Im planning to cycle inte the south of Chile and Argentina from middle of november. I might take the Carretera Austral as I heard its very beautiful and good for cycling.
I dont go fast but at times quite long days. Like to stop and enjoy nature and peoble along the road, Im more out for the trip than for the cycling but I find it the best way to travell. I love cycling but Im not one of those who is trying to achieve dictanses or cant take a bus or lorry when its to rough or wether is to bad.
Will bring my tent but planning to stay in hostels when there is one.
I have made some long cyclingtrips erlier. I cycled 3 month in Afrika a coupple of years ago, from Kenya to Zimbabwe. Last year I made a cycling tour around Laos, Yunnan and Vietnam.
So far I have been cycling alone but I think It would be fun to have company or even be a small group, at least part of the way.
I work as a journalist and at times I do storys along the road, I will defenetly this time as my company wants me to deliver some.
Im a middleaged swedish woman. I speak easy spanish and have visited the two countrys before. Im quite social and I have travelled a lot all my life. I have alsow worked as a correspondent in USA, Middle East and Asia. I can take care of myself anywhere and I can put up with very hard conditions without getting in a bad mood. But I do like having a warm shower and some good food along the road.
I dont make plans when I cycle, but take it day by day.
Lena
I am interested in cycling in Chile and Argentina for three weeks this January. I would like to read anything you write regarding you experiences.
Daniel Staley
Hi Lena,
I am also cycling Chile and Argentina. I arrive in Santiago on the 25th of October and leave on the 10th of March. I do not really have plans but of course I think I should go to Patagonia and cycle the Carretera Austral. But its windy / colder / full of rain there, so maybe I change my mind. We can keep in touch - if I cycle around Santiago or north of Santiago I could be back three weeks later. I also know another german cyclist (not personally) who comes to Santiago on November the 10th and wants to take a bus to Puerto Montt, to start his trip there. I am 44 years old, come from Berlin/Germany. He is about the same age and lives in Dusseldorf. I also do rockclimbing, so maybe I carry my gear including a rope, not yet decided.
All the best to you!
Cheers, Gerald
Hello, sorry for the late answer but I have been cyckling in Mallorca on a short vacation.
I realise it might be a lot of wind and rain along the carretarea austral, but It might be worth it anyway as it is supposed to be so beautiful.
I will leave for Buenos Aires around 12 of november and probable cycle a bit around Cordoba and Mendoza first. A swedish friend says she will come along for the carretera austral and arrive around 10th of november i BA, and then take a bus towards a place she can get on the carretera.
It could be fun to be a small group if we are all there at the same time and want to do the same thing. I have done some mountainclimbing but I got scared and I dont have any equipment anymore.
But lets stay in toutch and se what happens . My E-mail is [email protected]
Best regards Lena
Hi Lena, hi all
I am from Buenos Aires, journalist, 43 y.o., ready and willing to ride for miles (or km, btw) for some months.
In March 2012 I cycled from BA to San Luis (ARG) and rode a bit there for a total of 1125 km. I'm planning to leave in a few days (November) to keep on travelling, from San Luis to Mendoza, then cross the Andes heading for Santiago (Chile). I think I'll be there on Nov the 15th. There the trip will go to the south, until catch the Carretera Austral, cross to Argentina again and finally get to Ushuaia. That will be the starting point of a new phase: back to the north along the Ruta 40 in Argentina.
Well maybe we can meet in Santiago, make some group, let's see. I'll be there a few days before going south.
Regards.
Guillermo
Sorry for my english, I'm trying to do my best. :D
Let me translate for the spanish speaking mates.
Soy de Buenos Aires, periodista, 43 años, listo para seguir viajando durante los próximos meses.
En mayo de 2012 viajé en mi bicicleta desde Bs.As. hasta San Luis (Argentina) y realicé algunas excursiones en esa provincia, en total 1125 km. En noviembre retomaré mi viaje, desde San Luis a Mendoza, para luego cruzar a Chile rumbo a Santiago. Calculo llegar allí cerca del 15 de nov. Luego seguiré ruta hacia el sur, por la carretera Austral, para cruzar de nuevo a Argentina y llegar a Ushuaia. Allí comenzará una nueva etapa: hacia el norte, por ruta 40 en Argentina.
