Argentina & Chile:
Pedaling the Andes on an all Women Bike Tour

Bicycle across the mild Andes Mountains from Argentina to Chile. At this latitude, the gentle mountains lead us from the high plateau of Bariloche down through the valleys of the border region and into Chile’s Lake District. We lose elevation during this tour so the cycling will seem effortless at times, and if not, breathtaking. Extend your stay and visit the island of Chiloé for some additional kayaking and hiking through a penguin colony and a dense Alerce forest.

Day 1: We meet in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina at 4:00pm for a rental bike fitting, an orientation meeting and dinner. You may want to arrive early to enjoy this city in the heart of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, on the southern shore of a beautiful lake. The town is the perfect balance between the bustle of a modern city and the serenity of the surrounding landscape. It’s a well-known tourist resort because its mountains attract the skiers and hikers, its nearby rivers appeal to the rafters, and the lakes call upon the boaters and fishermen. 0 miles.

Day 2: We begin our day with a short shuttle and then we bike to Villa La Angostura. Nestled on the QuetrihuŽ Peninsula, the village’s name means isthmus or narrows. In the afternoon, we ride round-trip on a bike path to Lake Espejo, a crystalline lake lined with volcanic sand beaches. 30 paved miles.

Day 3: We cross the Andes today from Lake Espejo over the Cardenal Samore Pass. We’ll have a picnic lunch near the top before enjoying the descent into Chile. We’ll overnight at the thermal resort of Termas de Puyehue. Before dinner, be sure to soak in one of the thermal spa pools where the water naturally averages 98.6 degrees. 58 paved miles.

Day 4: We bike to the banks of Lake Rupanco for a picnic lunch and then on to Puerto Octay on Lake Llanquihue, Chile’s largest lake. Like many of the towns in this area, Puerto Octay was originally a German settlement. Learn all about the lives of the early German settlers at the excellent regional museum. Our hotel is beautifully situated overlooking the lake. 34 paved & 5 gravel miles.

Day 5: We’ll pedal around the west side of Lake Llanquihue today with stunning views of Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes. The snow-capped, classic- shaped Osorno Volcano stands like a sentinel as we make our way to the charming small city of Puerto Varas. 37 paved & 6 gravel miles.

Day 6: Continuing our ride around Lake Llanquihue, we’ll pass through the small village of Ensenada on our way to PetrohuŽ and the glacier-fed Lake Todos los Santos. A lakeside alpine chalet, surrounded by virgin forest, will be our home for the remainder of the trip. 37 paved & 4 gravel miles.

Day 7: We’ll bike to the falls on the PetrohuŽ River before going out for a half-day of whitewater rafting. The Class III rapids will be exhilarating without being too technical. Afterwards, you can choose to either bike or shuttle back to our hotel. 4 or 8 paved miles.

Day 8: If you choose to end your tour here, we’ll provide you with a shuttle after breakfast to the Puerto Montt airport by 1:00pm. Or, fly home from Bariloche, by taking the relaxing boat and bus trip across the Todos los Santos Lake to Bariloche. The daily departures will get you back to Bariloche by 9:30pm.

Even better, extend your stay by continuing on to the island of Chiloé with us. We’ll say good-bye to our bikes and walk along the beach of the Chiloé archipelago to watch the Magellen and Humboldt penguins. 0 miles.

Day 9: We’ll board kayaks and explore the fjords, islands and hidden coves of this protected sea. We’ll watch sea lions and black-necked swans before a picnic lunch and then spend the afternoon in Castro, the capitol of Chiloé. 0 miles.

Day 10: Today we hike through the Chiloé National Park to explore its ancient and diverse forests, once described by Charles Darwin. You should see hundreds of species endemic to the area, such as picaflores, kingfishers and huillines. 0 miles.

Day 11: We start our day with a visit to some fisherman villages full of colorful wooden churches, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch at the beautiful Tocoihue Waterfall, we’ll take a ferry back to the Puerto Montt airport by 6:00pm and say our good-byes. 0 miles.