Motorcycling in Patagonia is adventure in its purest form: forget busy highways with convenient fuel stations and roadside cafes, bustling cities and fast WiFi. Out here, it feels as though you’re traveling in the outback, so remote and so untouched by civilisation you will almost feel like you’re the first human on Earth.
This motorcycle tour of Patagonia is an all-encompassing route, designed as a truly ‘once in a lifetime’ adventure that ticks all the boxes, leaving no stone unturned and sending you home with a feeling of accomplishment, knowing that you’ve just ridden one of the World’s greatest motorcycle adventures.
We’ll travel some of Patagonia’s most scenic routes including the famous Ruta 40 and Carreterra Austral, stay in traditional hacienda and experience the gaucho culture. Finish up in Punta Arenas or continue the ride to reach Ushuaia, AKA “The World’s End”. Ushuaia is the southernmost city of the planet which has long been the absolute pinnacle of adventure motorcycling destinations.
Along the way, we’ll zig and zag between Chile and Argentina traversing the otherworldly Patagonian landscape, cross Torres del Paine National Park, see the natural marble caves, the Perito Moreno glacier and taste the famous Argentinian steak.
Expect the unexpected, prepare for some gravel roads and strong winds, and let the adventure begin!
- Pucon arrival
“Bienvenidos” (Welcome) is something you’ll hear a lot in Chile and Argentina, as South American hospitality is truly unparalleled. You’ll be met at Temuco airport and transferred to Pucon, where your adventure will finally begin! The transfer time is approximately 2 hours so sit back and relax as you enjoy the Chilean scenery. After a ‘welcome briefing’ and lunch at your hotel, you will have the opportunity to get familiar with your bike with a leisurely afternoon.
- Accommodation: Country style hotel.
- Included Meals: Lunch, dinner.
- N.B. You’ll need to book a flight to Temuco (airport code: ZCO) from Santiago (airport code: SCL). Please book the early morning (approx 7:30am) flight with Latam Airlines. Flight time is approx 1.5 hours.
- Pucon – Bariloche, 380km
An excellent day’s riding is ahead of us as we leave Pucon and venture into the Patagonian backcountry, tackling a mixture of gravel and tarmac roads.
We’ll skirt around some of Argentina’s most picturesque lakes, catch a glimpse of Volcano Lanin and hit a region known as the Argentinian Switzerland, with San Carlos de Bariloche as our destination for the day. Bariloche is beloved by locals and travellers alike: famous for its awe-inspiring scenery, bright turquoise lakes corralled by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Lunch today will be enjoyed en-route and then it’s back on the bikes to enjoy the phenomenal riding to Bariloche. With its quirky mountain town vibe, Bariloche is a must-see in Argentina. There are some great restaurant options in town so this evening you are free to choose where to tempt your taste buds with some local cuisine.
- Accommodation: 3* hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
- Bariloche – Futaleufu, 380km
Another incredible day of riding today. With our first border crossing complete, we’ll join the legendary Ruta 40, Argentina’s most famous road frequented by two-wheeled travellers from around the world.
We’ll ride the fantastic Circuito Chico to admire the views of the Lake Perito Moreno, then head South, following the thrilling twisties to the Butch Cassidy’s ranch where we’ll stop for lunch and take a look around the notorious gunslinger’s cabin. This is rugged Patagonian cowboy country and the notorious gunslinger’s legend is still very much alive here!
Traveling towards Futaleufu (beers are on us if you can pronounce that correctly the first time!), we will experience the insane riding through Los Alerces National Park and end the day back on the Chilean side of the border.
- Accommodation: Rural lodge.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Futaleufu – Puyuhuapi, 200km
Time to go off grid and brave the wilderness: today, we’ll hit Carreterra Austral, Chile’s most beautiful and remote road meandering across pristine, unspoiled landscapes.
It’s a relaxed day designed to let you catch a breather and take advantage of the breakfast buffet and swimming pool, before we take you for some dirt riding. For the first 50km, we’ll ride a gravel road followed by 90km of tarmac with plenty of curves and bends. Next up is a 40km gravel stretch of vertigo-inducing switchbacks (take it easy on this section!) and then 20kms of paved bliss to finish off the day. The road is slowly being upgraded to tar so the gravel sections are becoming shorter with each visit we do.