Tal vez podríamos encontrarnos en Santiago, formar un grupo, en fin, ya veremos. Estaré allí algunos días antes de seguir viaje hacia el sur.
Saludos
Guillermo
Hi Guillermo,
Nice if we could meet up. But you seem to be a little bit ahead of me. I arriva in BA on 13 nov, then plan to take a train straight to Cordoba for some interviews ( do you know if I can take the bike on a train from BA to Cordoba?).
From there I will head towards Mendoza and Bariloche, and then on to the Carretera Austral.
I could take my bike on a bus part of the way so I can arrive earlier in Chile. I wont be going to Santiago, but instead head south from Bariloche.
Another swedish woman is planning to come along parts of the way, but she will arrive mutch later, in mid january, so she might have to take a bus to the very south and meet up there.
How long time do you plan for the carretera austral?
Best regards
Lena
Hi Lena
Well I think taking a train to Córdoba is not a good idea. Córdoba City is 700 km away from BA. There's a train from BA on monday and thursday, and it takes... 17 hs to get to Córdoba!! (dep:20.35 / arr:13.42 if you are lucky). Besides that, delays are a very frequent problem. Unfortunately, long distance trains are not working properly here (it's a long story). You can get very good info about trains in Argentina in this site: http://www.sateliteferroviario.com.ar/horarios/cordoba.htm
It is highly recommended to take a bus. Long distance buses in Argentina are very comfy (you should try a service called "Cama" or "Ejecutivo" for a really luxury trip. something like 55 euros from BA to Córdoba). There are many options to get to Córdoba per day, for a 9, 10 or 11 hs trip. For info about buses take a look at http://www.plataforma10.com/Servicios#buscar/10/19/13-11-2012/1
I don't know when I will reach the carretera austral. But I'm still open for a plan B. It seems it takes aprox. 14 or 15 days from Santiago to Pucon, not sure though. After that point I can cross to Argentina again and maybe we can meet up in San Martin de los Andes, to make together the Seven Lakes Road ('Ruta de los Siete Lagos', from SMA to Bariloche) and then go to Chile, heading for the carretera austral.
I still have to confirm my departure from BA for the 2 nov. You know it's hard to make plans with so much anticipation, but let's keep in touch. I would be so glad if we can 'arrange our agenda' to share those beautiful southern roads.
Best regards
Guillermo
Hi Guillermo,
Thank you so mutch for all the detailed information, it is a lot of help to me.
The Seven Lakes Road looks really nice! If it workes out we could start with that one and then continue south to Carretera Austral.
I suppose you can bring a bike on a bus, so after going around Cordoba for at least a week, I could head south on a bus.
My Swedish friend Reneé has decided to fly to BA on 7th of december. I have told her that she will have to make it down to whereever I might be at that time. Seems she wants to see the wales outside Puerto Madryn, so she might spend some time there first.
I´m more keen on the nature, alsow I suppose there are a lot of animals around Tierra del Fuego.
Well lets keep in contact and see if our plans can be joined togheter. Im sort of flexible.
I just hope that I can keep up with you, apart from a week recently in Mallorca I havent cycled a lot since last winter in Asia. But I usually get in to it after a hard start.
I will bring my tent and sleepingbag, but no cooking equipment. I prefer to sleep in hostels if there are cheap ones, but camping can also be really good.
But lets just see, either we have fun togheter and continue, or else just split up!
It would be fun if the german guy could join as he seems to be going the same way, down Carretera Austral.
I have a return ticket for january 14th from BA, and plan to fly back up from Ushuaia.
I see you have a bit of bad weather in BA:(
Best Regards
Lena
Hola Lena,
It seems the bad weather is gone now in BA. :)
I'm glad to help you with some basic info. Btw, you can bring a bike on a bus. It can happen 2 things: there's no problem at all, you only have to bring your bike in a 'good packaging' (take off the front wheel, etc.) and pay an extra amount for the cargo (ask to the ticket seller before buying your ticket) or, if you're lucky, just a few 'pesos' as tip to the cargo employee. But sometimes -incredible but true- it depends on the mood of the bus driver: the ticket seller will tell you that you have to talk or deal with the driver or the cargo guy... they will 'expect some reward' for taking your extra luggage. In some cases they simply refuse to take the bike if it's not in a properly box. It's a matter of luck and look for the right bus line.
