SOUTH AMERICA CYCLING TOUR OVERVIEW
From Patagonia’s purest pleasures to Isla Negra’s haunting Nerudaian poetry, our Che tour will envelop you in a unique and spiritual mystery, found only in the unspoilt, enchanted hinterlands of South America. Join us for this epic adventure as we soar into the dizzy heights of ‘Los Andes’ and their untamed beauty and explore Che Guevara’s dusty trails set some sixty years before our tentative and excited scouting.
This volcanic wonderland shaped and fuelled the revolutionary thoughts of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, born in 1928. ‘The Man’ himself cuts a fascinating figure—equally revered and reviled around the world. Starting in Santiago, Chile, we follow in his footsteps along the exceptional Pacific Coast and wine regions of Chile—the Casablanca, Maipu, and Colchagua valleys, traversing over the Andes into the breath-taking lake districts and volcanoes of Patagonia, before finishing in Bariloche, Argentina. As always, exceptional cuisine and unique accommodation is a treat you can’t imagine. Think five-star treehouse or glass lodge with the view of a smoking volcano out of your window!
CHE
SANTIAGO TO BARILOCHE
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Max is Australian born but has spent much of the last 15 years in Chile. He speaks fluent Spanish and has covered most of South America by bike. He is a highly experienced bike guide and is the heart and soul of any tour he leads. His amazing attention to guests makes him much loved and valued by every rider who joins us on tour.
- Experience the famous Maule region's mouth-watering oceanic food culture
- Roll through spectacular wine regions of Chile - The Casablanca, Maipu and Colchagua Valleys, tasting for yourself why their wines have such worldwide acclaim
- Roll along the stunningly rugged Pacific coast with its beautiful architectural hotels which we regularly take advantage of!
- From the Pacific Coast, climb the Andes to our hotel at the base of the smoking Volcano - Lonquimay
- Visit and swim, if you dare, in the chilling waterfall of Salto Del Indio!
- As well as epic cycling, take a walk up a Volcano, a leisurely stroll on a beach to visit the incredible Piedra de la Iglesia (the church rock) and hike to Lapostelle ridge for a 360 degree view of Chile's premier grape growing valley.
- Gaze up at Volcan Villarrica, one of Chile's most awesome sights
- Finish in Pucon, centre of adventure and volcanoes in South America!
- Traversing the world’s second highest mountain range - The Andes!
- The Lakes district of Chile, finishing in one of kind Huilo Huilo with its tree house Hotel Nothofagus
- Looking over the breath-taking snowy behemoths of La Cordillera
- Cycle up Volcan Osorno, Chile's Alpe d'huez - you will not go away without surmounting a volcano or 2!
- Ferrying and mountain biking (just for a day!) across the spectacular lake district of Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina. An unforgettable way to finish an epic journey
- Rejuvenating at the end of the tour in spectacular Bariloche at the Llao Llao Resort, voted one of South America's best hotels.
- Volcanoes, lakes and class hotels - that is what this stage is about!
Stage | Dates | Days | Distance | Grading* | Cost (USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1. Santiago to Pucon | 13 - 28 November | 16 (15 nights) | 1202 km / 747 miles | $8,900 | |
Stage 2. Pucon to Bariloche | 28 November - 11 December | 14 (13 nights) | 946 km / 588 miles | $7,900 | |
Odyssey. Santiago to Bariloche | 13 November - 11 December | 29 (28 nights) | 2148 km / 1335 miles | $15,900 |
Please note pricing for Che is in USD. Rates are based on twin share. Single supplement = $85 USD per night.
For bike rental options please click here.
Stage | Stage 1. Santiago to Lonquimay | Stage 2. Lonquimay to Bariloche | Odyssey. Bariloche to Santiago |
Dates | 13 - 28 Nov | 28 Nov - 11 Dec | 13 Nov-11 Dec |
Days | 16 | 14 | 29 |
Distance | 1202 km | 747 mi | 946 km | 588 mi | 2148 km | 1335 mi |
Grading* | 3 x | 3 x | 3 x |
Cost (USD) | $8,900 | $7,900 | $15,900 |
Please note pricing for Che is in USD. Rates are based on twin share. Single supplement = $90 USD per night.
