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Our 15-Day Ushuaia – Discover Patagonia Adventure begins in Bariloche and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina – the “end of the earth” and as far south as it’s possible ride a motorcycle anywhere in the world.
This Adventure is classified a “Discovery Tour” that includes significant portions of dirt and gravel as well as the possibility for the legendary Patagonian winds. The tour is recommended for experienced riders only, especially for riders who are taking a passenger and riding two-up.
Although this is classified a discovery tour, premium level accommodations and restaurants are used for our kickoff in Bariloche, our final celebration in Ushuaia, and for several locations offering premium level accommodations along way.
This tour begins with a two-night stay at a five star lodge in Bariloche.
Like many of our Discovery Tours, this Adventure can be described as “dusty by day, but bedazzled by night”. Although the itinerary of this trip includes some very small towns in which our typical premium-level accommodations are not available, the overall premium-level accommodations and meals truly qualify this as a premium adventure.
Highlights of this Adventure include:
- A two-night stay in Bariloche – one of the most popular vacation spots in all of Argentina. The two-night stay provides a free day to explore the magnificent motorcycling roads that surround this beautiful area, including a loop around the seven lakes at Bariloche.
- Los Alerces National Park – famous for its ancient trees and spectacular scenery.
- Fjords, rain forests and pass roads on the Chilean side of the Patagonian Andes.
- The Argentine village of El Chaltén and surroundings, situated at the foot of the famous Fitz Roy Mountain Range.
- A two-night stay in El Calafate, Argentina. The free day provides the opportunity to visit one of the most popular attractions in South America – the Perito Moreno glacier. At the Perito Moreno Glacier, guests will view one of the largest and most impressive glaciers in the world, where huge chunks of ice “calve” and crash into the water regularly.
- Torres del Paine National Park – the most famous National Park in South America. We’ll stay at a hotel situated next to a charming river with a great view of the park’s spectacular mountains – the “Torres del Paine”.
- Ushuaia – “El Fin Del Mundo”. Riders will have time to explore this marvelous part of the world, including Tierra del Fuego National Park. Other potential side trips include a ride to Puerto Harberton – and beyond – to the southernmost point in the world to which it’s possible to ride a motorcycle. Our final night will be at a five-star resort in Ushuaia.
At a Glance Your Ushuaia – Discover Patagonia Adventure
Our Tour Leaders will meet you at the gate and will escort you to your hotel. We’ll introduce you to your motorcycle and to your fellow travelers.
Bariloche has a lot to offer; you can easily spend the day walking around in the city, having coffee and tasting the famous pastry and chocolates. As for riding: everything from a short ride on pavement up to 155 miles partly on gravel is possible. The Nahuel Huapi National Park provides us with the stunning beauty of the “7 Lakes Road” and some incredible views – a day in paradise!
Today we ride through the famous “Butch Cassiday and The Sundance Kid” region to Esquel, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. We’ll be surrounded by mountains as we travel on relaxing, country roads. Esquel – which appears like a smaller and more laid back Bariloche – welcomes us again with scenic beauty and a luxurious hotel.
About 43 miles southwest of Esquel we will cross into Chile on the small pass road of Futaleufú. Later we turn south onto famous Ruta 7 (Carretera Austral) and continue to Puerto Puyuguapi, a quiet village located at the end of a fjord. Although it gets a lot of rain during the whole year, this remote place was the base for settlers of different nationalities, who wanted to start a new life. More and more sections of Ruta 7 are paved now, but it still offers its challenges due to its course through Patagonian wilderness.
Through spectacular scenery and Chilean rain forest we continue south – paved road sections change with gravel sections and approaching Coyhaique we even have the choice between a longer paved version and a shorter unpaved one. Coyhaique with its pentagonal Plaza de Armas is the region’s only sizeable population center in this remote region.
Our route today leads us through a vast variety of road types, scenery and climatic zones! Paved and unpaved, cobblestone and soft gravel, green mountains and dusty plains, cold air in the morning on a pass road leaving Coihayque at 3000 ft and possible strong winds in the afternoon. We cross into Argentina again on a small border post. Our destination Los Antiguos is the capital of argentinian cherry cultivation and with its population of around 2000 also forms a tourist center due to its location right next to Lago Buenos Aires, after Lake Titicaca the second biggest lake of the Andes.
With an early start and most parts of famous “Ruta 40” being paved now, it shouldn’t be a problem to cover today’s distance! The argentinian Pampa with its endless flats and monotony has a very special magic. Possible strong side winds and short stops every now and then will keep us awake. El Chaltén and the Fitz Roy mountain range will be our reward in the evening. The village has only a population of around 100 in winter – in summer, however, it’s a magnet for any kind of outdoor tourism!