About your friend Reneé, sorry but I'm a bit confused... is she looking for 'wales' or 'whales'? :D
I mean, near Puerto Madryn there are some towns that were founded by immigrants from Wales in last decades of 19th century: Rawson, Trelew, Gaiman, Dolavon. Maybe she's interested in that history, is she?
But also near Pt.Madryn there's a place where 'whales' come to reproduce each year: Penisula Valdes. If that's the case, maybe december it's not the best season of the year to watch some whales... september and october are the best choice, maybe nov, but there are only a few of them by mid dec.
Anyways, maybe she can travel from Pt.Madryn or Trelew to Esquel or Bariloche, that is from the Atlantic to the Andes, to join the group we're trying to form. Well let's see. It depends on how many days will she spend in the area of Madryn.
I travel with tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, bike tools and a few spares. I like camping -besides organized campsites, I'm sure there will be many good spots for wild camping- but a hostel is good from time to time. I don't have to think twice to look for a hostel when I'm really tired. :D
Let's keep in touch. I'll try to contact Gerald in Santiago. My new departure date from BA is next monday 5th nov.
Best regards
Guillermo
Hi Guillermo,
Maybe you are out on the road by now? Thanks for all the info about bikes on buses, seems it workes better in Argentina than in Sweden anyway.
My friend Reneé want to see the whales:) but maybe its not the right time. I think she cant decide what to do until she is in BA.
I dont carry cooking equipment but have everything else for camping. I do tend to stay a lot in hostels though, anyway if it is cold, but maybe there arnt sp many places along the carretera austral to sleep in.
My e-mail is [email protected] and my pone if you want to send an sms is +46 702096014
Take care out there
Lena
Hi Guillermo,
I am in Santiago right now, go North tomorrow and probably take a bus back to this area to start cycling the south, same plans for it like you. Lets keep in touch and lets see whether i am back in Santiago area in about three weeks. I am german, 44 years old, dont speak any spanish at the moment, but I try to learn hard...
Cheers, Gerald
Hi Gerald
Great! sounds good to me, let's keep in touch. If everything goes ok, I think I'll be in Santiago about the 15th Nov and hope to be there for a few days before going south.
Btw, I still have to look for some host or place to stay in Santiago. Just let me know if you have any recommendation, please.
Enjoy your ride. May the tailwind be with you. See you!
Guillermo
Hi Guillermo and Lena!
I will be in P.Montt in about 5 days. Maybe I already start the C. austral then together with another german cyclist or not. If not I am cruising the lake region for 1 to 3 weeks and would be happy to meet with you in P.M. or elsewhere to start the C.austral.
I am flexible with my plans then, latter or sooner we can meet, I just have to know some daxs in advance.
I stayed with Ricardo, warmshowers, in Santiago. Nice guy, but lives with his mother, maybe he cant host as much as he wants.
cheers, Gerald
Hi Gerald,
Just send a new mail when you decide what to do! Im leaving soon and first I will go to Cordoba, then probable to the 7 lake district.
I have a swedish friend that will be coming over about 3 weeks later but she will have to join later, or else at Ushuia.
My only fear is that you and Guillermo are so mutch stronger that I cant keep up with you! But if we meet up we will see, maybee we can find a middlepage, or if you go off climbing a mountain or two along the road, then i can rest a bit:)
My mailadress is [email protected] and my swedish phone is +46 702096014 , if you want to send an sms.
Best regards
Lena
Hi Guillermo!
I just wanted to let you know where I am now and what my plans are about.
I am in Rio Gallegos at the moment but get on a bus to Esquel this evening.
I hope I can stay near Esquel for some weeks for rockclimbing. Afterwards I wanna cycle the Ruta 40 to Mendoza and depending on the time to BA or Santiago, where I fly out home from.
So maybe we meet on Ruta40? Where are you now? When do you get back to BA - I would ask you first as a potential WS-Host there!
All the best to you, happy cycling!
Cheers, Gerald
Hi Gerald,
I read your answer to Guillermo. Maybe we will all be in sothern Chile about the same time, it could be fun to cycle together. Another Swedish girl is coming in begining of december and will join me somewhere along the Carretera Austral or where it ends.
Hope you have nice days in Chile, getting cold in europe now
Best regards
Lena