February 5th
Departure day
Argentina, Chile
Destination
Advanced
Difficulty level
Andes Cross: Pichachén Pass MTB Tour
The Andes Cross – Pichachén Pass is an extraordinary mountain bike expedition that starts in Argentina and finishes in Chile. We begin our ride under the epic domain of the Domuyo Volcano, the highest peak in Patagonia, and end in Los Ángeles, the capital of Chile’s 8th Region.
The challenging climbing is richly rewarded by long, exhilarating downhill rides once we cross into Chile. Along the way, we will camp under incredibly huge, star-filled skies, surrounded by a magical setting of jagged peaks, snow-capped mountains, and desolate desert landscapes.
Expert Logistics and Support
Our experienced team of tour leaders, support staff, and cooks work as a highly efficient unit, always remaining a step ahead of our guests’ needs. You will always have a team member nearby to back you up.
If you prefer, you can ride completely at your own pace—whether it’s cycling strong at the front or enjoying a more relaxed tempo in the rear, you will always have that freedom. Our team members will greet you around the next curve with an encouraging word and a friendly smile. We have been successfully running the Andes Cross for years, so you can rest assured that every single detail has been thought of. This lets you concentrate fully on your journey, letting you live a true once-in-a-lifetime experience with us!
| DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL | Chos Malal (Argentina) / Los Ángeles (Chile) |
| DEPARTURE TIME | 8 p.m. departing from Buenos Aires (or meeting at Chos Malal hotel) |
| SERVICES INCLUDED |
18-Seater exclusive van throughout the tour. Mountain bike transportation during the entire tour. Support vehicles equipped with two-way communication radios (every day, with on-board service including granola bars, fresh fruits when possible, and other snacks and drinks). Bilingual Tour Leaders, equipped with two-way radios, and local guides. All meals at campsites, hotels, or restaurants (except meals while in transit, dinner on Day 1, and lunch on Day 8). Support staff in charge of setting up camp and preparing fresh meals every day of the tour. All accommodations while camping: comfortable 2-person tents (individual tents available upon request), structural dining tent, latrine tents, and complete camping equipment including tables, chairs, and dining ware. Three hotel nights included: 1st night in Chos Malal, Neuquén (Arg) in double/triple occupancy; 2nd night at a 4-star hotel in Los Ángeles (Chile) in double/triple occupancy; 3rd night in Neuquén (Arg) for those returning to Buenos Aires in our van. Daily Trip Information Notes with maps, routes, and details on the region. Mechanical assistance and spare bike available (in case yours breaks down). Pre-trip information package with details on how to prepare, what to bring, and more detailed information. |
| NOT INCLUDED |
Meals not detailed in the program, drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Air tickets and transfers not detailed in the tour program. Bike parts, phone calls, laundry expenses, and personal expenses. MTB Rental. |
Additional information
| Location | Chos Malal, Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Duration | 9 days |
| Dates | January, February |
Andes cross through “Paso Pichachen”, from Chos Malal in Argentina to “Los Angeles” in Chile.
1
Day 1:
Guests starting with us in Buenos Aires will depart in our van on Friday afternoon. Our meeting point is in Buenos Aires (flight to, and accommodations in Buenos Aires are not included in tour price). We recommend flying to the city of Neuquen, in Neuquen Province. If you choose to fly to Neuquen, you must arrive in Chos Malal by Saturday. The nearest airport is Neuquen, which is 380 km from Chos Malal. We can arrange for your transfer from Neuquen airport to Chos Malal (Flight and transfer not included).
2
Day 2:
Those travelling by land from Buenos Aires must expect twenty hours on the road until arriving in Chos Malal. The left time will be used to set the bikes up and meet the staff and your travelling colleagues. We’ll stay the night at the nicest hotel in town (Hotel included, dinner free and not included).
