Patagonia gravel bike tour
Ride the backroads from the andes to the ocean
Pedal from the chile/argentina border to the pacific ocean in the chile lake district
Cycle - Andes to the Ocean
This cycle tour goes from the Chile/Argentina border to the Pacific Ocean. The trip is about 130 miles in distance and is broken down into five stages. You’re literally going from the Andes to the Pacific.
WHY bike from the andes to the ocean?
The backroads tour is a great way to see the northern Patagonia & Chile Lakes District while experiencing the accomplishment of biking from the mountains to the ocean.
Pedal Chile only offers luxurious biking vacations and this cycling tour is no exception. After spending a few hours in the saddle it’s great to have cozy accommodations with a view.
The northern Patagonia offers perfect pedaling weather, with the warm weather months being November to March. Daytime temp during these months average 60’s - 70’s Fahrenheit. Want more info? Read our Climate of Chile post.
After riding, we will shuttle to our favorite restaurants, hot springs, and beaches. Our team/family has been everywhere and has seen it all……
This is a cycle VACATION: No packing heavy gear or using panniers. All your responsible for is water and spare tube. Vacations are supposed to be fun!
Our modified Giant Trance 2 (27.5) full-suspension bike is included. No need to bring your bike. We use this bike since we will be cycling on gravel & old forest roads. We have modified the Giant Trance 2, a full suspension MTB, and have turned it into a gravel bike. What does this mean? It has over double the top-end speed of the stock Giant Trance 2, without any extra weight added!
DAY 1: land in Valdivia
Today you will land in Valdivia, Chile. Valdivia is a little city in southern Chile, that is known for its breweries and numerous universities. The Pedal Chile Team will pick you up from the Pichoy Airport, and bring you to the city’s only five-star hotel. Valdivia is located at the confluence of 3 rivers, and about 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Once you’re ready to explore, we will take you to the most famous brewery in Chile, where you will enjoy your first Chilean beer and meal. Afterward, you can stroll through the botanical garden at the university or relax and watch the sunset from the beach.
Today is just an arrival day, and you will not be doing any cycling. Enjoy your first day and welcome to northern Patagonia !
Interesting Fact: Chilean Dolphin
The Chilean Dolphin (cephalorhynchus eutropia) is one of the smallest dolphins in the world (adult weighs under 100 pounds). This dolphin is only found off the coast of Chile. Valparaiso to Chiloé (Valdivia area) is one of only 2 known habitats for this rare mammal. According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), this species of dolphin has a wild population of under 5,000. The cephalorhynchus eutropia lives in the northern Valdivia area year-round, and is best spotted close to shore during the Chilean summer.
Chilean Dolphins off coast of southern Chile
DAY 2: BIKE FROM THE CHILE-ARGENTINA BORDER TO the best hot spring IN the southern hemisphere
Today, we will drive from Valdivia to the Chile/Argentina border, and begin our first cycle day. We will be in the heart of the Andes mountain range and will enjoy a smooth 31 miles of mostly downhill pedaling on a gravel road to the rustic town of Coñaripe.
After, we will drive 12 miles to the most picturesque hot spring in all of Chile and enjoy a soak. This amazing hot spring, which is located in a national park, has 20 different thermal baths of varying temperatures, including 3 cold baths.
Finally, we will enjoy our evening in a rustic lakeside town where you can sip on some locals brews/wine. Enjoy a great night of rest in your lodging that is right next to a glacier-fed lake.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Begin riding through the Andes mountain range from the Chilean/Argentina border
Soak in world famous thermal baths
Chilean bbq. Patagonia has over 12,000 sheep farms. The long days and cool nights make for perfect fire cooking weather. Artisanal beer and wine are both perfect compliments to lamb cooked over an open fire
THE DAILY DETAILS:
Lodging location: Coñaripe
Supper: Real life Chilean BBQ with truly organic meet from the Patagonia
Cycling segment: 31 miles total with 3000 feet of elevation loss
DAY 3: COÑARIPE TO PANGUIPULLI
Today you will cycle from one beautiful glacier-fed lake to another. Panguipulli is known as the city of roses since nearly 14,000 rose bushes line the streets. This town was founded in 1885 as a trading post by the Mapuche and Pehuenche.
The ride today will be 23 miles of gravel roads, all of it skirting the San Pablo Reserve. This section of the road follows Route 203, which is a scenic and non-busy gravel road. We are just thankful that this road has some 4x4 sections, which keeps the traffic down to just the most specialized vehicles…or full suspension bikes.