For bike rental options please click here.
Stage | Dates | Days | Distance | Grading* | Cost (USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1. Santiago to Pucon | 11 - 26 November | 16 (15 nights) | 1202 km / 747 miles | $8,900 | |
Stage 2. Pucon to Bariloche | 26 November - 9 December | 14 (13 nights) | 946 km / 588 miles | $7,900 | |
Odyssey. Santiago to Bariloche | 11 November - 9 December | 29 (28 nights) | 2148 km / 1335 miles | $15,900 |
Please note pricing for Che is in USD. Rates are based on twin share. Single supplement = $85 USD per night.
For bike rental options please click here.
Stage | Stage 1. Santiago to Lonquimay | Stage 2. Lonquimay to Bariloche | Odyssey. Bariloche to Santiago |
Dates | 11 - 26 Nov | 26 Nov - 9 Dec | 11 Nov - 9 Dec |
Days | 16 | 14 | 29 |
Distance | 1202 km | 747 mi | 946 km | 588 mi | 2148 km | 1335 mi |
Grading* | 3 x | 3 x | 3 x |
Cost (USD) | $8,900 | $7,900 | $15,900 |
Please note pricing for Che is in USD. Rates are based on twin share. Single supplement = $90 USD per night.
For bike rental options please click here.
A great write-up in Luxury Travel Australia placing Che as one of the great adventures of 2023 and beyond.
South America is a truly amazing place to ride a bike!
On Che - Santiago to Bariloche, the beautiful lodges in the National Parks, designer hotels on the Pacific coast and hip wineries make for some exceptional stays. Here are some places you will stay at on the tour:
Food in Chile will excite your taste buds in ways you haven't experienced before. Some of the places we eat on the Che tour are amazing! Here are a few of our favourites:
Read more about the Food and Wine of the regions we ride through
Chilean cuisine varies depending where you are, because of its ecological and climatic diversity. Right down its long coast, the ocean provides seafood as the main ingredient of its many dishes. Local crops are the staple of each regional cuisine, which have been prepared for thousands of years by native Indians before the Spanish arrived. Among the most important agricultural crops are maize, also known as choclo, quinoa and potatoes which have been cultivated since pre-Inca times providing nourishment in the high altitudes of the Andes.
Empanadas: Fabulous at any time of the day and found across Argentina and Chile are these small pies filled with all types of filling, although ham, cheese and meat are the most popular. During the week before Easter, special empanadas are filled with tuna or cod. A great snack to keep up energy for pedalling!
Pebre: This is probably the most ubiquitous condiment in Chile. The spicy mixture of chili peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro comes in many variations in different regions of the country. The red colour of most pebres comes from red chili pepper paste, not tomatoes, so it does not taste like most North American salsas. You will find it served with virtually anything - a sandwich, as a dip for bread, or served over grilled meats. You cannot, and will not, want to escape this addictive Chilean dish.
Chile has a long viticultural history for a New World wine region dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonised the region.
Chile has 2,700 miles of coastline along the frigid Pacific Ocean and a climate that is described as midway between that of California and France. These factors allow perfect growing conditions for a number of wines that have recently been getting international acclaim.
Chile produces wines that are both fruity and herbaceous, similar to French wine, making it no wonder that French wine producers from Bordeaux have invested heavily in the region, making it their home away from home. The increase of wineries in Chile over the last 30 years relates partly to the large amount of French families immigrating to Chile during the late 20th century. Not only the French, but Germans, Spanish and Swiss also have invested in Chilean vineyards to share their fine tastes, experience and knowledge of the wine world.
We will be tasting internationally acclaimed New World wines throughout our tour, leaving you in no doubt why Chile is winning awards and competitions throughout, even over Old World wines. Chilean winemakers have been developing a distinct style for their Cabernet Sauvignon, producing an easy drinking wine with soft tannins and flavours of mint, blackcurrant, olives and smoke.
