Patagonia, A Chile & Argentina Adventure

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: This is a commercially supported bicycle tour, using the British outfitter "RED SPOKES". The tour is in the Patagonian Lake district, starting in Puerto Montt, Chile, passing through Bariloche & San Martin De Los Andes, Argentina, and ending in Temuco, Chile. Both Puerto Montt and Temuco have airports with direct flights to Santiago. The whole tour is 14 nights and 15 days with 2 night stays at 3 different locations. More information on RedSpokes can be found on theirwebsite at www.redspokes.co.uk.

The Patagonian landscape is spectacular with smoldering volcanoes, snow capped mountains, glacial origin lakes, and lush rain forests. The ride starts with 2 nights in Puerto Varas, and also includes 2 night stays in Bariloche, and Pucon. On 4 different occasions we will take scenic catamaran or barge boat rides across emerald lakes to get to our destination. We will also utilize vehicle transfers to keep our distances and climbing to a reasonable level.

The daily itinerary is as follows:

Jan 6 -7: Arrive in Puerto Montt, Chile, a bustling harbor town, and gateway to the spectacular Patagonian Lake District. If you are flying in, you will be met at the Puerto Montt airport, and transferred to your hotel in nearby Puerto Varas. Here we will stay 2 nights to allow for time to recover from jet lag and to try out your bicycle. With German colonial architecture, and a stunning lakeside waterfront, there is plenty to enjoy here. Our first information meeting will be at 6 PM on January 7th in our Hotel.

Jan 8:  Bike from Puerto Varas to Puerto Octay 

           37 miles & 2244 feet of climbing

Jan 9: Bike from Puerto Octay to Ensenada. Vehicle shuttle to Osorno Volcano

          37 miles & 1718 feet of climbing

Jan 10: Bike from Osorno Volcano to Petrohue. Catamaran shuttle to Puella

            18 miles & 610 feet of climbing

Jan 11: Bike from Puella to Puerto Fias. Catamaran shuttle to Puerto Alegre, bike to Puerto Blast. Enter                    Argentina.

            19 miles & 3227 feet of climbing

Jan 12: Catamaran shuttle across Nahuel Huapi lake. Bike to Bariloche.

            15 miles & 2036 feet of climbing

Jan 13: Free day to explore the Bariloche area

Jan 14: Vehicle shuttle from Bariloche to the Seven lakes Highway. Bike to San Martin de los Andes.

            32 miles & 1907 feet of climbing

Jan 15: Bike from San Martin de los Andes to Port Pirihueico. Barge shuttle to Port Fay. Bike to                                  Choshuenco. Reenter Chile.

            47 miles & 3444 feet of climbing

Jan 16: Bike from Choshuenco to Conaripe Village, Vehicle shuttle to Pucon.

            42 miles & 3722 feet of climbing

Jan 17: Free day to explore Pucon.

Jan 18: Vehicle shuttle from Pucon to Villaria Village. Bike from Villaria Village to Cunco.

            34 miles & 2309 feet of climbing

Jan 19: Bike from Cunco to Conguillio National Park.

            44 miles & 2758 feet of climbing

Jan 20: Vehicle shuttle to Temuco Airport. End of ride

RIDE RATING:  The Ride Rating is 3B corresponding to 2500 to 3500 ft of climbing, and a distance of 35 to 50 miles per day. On Day 11 the climbing will exceed the 3500 ft threshold with 3722 feet of climbing. All other days will be within the Ride Rating 3B thresholds. This ride is rated slightly more difficult than it would normally be rated because of the following factors:

• Long and frequent grades above 8%. In particular, on January 11th, there is a grade that exceeds 8% for 4 miles, with a maximum grade of 14.9 %. There are numerous other grades that exceed 8%, but most are quite short.
• There are 77 miles of unpaved gravel bicycle paths. Because of this, a cross bike or mountain bike is recommended, and a minimum tire width of 37 millimeters is required.
• Mountainous terrain with elvations up to 3,860 feet.

WEATHER:  January is the warmest & driest month of the year in Patagonia, with average highs around 70, and average lows around 50, with rainfall averaging 1.5 to 2 inches for the month.

LODGING & MEALS:  Lodging will be provided each night in guest houses, lodges and 3 star hotels.  Where this classification is not used, hotels will be of a standard comparable to a 3 star hotel. The lodging is chosen on the basis of comfort rather than luxury. Fourteen breakfasts and 11 lunches will be provided on the tour. Dinner will be provided on days 4 & 12. 

LOGISTICS:  The tour starts in Puerto Montt, Chile, which is about 1 hour and 40 minutes south of Santiago by airplane, and is served by Latham Airlines in conjunction with American Airlines. The airport code for Puerto Montt is PMC. The outfitter will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to our Hotel in nearby Puerto Varas, where we will stay for 2 nights beginning on January 6, 2019. Our initial  information meeting will be held at our Hotel at 6 PM on the following day ( January 7th). The tour will conclude after breakfast on January 20th, and a transfer to the Temuco Airport will be provided if desired.

COST & ADMINISTRATION:  The Cost of the tour is $2650 US Dollars, and includes 14 nights lodging based on double occupancy, 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches/picnics, 2 dinners, cue sheets and GPS files.   Additionally, there will be a daily 6 pm meeting on evenings before all cycling days where important information will be shared with the group and information given about things to do on rest days. A back up vehicle is provided to carry our luggage, and can be used in an emergency. Barge or catamaran boat transfers, vehicle transfers, all entrance fees to national parks and sites that are an integral part of the itinerary are also included. Initial deposit of $1000 is due at sign-up.  Final payment of $1650 is due on August 1, 2018. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.

Items which are not included in the price of the tour include airfare, alcoholic beverages (except at happy hour), and laundry and personal items.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY:  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until November 1, 2017 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the non-refundable $100 BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $590 single supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. Single supplement payments will need to be made by check directly to the Ride Leader.  The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.

BICYCLE RENTALS:  Bicycle rentals will be available directly from the outfitter for $200. They are good quality Trek 2017 or similar bikes.

TRIP INSURANCE: Trip insurance will be required for this ride. BAC insurance covers medical costs due to bicycling accidents and emergency medical air evacuation. You will be required to provide proof of additional travel insurance to Ride Coordinator to include loss of luggage or equipment, cancellation or curtailment.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The $100 BAC ride registration fee and all credit card processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up,and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't
be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If
a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that
cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the
roommate remaining on the tour. In addition to the BAC Cancellation policy, those who cancel may be subject to Red Spokes' cancellation policy: If a participant cancels and cannot be replaced, then the following Red Spokes penalties will apply.

• If cancellation takes place more than 56 days prior to departure, and no replacement is found, $400 US will be forfeited.
• If cancellation takes place between 42 days and 56 days prior to departure,and no replacement is found, $1072.50 US will be forfeited.
• If cancellation takes place between 31 and 41 days prior to departure, and no replacement is found, $1608.75 US will be forfeited.
• If cancellation takes place between 0 and 30 days prior to departure, and no replacement is found, up to 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP:  To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1000 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.