Home > South America Tours > Patagonia Explorer
Patagonia Explorer
Duration
19 Days
Ride Grade
4
Ride / Rest day
14 / 5
Sealed / Dirt
95% / 5%
Distance
4,140 km / 2,570 mi
Chile & Argentina: Ride Patagonia, a world of vast blue skies, deep blue glaciers and towering snow capped peaks
Motorcycling through Chile and Argentina will be some of the greatest biking moments of your life. This adventure is a scenic overload; beginning in the Chilean Lakes district town of Pucon we ride into Argentina and onto Bariloche, via the famous seven lakes ride, every inch is a scenic splendour. Further south we enter the vast and remote Patagonia stopping overnight at a, still working, Estancia before riding into more sensational scenery as we hit the Andes at El Chalten. No motorbike tour to this region should miss the incredible Moreno Glacier, we ride our bikes out to this staggeringly beautiful part of Patagonia before riding into Torres Del Paine National Park with it’s deep blue glaciers and lakes. This place will leave you awe struck and we dare to say that it is possibly the most scenic motorcycle ride in the world. This is an incredible motorcycle tour through some of the most amazing, remote and mythical regions in the world, no wonder it’s our top selling tour.
This ride also runs in reverse: Northbound
Patagonia Explorer was voted by National Geographic Traveler in their 2011 “Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime”
Dates and Pricing
Tour Highlights
Seen better days on the Straits of Magellan
Penguins of Patagonia
Torres National park
The end of the road
Breathtaking Moreno Glacier
Stunning Torres del Paine
Argentine gaucho
In Torre del Paine National Park
Riding into El Chalten
Itinerary
SOUTHBOUND (January departure)
Day 1: Today you will meet your crew for your tour briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2: We take an internal flight and group transfer to Pucón, where you will pick up your bikes and have your orientation/safety ride and explore Pucón.
Day 3: A scenic ride and your first border crossing into Argentina, our overnight stay is stunning San Carlos de Bariloche.
Day 4: A free day for you to explore San Carlos de Bariloche.
Day 5: Today’s ride will take you towards the sparsely forested foothills of the Western Chubut province, arriving for a restful night at Esquel.
Day 6: Riding through some stunning Patagonian wilderness, you will stop for the night in the remote settlement of Perito Moreno.
Day 7: The horizon seems to stretch on forever as you ride to a beautiful and remote estancia (Argentinean farm). Prepare yourself for a fantastic traditional Argentinean meal.
Day 8 & 9: You’ll ride across the plains to the peaceful village of El Chalten in the shadow of the Fitzroy Range. Two nights in El Chalten will give you a chance to take a walk into the range and give our legs a much-needed stretch.
Day 10: Today you’ll head further south to the town of El Calafate for a two-night stay.
Day 11: Ride out to the spectacular Moreno Glacier and enjoy the day in the National Park.
Day 12: Today’s ride will take us back into Chile and into Puerto Natales where we will spend the next two nights.
Day 13: You will have a full day to explore Torres del Paine National Park, hike the rugged trails or ride among the many winding roads that cover this region. The choice is yours.
Day 14: Today we cross the Magellan Strait to our overnight accommodation in Cerro Sombrero.
Day 15: Ride triumphantly into the southernmost city in the world, the beautiful Ushuaia.
Day 16: Enjoy a morning Beagle Channel cruise (optional) or ride through the Tierra del Fuego National Park to the end of the world, spend the day exploring Ushuaia.
Day 17: We will depart Ushuaia after lunch for a short ride to Rio Grande where we will overnight.
Day 18: We travel north back into Chile, riding alongside the Magellan Straits to the town of Punta Arenas where we will return our motorcycles.
Day 19: Your included flight will take you to the capital of Santiago for your final night of the tour.
Departure day: Spend some time in Santiago or fly home, the choice is yours.
NORTHBOUND (February departure)
Day 1: Today you will meet your crew and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 2: We take an internal flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, where you’ll meet all your tour crew for your tour briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 3: We cross the Magellan Straits and ride to our overnight accommodation in Rio Grande.
Day 4: We ride triumphantly into the southernmost city in the world where we will spend the next 2 nights, the beautiful Ushuaia.
Day 5: Enjoy a morning Beagle Channel cruise (optional), ride through the Tierra del Fuego National Park to the end of the world or spend the day exploring Ushuaia.
Day 6: You’ll ride through the southern forests and mountains to arrive into Chile and onto your overnight stay at Cerro Sombrero.