The mountainous scenery will follow us for some days! We can take it easy today, a late start or an additional 43 miles to “Laguna del Desierto” make up for yesterday’s long haul. We then backtrack 43 miles, before we join Ruta 40 again and continue south. Another turnoff brings us to El Calafate at the shore of Lago Argentino, important tourist destination as the hub to visit different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Here we will spend two nights – tomorrow will be dedicated to the visit of the glacier Perito Moreno!
Today we’ll visit one of the most popular attractions in South America – the Perito Moreno Glacier – just a one hour ride from El Calafate. We’ll be taken to Los Glaciares National Park by comfortable motor coach where we can enjoy a cruise approaching the face of the glacier, followed by lunch.
Today we cross the border into Chile where we’ll visit one of the most popular National Parks in South America: Torres del Paine National Park. Be prepared to be blown away by the stunning scenery, as we cross a footbridge to our very special “boutique” lodge located an island in the middle of Lago Pehoe (pictured below). The lodge affords a stunning view of the “Towers”.
From your island hotel, the riding in the park is stunning in every direction. Take your camera and be prepared for a relaxing ride through stunning scenery with shimmering lakes around every corner. Or spend a relaxing day on your island retreat. There are no bad options!
We’ll have another nice day of riding through Patagonia in Chile to Punta Arenas – the largest city south of the 46th parallel, south. We’ll stop for a photo opportunity at the “Monument to the Wind” – a monument paying tribute to the strong Patagonian winds that are often present in the region. The monument was created in 2000 by noted Chilean sculptor Alejandra Ruddoff.
Depending on the weather we’ll either take the ferry (3 to 4 hours, depending on the weather) from Punta Arenas to Porvenir, or we’ll ride along the Straits of Magellan to Punta Delgada, where we’ll take a much shorter ferry (20 minutes) across the Straits of Magellan and onto the island of Tierra del Fuego. Either option will provide a nice ride to Rio Grande, which is located on the island of Tierra del Feugo.
It’s a very short ride from Rio Grande to Ushuaia, so you’ll be able to have a leisurely departure, pickup some last minute souvenirs, and have plenty of time for some interesting photo opportunities along the way. You’ll also have time to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park and have your photo taken at the famous “Sign”.
Departure from UshuaiaTotal length: approx. 2,300 miles
Roads are mostly paved and in very good condition. There is several hundred miles of gravel in Patagonia, but the gravel is hard-packed and well maintained and does not require technical skills. The entire trip is very suitable for two-up riding.
In Patagonia, high winds are often prevalent. The windy section of the trip is almost entirely on straight roads, which we’ve classified as “Tame”. The “Tame” designation is not to suggest “uninteresting”. It’s meant to designate good paved highways that do not entail twisties or significant changes in elevation.
This trip is intended for experienced riders.
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- Includes BMW F700GS
- Additional charge of $150 for BMW F800GS
- Additional charge of $700 for a BMW R1200GS LC
- Additional charge of $1,150 for a BMW R1200GS Adv LC
- Personal motorcycle: deduct $1,950 from the rider price.
An additional charge is required for a top box or panniers:
For BMW F700GS, F800GS, R1200GS LC:
Top Box: $18/day
Panniers: $25/day
For BMW R1200GS Adv LC:
Top Box: $30/day
Panniers: $22/day
Standard Inclusions
- Late model, low mileage motorcycle
- Upscale accommodations
- A’ la carte dining
- Two Ayres Adventures professional tour leaders
- Airport arrival/departure transfers
- Luggage handling
- Comfortable support vehicle for non-riding companions
- Comprehensive pre-trip planning and assistance
- Customized trip booklet with day-by-day itinerary and attractions
- Two commemorative shirts
- Adventurer Club travel award credit
Meals
- All breakfasts
- 12 dinners
Special Inclusions
- Boat excursion to view Perito Moreno Glacier
- Cave entry fee in Torres del Paine National Park
- Ferry across Straits of Magellan
- Entry fee to Tierra del Fuego National Park
Deposit per person: $800
Single room supplement: $1,1002019 Schedule
| Dates | 2019 Adventures | Length | Price | Co-rider | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5 - Oct 19 | Ushuaia - Discover Patagonia | 15 | $9,750 | $7,200 |
2020 Schedule
| Dates | 2020 Adventures | Length | Price | Co-rider | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 - Oct 17 | Ushuaia - Discover Patagonia | 15 | $9,750 | $7,200 |