3
Day 3: Chos Malal - Huinganco
After breakfast, the organization staff will give a speech of the tour before starting to ride. Once on the road, we start the first stage from Chos Malal towards the northwest, looking after “Cordillera del viento”, the windy Andes range. Just after some few miles, we’ll see the “Domuyo” Volcano (4700 meters over the sea level) the highest mountain in Patagonia, one of the most important icons for trekking and climbing expeditions in North Patagonia. The morning ride will take us through a wide open valley and over a nice paved road. In the afternoon, views will change completely: We’ll enter the Huinganco Valley and enjoy a narrow and undulating path, surrounded by dense pine forests until arriving in Huinganco summer village. Riders must expect a wide range of temperatures between the day and the night.
38,5 miles – 4500 ft elevation gain
38,5 miles – 4500 ft elevation gain
4
Day 4: Huinganco - Río Reñil Leuvu
In the second stage of the Andes cross, we leave “Huinganco” and will soon pass by “Andacollo”, the last town we’ll meet in Argentina towards the limit between both countries. Our support team will prepare lunch and dinner every day we are cycling, welcoming guests at midday with a hearty outdoors lunch, and preparing dinner at our previously organized campsite in the evening. As always, you can choose from cycling hard ahead of the pack, or at a relaxed pace, taking your time to snap pictures and marvel at the landscape. Our support vehicles will be used to move our equipment and baggage ahead as well as to give support to riders. After passing by “Andacollo” and after crossing the “Neuquen” River, we’ll continue riding over a gravel road, surrounded by a semi desert landscape that will clearly allow us to see the snowcapped mountains in the west. Before arriving to the campsite, we’ll be following different snaking rivers, first the “Nahueve”, then “Lileo”, to finish camping on “Reñil Leuvú” riverbank.
28 miles – 3175 ft elevation gain
28 miles – 3175 ft elevation gain
5
Day 5: Río Reñil Leuvú - Cajón del Pichachen
After breakfast, we’ll put the campsite down and listen to the daily mini-speech that will give us the accurate information about the general conditions for the day in terms of temperature, highlights, biking distance and elevation gain. Always following the “Reñil Leuvú” River, the landscape will start to vary: The soil will get the dark color of the volcanic rock and this one will be blended by different tones of emerald vegetation.
Today will be an uphill day. After doing 26km, we’ll arrive to “Gendarmeria” border control, where we’ll do the Argentinean migrations and customs paperwork. We’ll seize that period to have lunch. In the afternoon we’ll see the “Moncol” mountain, different valleys and woods of “Lengas”, a typical strong tree from Patagonian Andes. In the end of the day, some downhills will give us a break!
24 miles – 3150 ft elevation gain.
Today will be an uphill day. After doing 26km, we’ll arrive to “Gendarmeria” border control, where we’ll do the Argentinean migrations and customs paperwork. We’ll seize that period to have lunch. In the afternoon we’ll see the “Moncol” mountain, different valleys and woods of “Lengas”, a typical strong tree from Patagonian Andes. In the end of the day, some downhills will give us a break!
24 miles – 3150 ft elevation gain.
6
Day 6: Cajón del Pichachen - Sierra Velluda
The most overwhelming day is awaiting us: The challenging uphills, the fascinating downhills and the stunning scenery, composed by the perfect cone of the “Antuco” volcano and the sharp top of the “Sierra Velluda”, will take your breath away!
In the morning we start the last uphill riding definitely over a dark soil, due to an ancient volcanic activity. At this point, after facing strong winds and tough uphills, we’ll be really looking forward to arrive to the top of the mountain, where the milestone will show the exact place where both countries meet. After riding nine hard kilometers we’ll get to the limit between both countries. There’s not much to be said at this point: the incredible views will hold us not to leave while we stare at the “Antuco” Volcano (2985meters) and the “Sierra Velluda” (3865meters). The “Antuco” Volcano was active until 1853, and its glaciers drag down different sort of sedimentations, giving different green tones to “Laguna Verde” (The green lake) and different rivers that flow into the “Laja” River. The downhill will let us go until arriving to “Carabineros de Chile” where local authorities will do the paperwork for us to enter the country. The campsite will be in a magic place, nearby both volcanoes.