Our hotel has no road access, so when we’re finished with the bikes, we’ll hop on a boat that will take us across the water. If you like natural hot springs, this resort will be right up your street. There’s no internet here and it’s a great place to really switch off from the world, have a long soak in the thermal pools, and relax, admiring the shimmering Southern Cross in the unpolluted Chilean skies.
- Accommodation: 5* lakeside lodge and spa with hot pools (no wifi).
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Puyuhuapi – Coyhaique, 225km
Inching ever closer to some seriously remote Southern lands, we’ll have an early start today heading for Coyhaique, a true frontier town with sculptures and artwork honouring the gaucho culture lining the streets and the best Chilean empanadas in the country.
We’ll kick the day off riding gravel roads knotted up in narrow switchbacks, then enjoy a 170-kilometre stretch of tarmac leading us through mountains and amazing scenery as we descend into Coyhaique at the end of the day.
- Accommodation: Comfortable hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
- Coyhaique – Puerto Rio Tranquilo, 220km
If Coyhaique is the capital of Chilean Patagonia, Puerto Rio Tranquilo, is one of its most iconic gaucho towns still retaining the spirit of an authentic, remote outback trading post. Think cowboys, sheriffs, and saloons: founded in the early fifties as a hub for local ranchers, Puerto Rio Tranquilo has stunning natural beauty and a wonderful rugged atmosphere.
We’ll cover the first 95km of paved roads, then tackle some 120km of gravel with a few sections under construction here and there. Keep an eye out for trucks on the road, but don‘t forget to take in the scenery: today, we’re entering the very heart of Chilean Patagonia.
Along the way, we’ll have a delicious picnic lunch and plenty of photo stops before we arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo where we can then relax in our comfortable accommodation. We’ll stay here for two nights for some R&R and the chance to explore the town’s best kept secret: the marble caves!
- Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Puerto Rio Tranquilo Rest day
Puerto Rio Tranquilo translates to “The Port on the Tranquil River”, so if you feel like putting your feet up and having a relaxed rest day, we can’t blame you: the views, the vibe and the cuisine here are perfect for recharging after some hard days of riding. If, however, you’d like to go on a different type of adventure and explore the marble caves, you can join the three-hour boat excursion to see the surreal caverns on Lake General Carrera.
Still itching to ride? Jump on the bike and ride around the lake, taking in the views of the Andes and chatting to local gauchos you’ll undoubtedly spot here. You can also try your hand at fly fishing or horse riding if you fancy.
- Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation
- Included Meals: Breakfast.
- Puerto Rio Tranquilo – Logo Posadas, 240km
It’s time to leave Chile and return to Argentina, with 165km of gravel, incredible scenery and one of the most exciting stretches of the entire route ahead! Make sure your camera is fully charged: today, you’ll want to stop around every corner for some jaw-dropping photo ops!
It is all gravel riding today and we will end the day next to a spectacular lake.
- Accommodation: Lakeside guestfarm.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Logo Posadas – Gobernador Gregores, 260km
Travelling southward on the fabled Ruta 40 today, we’ll hit the road at 7am to cover some distance.
Today’s route is among the loneliest of them all: nothing but the endless Patagonian pampa stretching out as far as the eye can see, the wild guanaco (a creature that resembles the Peruvian llama somewhat) and ostriches our only company on the road.
Brace for the notorious Patagonian side winds today and let your imagination run wild: this is the real deal, the vast, faraway corners of Patagonia, sparsely dotted with a few remote ranches and small settlements here and there.
- Accommodation: Hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Gobernador Gregores – El Chaltén, 280km
Brace yourself for a serious adventure today: we’ll tackle 120km of gravel roads leading us through some of Southern Patagonia’s most scenic landscapes, sprinkled with glacial lagoons and pristine forests. For the first 40km we’ll travel the old Ruta 40 on gravel, then hit the famous 73 Malditos – a stretch of 73km of deep, loose gravel that will require a bit of concentration.
Past Tres Lagos, a town that looks like an old fur trading post, we’ll put in 140km along Lake Viedma, one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in this part of the world. There’ll be plenty of challenges, photo stops, and some riding which’ll feel right out of this world!
- Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
- El Chalten – Perito Moreno Glacier – EL Calafate, 365km
Lago Argentine, a lake we will skirt on our way to El Calafate, is so impossibly turquoise blue it looks like it has its own technicolor filter, but the secret behind the crazy hues of the water is the Perito Moreno glacier feeding the lake.
No trip to Patagonia would be complete without seeing the famous Perito Moreno glacier, a beast of an icefield towering 240 feet above the waters of Lago Argentino.
