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 metres over the sea) the Andes
mountains.
Duration: 9 days. 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.
Next Trip: Inquire for trip schedule.
Activities:
We leave Buenos Aires on friday afternoon, at 2p.m. on our van (Fiat Iveco carrying the mtbs with a bike trailler) Our meeting point is our office in Belgrano neighborhood in Buenos Aires. If the client decides to fly, we´ll meet him at Mendoza´s or at San Rafael´s airport in Mendoza province (airplane fare not included). From Buenos Aires to Malargüe we have 1200km land transportation
| Saturday |
We arrive during the morning at Atuel´s river Canyon, where we do a 20km ride in the Pre-Andes region. We lunch close to the river and we leave towards Malargüe to arrive late afternoon. At night we enjoy the typical argentinian barbacue. We stay at the local camping. |
|
Sunday: |
First stage biking, we leave the last city (Malargüe) slowly heading south, over the famous road 40 that goes from Jujuy at the north of the country to Usuhahia in the very the south of the country with over 5000km. With the Andes Range on our right, we go over a paved road to the Chihuído Slope uphilling 550 metres in the first 30km until we arrive to enjoy lunch. Our support team prepares lunch every day and receives us in the middle of the Andes at midday and does the same for our night´s dinners and camps. Then we finish our stage at our camp by the Rio Grande at Bardas Blancas. Here we´ll spend our last civilized night at this Border place. From now we won´t have more paved roads until the end of the trip. Temperature will be around 30° during the day and it can be 0° at night. |
|
Monday: |
From the camp we take a detour to meet a spectacular cave located in the middle of the mountains, named "Witches Cave" where legend says that two women hided from local Indians two centuries ago. Uphilling takes 11km and 420 metres and when we arrive we switch our cycling helmets for exploring ones, we take flash lights and a jacket due to the lower temperatures we´ll find inside the cave and we go for a one hour excursion, where local guides will explain us all about the cave, mineral, legends etc. Downhilling from the cave it´s a lot of fun and then in the afternoon we bike from Bardas Blancas to Las Loicas, the last argentinian border control. The path is wide and always having a wonderful blue and cold river aside. Customer can choose between cycling ahead just looking for a sportive performance or doing it in the rear, just more relaxed. We usually use two support vehicles: the big minibus will escort us with our equipment and the other will go ahead to prepare the meals and the camp. We spend the night at a local "Puesto". |
|
Tuesday: 53km - 250 metres uphill |
After passing local argentinian border control, we cross the Chico river, and we start to bike on the Grande river´s left, that runs by the Grande Valley. Surrounded by incredible awesome landscapes, amazing views, strange rock shapes we find how the river becomes more clear as soon as we bike towards the Andes. We´ll cross big sand fields, bike long straight paths and may be if we are lucky we´ll watch a condor flying by the mountains near theirs nests. The breathtaking landscape at this moment is arid and lonely, peaks are still covered by snow and we´ll camp by the Montañes river. That night temperature can reach 0° degrees. |
|
Wednesday: |
We start early this short but strong stage that will take us to the incredible sulphur hot baths leaning under the Peteroa Volcano, that was alive during the '90s. This stage will face bikers to the strong wind, hard uphills, melting tinny rivers and no shade during the whole day, but at the same time will allow them to get into the heart and the spirit of the mountains. Our die hard cycling spirit will keep us cycling! We´ll find volcanic black stones and volcanic ashes by the road and while getting closer to the camp, we´ll see the remaining snowed peaks from the winter. Under a glacier and by the hot baths our support team will receive us with the already set camp, to enable us to enjoy the Andes gift and have a hot bath!! |
|
Thursday: |
We can define this day with emotion and excitation due to finish the uphilling and leave Argentina, to finally cross the border, get into Chile and start the amazing downhill. After 14km we´ll find the border military control and the maximum height at 2465 metres over the sea level. Then prepare yourself for one of the most exciting downhill you´ll ever do on a mountain bike! The zig-zag curved downhill path will allow us to see an spectacular view and we´ll arrive at the camp placed by the Teno river, that is usually used for Olympic canoeing training teams for its great conditions. |
|
Friday: |
Last stage of the Andes Challenge that keep us biking downhill, though it´s a hard day too, due to rocks over the path. We start early to be able to enjoy the swimming pool at the hotel where we´ll be lodged. Landscape is completely changed, we already left the dry and no vegetation mountain landscape to arrive this humid, green forests, white water rivers one. After crossing Los Queñes town we reach the paved road with some happiness, to cycle the last 14km until arrive the City. Our support team will be waiting us at the local Centre Square to have lunch & celebrate with champagne for our trip! After that we load the bikes on the trailer and we head to the hotel to have some relax and a hot shower. Free afternoon, swimming pool and diner at the same hotel. |
|
Saturday: |
We leave Curicó on our Minibus towards Santiago de Chile (187km). We arrive at midday and we´ll have free day for visiting, shopping or relaxing at the 5 stars hotel. We dinner at a local restaurant. |
|
Sunday: |
The ones returning to Argentina must have to wake up very early to leave towards the Las Cuevas Paso (see Mount Aconcagua, the highest in America with 6959metres) and do a whitewater rafting excursion in the afternoon. In the evening we depart towards Buenos Aires. The ones staying in Santiago will be take to the local airport to take the flight home. |
|
NOTE: |
if plane is not required, land transportation is about 18 hours. |
| » | Land transportation in exclusive Minibus 15pax (w/tv & video) |
| » | Mountain bike transportation |
| » | All meals (includes hotel and restaurant ones, we exclude the ones on transit) |
| » | Medical insurance |
| » | Camp, tents, cooking equipment and dishes |
| » | Mechanical assistance |
| » | Support vehicle during the trip |
| » | Bilingual guide with communication equipment |
| » | Two nights in 4 & 5 * hotel (Curicó and Santiago de Chile) |
| » | Rafting in Mendoza's river with Betancourt Rafting for passengers returning to Argentina |
| » | Extra bike |
Land vehicle transportation (from Buenos Aires) there and back. (Ask us for flights, extra hotel nights in Mendoza or Santiago de Chile, extra activities in Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires)
Bike Tours de Carlos Leonardo Warren
GSA e BUE Lan & Kramer Travel Service Leg.12373 Disp.2002/04
Tel: 54 11 4311-5199 Fax: 54 11 4313 5883. Email info@biketours.com.ar
[ + San Martín 910 piso 6º ] [ + Chile 374, San Telmo ]
Capital Federal Argentina CP 1005
Developed by 3w|lab Agencia Interactiva
GSA e BUE Lan & Kramer Travel Service Leg.12373 Disp.2002/04
Tel: 54 11 4311-5199 Fax: 54 11 4313 5883. Email info@biketours.com.ar
[ + San Martín 910 piso 6º ] [ + Chile 374, San Telmo ]
Capital Federal Argentina CP 1005
Developed by 3w|lab Agencia Interactiva