If you are looking at the scenery then it is impossible.

I have been to Chile 7 times - do not underestimate the distances, the heat in North Chile,

If you want info just let me know

 

[gbags]

Everyone always talks about the winds down on Ruta 40 and how powerful they are.

I'm Be riding down from the States next year, two up, and Patagonia is one of our must-see areas so my question is, when are the winds at their mildest? We aim to get down there in their summer because of the proximity to Antartica, but which months would you all recommend?

 

[JimmyMac]

Hey Ringo, I did a trip last year picking up a hire bike in Santiago then over to Mendoza in Argentina, back via Uspalatta (Ruta 52, spectacular) then north through the Atacama desert before disposing of my hire bike in Arica on the Peruvian border. I then flew to Cuzco and spent 3 days in Peru taking in Machu Picchu before travelling back via New York for 2 days.

Very long days in the saddle but very do-able in 3 weeks, I know of a company that lets you pick up a GS Adventure and leave it virtually anywhere in Chile before catching a flight home.

Good Luck JimmyMac (Avatar is from the trip)

 

[John RTW]

Most bikers I've met here in Chile have always spoken about the wind, I thought it was a myth and they were unlucky but last Christmas I found out about it myself. It is a little strange when on a left hand bend that you're actually leaning to get your right knee down. Just had a quick google and found this site https://www.quasarex.com/patagonia/climate-and-weather

I'll hopefully be heading south again in a couple of weeks time, just to Villa 'o' Higgins this time at the end of the Carretera Austral, hopefully be back in Santiago for Christmas and then head to the Dakar in the New Year.

If you're camping make sure you have a good tent and maybe some extra tie downs and don't park your bike too close.

Antarctica is spitting distance away from Ushuaia but the prices on last minute deals seem to be $6000 per person. 10 days sailing and i think it's 4 days transit there and back. Six days looking at the ice with a little time ashore. Just do your homework before committing to a tour.