Glistening in the most incredible hues of blue and white, Perito Moreno glacier is a sight to behold: slowly advancing forward, this creaking, shuddering, breaking mass of ice looks like a frozen tsunami, and today, we’ll get to see it from up close.
It’s a scenic ride to the viewpoint of the glacier with plenty of twisties and big, sweeping curves along the way. When we arrive have lunch at any of the 2 restaurants at the glacier park, then enjoy a short hike around the viewpoints or hop on a boat to see the glaciers from up close. Be sure to put on a warmer layer – it gets chilly near the glacier!
After exploring the Perito Moreno area, we’ll jump back on the bikes and return to El Calafate enjoying the breath-taking views of Lake Argentino. We recommend taking an hour or two to explore El Calafate on foot: it’s the adventure capital of Argentinian Patagonia and it’s worth checking out its quirky bohemian cafes, artisan shops, and local eateries.
- Accommodation: Comfortable hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast.
- El Calafate – Puerto Natales, 380km
Today we make our way back into Chile and will get our first glimpses of the Blue Towers of the Torres Del Paine National Park, one of the most stunning national parks in Patagonia.
Before we cross the border we will stop to refuel in a little coal mining town called Rio Turbio, expect gail force winds, stark and extremely desolate landscapes all the way there. Our destination for tonight is Puerto Natales which is a beautiful coastal town open to the Patagonian fjords.
- Accommodation: Lodge.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
- Torres Del Paine National Park Loop, 200km
Today we can explore Torres del Paine National Park or take a well deserved rest day if you prefer. However, the riding, the scenery, and the feeling of complete, unbridled freedom as you discover Torres del Paine is something we highly recommend.
If you choose to explore the park, there is a good lunch option called Lago Grey Hotel that puts together quite a good lunch.
- Accommodation: Lodge.
- Included Meals: Breakfast only.
- Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas, 250km
Today we head South, traversing a wild, untouched country of gauchos and windswept roads which take us to Punta Arenas, Chile’s southernmost port city known for its Antarctic expeditions (and Chilean lamb asado, which is to die for by the way). 250km of pure two-wheeled bliss awaits, with gravel patches here and there and a lake inhabited by flamingos.
As tonight is the final night for those not continuing to Ushuaia, we will enjoy an excellent farewell dinner as a group.
- Accommodation: 4* hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Punta Arenas – Ushuaia, 620km
While the best riding and scenery is now behind us, there is still one box that remains unticked… ‘The End of the World’. The reward of reaching Ushuaia does not come easy though – the fierce Patagonian winds will be roaring, the riding days will be long and the scenery less impressive than what we’ve experienced during the past couple of weeks. The high winds also wreak havoc with the ferry crossings, so our plans may need to change with the timetables and there is even the risk that cancelled ferries will cause us to arrive back in Punta Arenas later than intended. But for those who want the feeling of reaching Fin del Mundo, it has to be done!
So, after a short ferry crossing we’ll ride into Tierra del Fuego – the ‘Land of Fire’ – an island famous for its otherworldly scenery of Antarctic tundra, the stunning Garibaldi Pass and finally, Ushuaia, the World’s southernmost city where the road literally ends.
- Accommodation: 5* Hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Ushuaia
Congratulations: you have reached the World’s End! If you’d like to celebrate with a hearty lunch and a glass of local Fernet, we don’t blame you. If, however, you’d rather take a ride for that iconic photo at the Fin del Mundo sign, see where Route 3 ends, or take a boat to the Beagle Channel, we’re up for it!
- Accommodation: 5* Hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast.
- Ushuai – Punta Arenas, 620km
Crossing the enchanting Tierra del Fuego, we’ll once more be heading for another ferry crossing before looping back towards Punta Arenas. It’s a big day in the saddle that gives you time to reflect on the epic journey behind us.
Upon reaching Punta Arenas, we’ll bid an emotional farewell to our bikes before arriving tired yet triumphant at our final hotel.
- Accommodation: 4* Hotel.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Punta Arenas departure
It’s hard to believe, but the journey ends here. You’ve traversed the length of Patagonia on your motorcycle, braved the mountains and the steppe, survived the notorious sidewinds, crossed Tierra del Fuego, and reached the World’s End: an adventure of a lifetime indeed! We wish you a safe journey home… until the road calls again.
- Accommodation: Not included.
- Included Meals: Breakfast only.
