We will mountain bike into the Pampas of Argentina, with its dramatic change in landscape. Our first destination will be the small village of Trevlin, Argentina, a village founded by Welsh setters over a century ago. This trip will involve a combination of camping and staying at local inns. We will visit and learn about the unique European heritage of this area. Then we will ride to a lake in Parque Nacional de los Alerces, home of the giant, endangered 3000 year old Alerce trees before heading back to Futaleufu.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and introductions
Arrive in Santiago and connect to Puerto Montt. In Puerto Montt you board your 40-minute flight to Chaitén, a flight back in time. We will meet you at the airport where we start our drive across the Andes: volcanoes, fjord-like lakes, hanging glaciers and the turquoise rapids of the Futaleufu river. We arrive in Futaleufu and are taken directly to our cabin near the working ranch. You will be met with wine and cheese to eat around the fireplace before dinner.
Day 2: Ride to Devils Throat (10 miles rt)
You will orient yourselves to our front suspension Specialized bikes. Afterwards we ride up the Rio Espolon we cross small bridges, view turquoise water, sand beaches, fishing and swimming holes. You will cross the Rio Espolon on a wood swinging bridge. Here the climb gets steeper, but shortly you arrive at a tremendous Class 6 waterfall exploding in a white froth out of the upper lake into the valley blow. This is a sight to behold as we eat lunch over looking what is called the Devils throat. Crossing another bridge we get an over look of the Espolon lake. The return ride has one steep pitch downhill and a slight downhill to the lodge.
Day 3: Ride to the National Reserve of Huemul (12 miles rt)
Cross the mighty Futaleufú and ride up the river near the Argentinean border into the Patagonia Steppe and explore the pristine Río Chico Valley, a national reserve of the Huemul. This ride takes us upstream to a charming valley that contains the endangered Huemul a small deer like animal that resembles the fictitious jack elope off the American intermountain west. Only this is real. This is a National Reserve for the Animal yet it is completely undeveloped except the sign announcing your entry into the protected area.
Day 4: Back in time to the "Las Escalas" Valley (13 miles rt )
This world class ride takes us along the Inferno gorge, a black rock canyon of the Futaleufu River. Five hundred feet below we view the agitated turquoise water. You will naturally not want to ride to close to the edge. The trail enters the open Las Escalas valley for a trip back in time. We cross the Futaleufu River on a swinging bridge and ride up through an old growth forest of Coyhue trees out of the valley and around a small lake back to the village of Futaleufu.
Day 5: Trevlin, Argentina (40 miles)
We cross the border into Argentina experiencing a huge climate change in very few miles. Our destination is Trevlin a Welsh town and here visit a museum. A distinct culture compared to what you have experienced in Futaleufu. Many of the things that you may see in the Museum are still operating over on the Chilean side.
Day 6: Parque Los Alerces (25 miles)
We ride up into the National park Los Amerces along the Villa Futalaufquen Lake. Los Alerces National Park lies a few miles across the border from Futaleufu the ancient 3000 year old trees that give the park its name.Once again we change climates from the dry transition zone back into a forest and Lake environment. This night we camp out alongside the lake.
Day 7: Parque Los Alerces to Futaleufu (40 miles)
We will spend some time exploring the park and head back to the village of Futaleufu We ride out through the park and back up into the Futaleufu river valley.
Day 8: Departure
After an early breakfast, we drive you back to Chaitén where you catch your flight back to Puerto Montt and connect to your flights back home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included: Round trip airfare between Puerto Montt and Chaiten all transport to and from Futaleufu from Chaiten. All meals, lodging, guides, mountain bikes, gear and equipment while riding with us.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Argentina
Bicycle Touring
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