Two of the most refined wineries we will take you to during the Che Tour are in The Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys of the Aconcagua Wine Region. In Casablanca Valley, vines were first planted in the mid-1980s during the revitalisation of the Chilean wine industry. The area quickly became known for its white wines, most notably Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay as well as Pinot Noir, which thrive in its cooler climate.
Just below, the San Antonio Valley is known for producing Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Like the Casablanca Valley, San Antonio is highly influenced by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean, but whose soils are granitic, poor and well drained with a topsoil of clay, providing a good substrate for vines. It is seen as the best up and coming wine area of Chile.
Che Guevara has become a legendary political figure. Often equated heroically with rebellion, revolution, and socialism, many also remember that he was ruthless; he ordered executions without trial in Cuba. However, Guevara’s image remains a prevalent icon of leftist radicalism and anti-imperialism.
Che Guevara was born Ernesto de la Serna on 14 June 1928 in Rosario, Argentina. As a student he travelled widely and his worldview was changed by a nine-month journey he began in December 1951, with his friend Alberto Granado. That trip took them from Argentina through Chile, Peru, Colombia, and on to Venezuela, from which Guevara travelled alone on to Miami, returning to Argentina by plane (we only ride the Argentina - Chile Section!). During the trip, Guevara kept a journal that was posthumously published under his family’s guidance as The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey (2003) and adapted to film as The Motorcycle Diaries (2004).
During these travels he observed the great poverty of the masses and the state of the Latin American countries. His eventual conclusion was that the only solution lay in violent revolution. In 1954 he went to Mexico and in the following year he met Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Guevara joined Castro's '26th July Movement' and played a key role in the eventual success of its guerrilla war against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Castro overthrew Batista in 1959 and took power in Cuba. From 1959-1961, Guevara was president of the National Bank of Cuba, and then Minister of Industry. In this position, he travelled the world as an ambassador for Cuba. At home, he carried out plans for land redistribution and the nationalisation of industry.
A strong opponent of the United States, he guided the Castro regime towards alignment with the Soviet Union. The Cuban economy faltered as a result of American trade sanctions and unsuccessful reforms. During this difficult time, Guevara began to fall out with the other Cuban leaders. He later expressed his desire to spread revolution in other parts of the developing world, and in 1965 Castro announced that Guevara had left Cuba.
Guevara then spent several months in Africa, particularly the Congo, attempting to train rebel forces in guerrilla warfare. His efforts failed and in 1966 he secretly returned to Cuba. From Cuba he travelled to Bolivia to lead forces rebelling against the government of René Barrientos Ortuño. With US assistance, the Bolivian army captured Guevara and his remaining fighters. He was executed on 9 October 1967 in the Bolivian village of La Higuera and his body was buried in a secret location. In 1997 his remains were discovered, exhumed and returned to Cuba, where he was reburied.
'Che' is a form of colloquial slang commonly used in Argentina and Uruguay in a vocative sense as "friend" and thus loosely corresponds to expressions like "mate," "pal," "man," "bro," or "dude."
Ernesto "Che" Guevara earned his nickname from his frequent use of the expression, which to his Cuban comrades in the Cuban Revolution was a curious feature of his idiolect. As a result, Guevara is popularly known simply as el Che (the Che) in many Latin American countries.
Bike Odyssey is the coolest cycle tour company in the cosmos! I can’t wait to get to the next tour! Thanks to Sam and the team.
Che is my second tour with Sam and his team. It was great… again! I would highly recommend them and now wondering when I can line up my third tour.
As inexperienced cyclists we were very capably supported throughout the wonderful Che tour, an exotic, challenging and exciting experience. Wonderful arrangements, great guides and support staff, and the ability to adapt to the different needs of the riders and local situations. They were also great at helping the group gel and work well together.
There’s no better way to see these countries, especially the Andes. Cycling routes were challenging and time off the bike was spectacular. Accommodation was a destination in itself. Guides were excellent! It was tough but the rewards made every pedal stroke worthwhile. The 80km lakeside route culminating in the climb of Volcan Osorno was awesome and, as always, rewarded with a pisco sour. Great people, great challenges and countries that took me to places I’d never imagined! I’ll be lining up for another tour next year.