Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to South America!
Highlights: Cruce de lagos by boat and shuttle.
We meet this morning around 8 am in Puerto Varas and head off for our first crossing of the Andes, by boat! The Cruce de Lagos is a beautiful introduction to the region. We'll have a long day filled with peaks, mountains and stunning lake views before reaching Bariloche and having dinner together. No bicycling today as we'll fit bikes tomorrow.

Lodging: Hotel Edelweiss
Day 2: Bariloche - Villa La Angostura
Highlights: Lake Nauhel Huapi, scenic road to Villa La Angostura
This morning we we'll avoid traffic with a 20 km (12 miles) shuttle out of Bariloche where we'll find our bikes, fit them and then begin our ride at the south eastern tip of Lake Nahuel Huapi where you'll enjoy beautiful views on your way to Paso Coihue. We'll feast on a delicious picnic lunch together on the shore of the lake before continuing on to Villa La Angostura on one of Argentina's most scenic roads. Villa La Angostura is picture-perfect nestled in the foothills of the mountains. Dinner is on your own tonight. Distance: about 70 km (43 miles).

Lodging: Hosteria El Establo
Day 3: Crossing into Chile
Highlights: Cardenal Samore Pass, thermal spas
Heading across the Andes we'll pedal from Lake Espejo over the Cardenal Samore Pass to our thermal resort at the Termas de Puyehue. We'll have a picnic lunch together before enjoying the downhill into Chile! Be sure to take time to relax in the hotel's thermal pools before dinner together this evening. Today's mileage: 85- 93 km (52 - 55 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Termas De Puyehue
Day 4: Termas de Puyehue to Puerto Octay on Lago Llanquihue
Highlights: Chile's Lake District, Lake Llanquihue
We have left the Andes and are now in Chile's picturesque Lake District. You may confuse your surroundings with Switzerland until you stop for a picnic lunch in a local dairy farm and restaurant which has a distinctly Chilean feel and a very interesting history. From here, we'll shuttle the last km to the hotel in Puerto Octay, unless of course you are up for the challenge! Puerto Octay is situated on the edge of Chile's largest lake, Lago Llanquihue (say "yan-key-way"), and was originally a center of German settlement in Chile's Lake District. Our hotel is beautifully situated overlooking the lake. Dinner is together this evening. Distance: 65-90 km (37-56 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Centinela
Day 5: Puerto Octay to Puerto Varas
Highlights: Lake Llanquihue, views of Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes, Frutillar
We pedal around the west side of Lake Llanquihue today with beautiful views across the lake of the Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes. We'll stop in Frutillar today for lunch. The Germans have had a strong influence in this area and we encourage you to visit the excellent outdoor German Pioneer Museum commemorating the lives of this region's early settlers. We'll pedal along the beautiful lake shore road to Llanquihue before we shuttle into Puerto Varas. Dinner is on your own this evening in the town of Puerto Varas. Daily mileage: 32 - 100 km (13- 62 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Solace
Day 6: Rest day, or rafting
Highlights: Visit Puerto Varas, go rafting or take a rest day
Today is a rest day for those who want. Puerto Varas is a small but bustling town with numerous craft stores and great walks along the lake. We'll offer a half day of rafting today on the Petrohue River around Puerto Varas today. Or, enjoy the town, sit and drink a Pisco Sour while enjoying the view! Dinner is on your own. Today's optional activity: 4 to 5 hours

Lodging: Hotel Solace
Day 7: To Petrohué
Highlights: Beautiful views, town of Ensenada, Petrohué and waterfalls
Continuing our ride around Lake Llanquihue we'll enjoy more great views of Osorno Volcano. As we make our way to Petrohué and Lago Todos los Santos we'll pass through the small village of Ensenada, and make a stop to visit the famous "saltos", or waterfalls. Take the shuttle or bike the last 6 km of gravel to the hotel before relaxing at the edge one of Patagonia's beautiful lakes. We'll have our final dinner together this evening. Estimated distance: 63-69 km (39-43 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Petrohue

Day 8: Journey's end
Highlights:
Our tour ends after breakfast this morning. We'll provide a shuttle to the airport in Puerto Montt for those who are flying home. If you need to return to Bariloche, we recommend transferring across Todos los Santos Lake. This trip has daily departures and the bus leaves just one hundred meters from our hotel! It is a beautiful and relaxing boat and bus trip and you'll arrive in Bariloche in time for a late dinner. Whatever your plans, buen viaje!

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