Day 2: Santiago de Chile to Mendoza (~355 km, 220 miles). Our first riding day leads us across one of the most popular passes in the Andes: Paso Internacional Los Libertadores. We'll climb the famous "Caracoles" (pictured) - switchback after switchback leading us to the ridge line of the Andes, which is the border between Chile and Argentina. We'll reach nearly 12,000 feet as we enter Argentina. The pass runs between the peaks of the 6,962 m (22,841 ft..) Aconcagua – the highest mountain in the Americas) to the north and the 6,570 m (21,555 ft.) Tupungato to the south Unless we have unusually bad weather, we'll stop to take some photos of Aconcagua.

Day 3: Free day in Mendoza One day is actually not enough to enjoy Mendoza‘s laid-back pace while surrounded by every possible comfort! The name is synonymous with wine and the countless bars around the Avenida Arístides offer the whole range. Sights like museums, the Basilica de San Francisco and the General San Martin Park are well worth the visit; wineries invite for some tasting and there is also a range of outdoor activities around Mendoza.

For riders wishing to leave the city for additional riding, there are some interesting and exciting opportunities, including through the Uco Valley wine region to the small town of Tupungato. There are also some interesting gravel-riding opportunities and we can recommend a great little restaurant for lunch where local trout dishes are the speciality of the house.

Day 4: Mendoza to San Juan (~450 km, 280 miles) The shortest connection from San Juan to Mendoza can be covered in about 2.5 hours and would mean either a late start or an early arrival. The "bee line" is not particularly interesting, but a much more interesting route is available. The route, which has some gravel sections, leads us west along the Mendoza River to Uspallata and north through the rural Argentina countryside. We'll pass through one of the most charming little towns in the area - Barreal. The town has beautiful, shaded streets and gravel roads. We'll continue along the Rio San Juan before arriving at our destination in San Juan.

Our destination San Juan is one of Argentina’s oldest cities, but only very few old buildings survived the earthquake of 1944 – the city has now a mainly modern appearance. .

Day 5: San Juan to La Rioja (~475 km, 296 miles) Shortly after leaving San Juan, we'll turn north on Route 510 and will ride along the Sierra del Valle Fertil until arriving at two adjacent National Parks: Ischigualasto and Talampaya. Riders wishing to take time to visit the parks should plan an early start. It's then possible to visit the "Valley of the Moon" in Ischigualasto or to visit Talampaya National Park. A 2 hour guided tour in a 4x4 would show us the geological formations and the spectacular “Canyon of Cliffs” including its giant condors and turkey vultures.

Our destination is La Rioja, capital of the province of the same name and of major cultural interest due to its cathedral and convents. We'll enjoy first-class accommodations at our hotel, located on the city's main square and close to restaurants, cafes, and shopping.

Day 6: La Rioja to Cafayate (~520 km, 315 miles) We'll begin our way north with the lovely Sierra de Velasco mountain range to our left. A short time after turning onto Route 40 we'll ride some gravel roads from Belén to Punta del Balasto, passing through some very small and interesting rural Argentinian villages.

We'll end the day at the lovely resort of Patios de Cafayate - just minutes north of the town. We're sure that Cafayate will prove to be one of the most popular highlights of the trip.

Day 7 - Free day in Cafayate (optional ride north of Cafayate, ~150 km) Enjoy the rest day in Cafayate with plenty of options like horseback riding, golfing, wine tasting or just hanging around in the laid back city centre! Optionally you can jump on your bike and explore the region north of Cafayate along the Route 68. Lots of fantastic geological features make this a feast for everybody who loves to take pictures!

Day 8: Cafayate – La Rioja (~520 km, 315 miles) The way south on Route 40 leads us via Tafi del Valle across the Sierra del Aconquija and on a spectacular pass road from desert like scenery into semitropical rainforest! We will then stay on Route 38, passing through the mountains north of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca and then end our day in La Rioja. Don't worry, the route back to La Rioja will be very different than the route from La Rioja to Cafayate and we're sure you'll agree that La Rioja (as well as San Juan) are worth return visits.

Day 9: La Rioja – San Juan (~500 km, 310 miles) A return to San Juan will feel like visiting an old friend, although we'll take a different (but no less interesting) route than we used from San Juan to La Rioja.