24 miles – 2920 ft elevation gain
In the morning we start the last uphill riding definitely over a dark soil, due to an ancient volcanic activity. At this point, after facing strong winds and tough uphills, we’ll be really looking forward to arrive to the top of the mountain, where the milestone will show the exact place where both countries meet. After riding nine hard kilometers we’ll get to the limit between both countries. There’s not much to be said at this point: the incredible views will hold us not to leave while we stare at the “Antuco” Volcano (2985meters) and the “Sierra Velluda” (3865meters). The “Antuco” Volcano was active until 1853, and its glaciers drag down different sort of sedimentations, giving different green tones to “Laguna Verde” (The green lake) and different rivers that flow into the “Laja” River. The downhill will let us go until arriving to “Carabineros de Chile” where local authorities will do the paperwork for us to enter the country. The campsite will be in a magic place, nearby both volcanoes.
24 miles – 2920 ft elevation gain
7
Day 7: Sierra Velluda - Antuco
In the morning we’ll ride between the “Antuco” Volcano and “La Laja” lagoon, we’ll find loose sand which makes riding a lot more difficult, but an exhilarating downhill is almost to begin! A fantastic gravel track down that will show us the slight transformation of the environment as far as we go forward. The mountain vegetation will leave space to Cypress, Radales, Lengas, Coihues, Ñires, and all trees of the humid Patagonian forest. After 28km we loose more than 600 meters (1960 feet) and we find the start of the paved road.
The “Laja” River will escort us while we cycle down, until we arrive to “Antuco” the first Chilean town and first civilization contact. There’s where we celebrate the end of our Andes cross! After loading our bikes, we will do a one hour drive to our hotel in Los Angeles and have time for a free afternoon in the pool, followed by a commemoration dinner.
30 miles – 2083 ft elevation gain
The “Laja” River will escort us while we cycle down, until we arrive to “Antuco” the first Chilean town and first civilization contact. There’s where we celebrate the end of our Andes cross! After loading our bikes, we will do a one hour drive to our hotel in Los Angeles and have time for a free afternoon in the pool, followed by a commemoration dinner.
30 miles – 2083 ft elevation gain
8
Day 8: Adios Los Ángeles!
We’ll leave “Los Angeles” in our minibus, heading towards “Neuquen” back to Argentina through “Paso Pino Hachado” (600km/12 hours). You can choose between being transferred to “Concepcion’s” airport, where you can fly home via Santiago de Chile or extend your travels in the amazing country of Chile. From the famous wineries of the Central Valley, to the deserts of the North and the glaciers of the South, Chile offers truly magical destinations. You can also travel back to “Neuquen” the door entrance to Argentinean Patagonia, from where you can extend your travel plan, or from where you can fly back to Buenos Aires. The van will arrive to Neuquen in the evening, and we spend the night in a hotel.
9
Day 9: Back in Argentina
Those planning to fly back from Neuquen to Buenos Aires can choose from daily flights. The van will early leave to Buenos Aires. The arrival is expected at 11p.m. at the same meeting point used for the start of the tour.
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Tour Reviews
Mariano, I want to thank you for this wonderful trip and the special experience. Not only the breathtaking landscape but also your professionalism, your enthusiasm, your kindness and helpfulness are outstanding.
Moreover – your team is also exceptionally professional, it is a pleasure to be looked after in this way.
All this components create an unique experience – vacation in the best possible way !
It was a pleasure to have this time with you, your team and the and the nice fellow cyclists.
Hugs & kisses to you and your team
Mariano, many many thanks for the trip!
The trip was amazing: beautiful nature, well organized and good company (the team and the riders)!
I recommend to this trip to all riders: strong and not so strong 🙂
I’m looking forward for the next trip in Argentina with your company.
/marius
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