Day 7: Crossing the Magellan Straits, you will ride into Puerto Natales where we stay for the next two nights.
Day 8: You will have a full day to explore Torres del Paine National Park, hike the rugged trails or ride among the many winding roads that cover this region. The choice is yours.
Day 9: Today’s ride will have you crossing the border back into Argentina. Your overnight stay is El Calafate.
Day 10: Ride out to the spectacular Moreno Glacier and enjoy the day in the National Park.
Day 11 & 12: Today you’ll head north to the town of El Chalten, nestled in the shadow of the Fitzroy Range. Two nights in El Chalten will give you a chance to take a walk into the range and give our legs a much-needed stretch.
Day 13: The horizon seems to stretch on forever as you ride to a beautiful and remote estancia (Argentinean farm). Prepare yourself for a fantastic traditional Argentinean meal.
Day 14: Leaving the estancia you’ll continue north and stop for the night in the remote settlement of Perito Moreno.
Day 15: Today’s ride will take you towards the sparsely forested foothills of the Western Chubut province, arriving for a restful night at Esquel.
Day 16: A scenic ride into the forested mountains and lakes area, our overnight stay is stunning San Carlos de Bariloche.
Day 17: A free day for you to explore San Carlos de Bariloche.
Day 18: Today we will cross back into Chile and ride into Pucón for your overnight stay.
Day 19: We farewell Patagonia and your included flight will take us back to Santiago for our final dinner together.
Departure day: Spend some time in Santiago or fly home, the choice is yours
Included
- Airport Transfers
- Motorcycle rental as per your selection.
- Flight Punta Arenas to Santiago or reverse, depending on direction of travel
- Fuel
- Tolls
- Support vehicle with passenger carrying ability
- 19 nights accommodation in excellent small hotels
- 19 breakfasts
- 10 Lunches
- 6 Dinners
- Services of ride leader and support vehicle driver
- Pre-departure material and route maps
- Flight Punta Arenas to Santiago or reverse, depending on direction of travel
- Compass Expeditions shirt
- Entrances to all national parks mentioned in the itinerary
- Moreno Glacier boat cruise
- Internal Flights: Santiago - Temuco (Southbound) / Temuco - Santiago (Northbound)
Not Included
- International Flights
- Visas (if required)
- Personal Health/Travel Insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Upgrades
All accommodation is twin or double share, if you would like a single room there will be a single supplement: US $1,440.00
*However, if a suitable match is not available, a single supplement will apply.
(please note, you may be required to share a bathroom at least once on this trip).
Our motorcycles are insured and have a damage excess of US$ 4000, you can reduce the excess by taking advantage of our Excess Reduction Policy: US$ 25 per day
Ride Details
Ride Profile
On the more difficult sections, pillions can travel in the support vehicle.
Tour Start/End
Climate
Important Information
- All riders must have a valid motorcycle license and at least two years riding experience.
- It is a requirement that all clients have appropriate insurance for this type of expedition.
Ride Distance
4,140 km / 2,570 mi
Sealed / Dirt
95% / 5%
Accommodation
- 19 nights of accommodation.
- Our accommodations range from small family run hotels through to 4 star hotels.
- A flexible attitude is needed as standards are not always what we are accustomed to.
- All accommodation is on a twin-share basis. For solo travellers, we endeavour to pair you with a fellow guest; however, if a suitable match is not available, a single supplement will apply.
- If you prefer a private room, a single supplement of US $1,440.00 is available. Please note that on this trip, you may be required to share a bathroom at least once.
Dining
- On every day of the tour we include breakfast: 19 Breakfasts
- On mentioned ride days we provide a picnic lunch that we prepare ourselves from our mobile kitchen: 10 Lunches
- We include mentioned dinners in reliable restaurants we have used many times before: 6 Dinners
Bikes
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BMW R1250GS
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BMW F850GS
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BMW F750GS
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Honda Africa Twin 1100
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Insurance
Accidents happen, luggage is lost and tour or flight cancellations can occur, so it is our policy that all participants of Compass Expeditions tours have an appropriate level of travel insurance to cover the unforeseen. This is not only compulsory when joining our tours, but it makes sense.
If choosing your own insurance – for motorcycle tours it is crucial the insurance policy you choose will offer a policy for riding a motorcycle OVER 250cc (including our bikes). This is a critical point to ensure when purchasing a policy.
Our experienced In-house travel team are happy to help with getting you the right insurance for your tour and for any other travel you might be doing before or after. Contact our in-house travel team.