Chile Argentina Patagonia

We use a Honda CB500 x for the Patagonia motor tour.

An upgrade of the motorcycle is possible:

• BMW F700GS:        700,-  us 
• BMW F800GS :     1.325,- us
• BMW R1200GS:    1.690,- us

Level of Difficulty
The combination of three factors can make this trip pretty tough. Firstly, the distances travelled are longer than those on other tours. Secondly, about half of the route is over unpaved roads.  And finally, in the extreme south, there are strong side-winds to deal with. In reality, this trip only suits those who are proficient riders, proven to be able to cope with and not fear long distance gravel roads. Moreover, all factors taken together make this trip physically demanding, and therefore a good physical condition is essential.

Off road and distances
We ride about half of the tour on unpaved roads. On the whole these are mostly well-packed gravel roads, so not really too difficult, although cornering and the central reservation remain things to really watch out for. And because the unpaved roads are level and the gravel well-packed, it’s hard to prepare yourself for this. The basic off-road training we offer teaches you the basic techniques for off road biking, specifically riding through potholes and mud and over steep hillocks. These are not the road conditions you will encounter in Patagonia, but it is recommended that you attend either our or an equivalent training programme beforehand to find out if off-road biking is for you. It would be a shame to find out en route that you really don’t like riding on long distance unpaved roads. This can totally ruin your enjoyment of the tour.

On the other hand, the endless roads present some riders with the chance to ride too fast. Obviously, this is very dangerous and will not be allowed by the tour leaders. Some days the distances travelled are very long. Especially Argentina is a vast empty country where places to stay overnight are few and far between.

Climate
We ride in fact through two climate zones. There is a rainy maritime climate along the Carretera Austral in Chile. Here you travel through areas of sub-tropical rainforest, so there’s a pretty good chance of rain. On the other side of the Andes range lie the vast arid and dry pampas fields. It hardly ever rains there. Tierra del Fuego can be very cold, after all, we’re only 600 km away from the South Pole. What’s more, this is a highland plateau and therefore extra cold at night. Be prepared for diverse weather conditions. So a good motorbike suit, preferably waterproof, is definitely recommended.

Clothing
Mandatory items are a helmet, a warm motorcycle jacket with armour, gloves, good quality motorcycle trousers with armour, and sturdy, high (mountain) boots. In view of the big differences in temperature it is advisable to wear a motorcycle jacket with removable lining. Then, when necessary during cold parts of the trip you can wear extra clothing underneath your jacket. Make sure you have good strong gloves, no summer gloves. Also useful a good pair of sunglasses and a helmet with visor to protect against dust.  If your motorbike gear is not waterproof it is a good idea to bring separate waterproofs.

Insurance
The bike has standard liability insurance that covers physical damage to third parties with zero deductible coverage. However third party material damage is not included. Also any damage to your own bike is not insured up to a maximum of 4,500 US$. It is possible to buy an insurance for motorbike damage, which costs 350US$ per trip. The deductible coverage is then reduced from 4,500 US$ to 700 US$.

Visa
For most nationalities there is no need to arrange a visa beforehand for either Chile or Argentina. Please check if this also counts for your nationality.

More details about the trip and items to bring can be found in the tour’s handbook which you will receive approximately one month prior to departure.