Tonight, you will enjoy an evening of relaxing along the shores of Lake Panquipulli, after we take you to the best restaurant in town with stunning lake views.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Pedal along the San Pablo Reserve
Cycle from one glacier-fed lake to another
THE DAILY DETAILS:
Lodging location: Panguipulli
Supper: Best restaurant in town or at least I think so. This restaurant has an amazing patio, which offers great lake views with a nice selection of local Chilean wine and cold beer
Cycling segment: 23 miles total with 210 feet of total elevation loss (100 percent gravel road alongside the San Pablo Reserve)
DAY 4: PANGUIPULLI TO LANCO
Today we will all sleep-in, stroll around town or relax on the beach before starting our fairly easy 29-mile bike ride. Today’s ride is 80% gravel backroads and will be a fairly quick 29 miles of pedaling. Not much uphill or downhill with only 180 feet of net elevation drop.
After, we will drive about 40 minutes to the town of Villarrica, which is a super neat town, on a stunning lake, with amazing views of the most active volcano in Chile. We will be spending the night here. You will have an opportunity to walk around the lake, relax on black-sand beaches, and gaze at the smoke rising from Volcán Villarrica.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Black sand beach in Panguipulli
Views of Volcán Villarrica. This volcano has erupted over 60 times since 1558, and most recently in early 2015.
Experiencing Villarrica. We might be slightly biased, but this city is one of our favorites. Not as touristy as Pucón, but still situated on the same lake with stunning views of the same puffing volcano.
THE DAILY DETAILS:
Lodging location: Villarrica
Supper: We will be eating at a local restaurant, which specializes in authentic Mapuche food. This food is delicious and very unique. The Mapuche are native to Patagonia, and their dishes use ingredients that can only be found from the local area
Cycling segment: 29 miles with 180 feet of total elevation drop
DAY 5: BIKE FROM THE LANCO TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN
Today you will bike a 34-mile rustic old logging road that links the town of Lanco to Mehuin. Today will be the most challenging day with over 1200 feet of climbing and about 1500 feet of elevation descent. We will be riding through the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, which is the southernmost forest in the world, and the oldest in South America.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Bike through the oldest forest in South America. The oldest tree in this forest is 3622 years old. The shear size of these trees can only be appreciate from below
Mehuin Beach, on the Pacific. This is as pretty of a beach as you will ever find and without the crowds. The best way to access this beach is by bike, and that is what you just did
You just MTBed from the Andes to the Pacific
THE DAILY DETAILS:
Lodging location: Mehuin (seaside hotel)
Supper: Local fresh seafood
Cycling segment: 34-miles total with 200 feet of total elevation drop. This will be the longest section, but fear not….tomorrow will be a breezy 15 miles (or less) of biking. Looking for any assistance with biking fitness? If so, check out our blog article: “best exercises”
interesting info: Mehuin & mapuche peoples
Northern Patagonia and Chile Lake District is home to the largest native population in Chile. The Mapuche (Araucanians) is one of eight indigenous groups (all groups speak the Mapuche language of Mapudungun) and represents 80 percent of all native people in the country. The Mapuche define themselves based upon their geographical area. The Lafkenche (translates to “people of the sea”) live in Mehuin and the surrounding area. This native group is commonly known as the Coastal Mapuche people.
The Mehuin area is home to a majority Lafkenche population and are experts at fishing. The fish market here is said to be the most authentic, fresh and interesting in the whole of Chile.
If you would like more interesting information about Chile: visit our Why Pedal Chile page
DAY 6: BIKE ALONG THE PICTURESQUE PACIFIC COAST WHILE STOPPING AT REMOTE BEACHES
Today you will bike along gravel roads along the pristine Pacific coast, stopping at remote beaches when the mood strikes. Once we are all ready to get off the bikes, we will drive to the beachside town of Niebla. In this lovely town, we will enjoy fresh seafood and other local food, Chilean beer/wine, and we will walk to Fuerte de Niebla. This is a Spanish fort that was built in 1667 and is currently a museum. Niebla is the perfect place to view the sunset or enjoy a lovely beachside stroll.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Stopping at numerous pristine beaches on the Pacific Ocean
Stroll around an old fort that was built by the Spaniards
THE DAILY DETAILS:
Lodging location: Niebla (ocean side lodging)
Supper: Chilean BBQ and/or fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean
Cycling segment: Under 15 miles and mostly flat. Super relaxed day of pedaling and chilling on beautiful beaches
DAY 7: Return home (SATURDAY)
Today we will drop you off at the Pichoy Airport about a 40-minute drive from Valdivia. You just cycled from the Chilean/Argentinian border to the Pacific Ocean.