Itinerary: Patagonia Mountain Bike Safari
Thirteen nights & Fourteen days in Patagonia, Chile

Day 1. Friday: Depart your home country

Day 2. Saturday: Arrival and Welcome to Chile!
You arrive early in the morning in Santiago where you clear customs and switch terminals for the domestic flight to Puerto Montt, Chile . The trip begins mid-day at the Puerto Montt airport where you are welcomed by the Expediciones Chile staff. From here it is a four-hour drive to the little village of Panguipulli on the shores of Lago Panguipulli the village of roses. We check into our hotel.

Day 3. Sunday: Rio San Pedro to Chosheunco
We drive outside town and those that want to raft put in at the Rio San Pedro. This clear and warm river is our introduction to big white water. Mountain bikers will start riding on the winding gravel road along the lake to the remote lakeside town of Choshuenco. The rafters will catch up to us by the safari mobile. Choshuenco takes its name from the volcanic snow capped peak overlooking Lago Panguipulli. Our comfy cabanas and inn is situated on the sandy beach of this sparkling warm lake. We have dinner on the porch overlooking the beach.

Day 5. Tuesday: Hiking the Volcanoe and Optional ride options
After a hearty Chilean breakfast we are bound for the complete ascent of the snowcapped Volcano Choshuenco The view is stunning, overlooking the valley, lakes and rivers below. When we return off the peak if you have enough energy you can ride your mountain bike back to the village. Departing at 8:00 am you will be back on your lakeside accommodations at 4:00pm. There are other mountain bike options if you do not want to trek today.

Day 6. Wednesday: Bike to Huilo Huilo Falls
We ride up to visit the huilo huilo water fall a spectacular 100 foot water fall. From there we ride several miles further to Lago Fuy. Where you can take a cooling off dip in its transparent cool waters. The entire ride back is down hill so enjoy it. You return to cocktails on the deck overlooking the beach.

Day 7. Thursday: Crossing the Andes
Today is a travel and tour day while we travel to our next destination. We pack up the safari mobile and trailer as we depart early to a remote ferry crossing of Lake Fuy high in the Andes. After getting our passports stamped we drive down off the mountain into San Martin de Los Andes in Argentina an Andean resort town. Here we eat lunch and take a turn on to a rarely traveled gravel road through a desert in the rain shadow of the Andes. The bizarre eroded formations will make you get your camera out. Departing the desert we arrive on the shores of Lago Nahuel Haupi home of the sparkling city on the lake, Bariloche. We check into our Hotel in the city center and eat at one of the best restaurants in town. This night experience the Argentinean night life.

Day 8. Friday: Bike or Raft through National Park Nahuel Haupi
After breakfast we drive south to the Rio Manso in National Park Nahuel Haupi. Again there is an optional raft day or ride down the river on a dirt road. This class 3/4 gorge has engaging whitewater action. We traverse the national park where we will see ancient Alerce trees. We take out on the border of Argentina with Chile. The trail takes us to the border with Chile. Here we have an early dinner at a real working ranch. After the days activities we load up our safari mobile and drive deeper in to Patagonia to the artist community of El Bolson. Here we can visit the arts and craft fair. We lodge here and eat dinner in town.

Day 9. Saturday: Patagonia and National Park Los Alerces
After breakfast we drive south towards Parque Nacional Los Alerce. It is this area (Cholila) that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid holed up when they were on the lam. Parque Alerce is surrounded by a snow capped mountain range with a series of pristine lakes interconnected with rivers. It is known for its ancient Alerce reserve. We take a short hike in the park and continue onward towards the Futaleufu river valley arriving in time for a short pre dinner ride. We spend the night in our Lodge.

Day 10. Sunday: Ride to Devils Throat - (10 miles rt)
After breakfast we ride up the Rio Espolon, we cross small bridges, view turquoise water, sand beaches, fishing and swimming holes. You will cross the Rio Espolon on a wood swinging bridge. Here the climb gets steeper, but shortly you arrive at a tremendous Class 6 waterfall exploding in a white froth out of the upper lake into the valley blow. This is a sight to behold as we eat lunch over looking what is called the Devils throat. Crossing another bridge we get an over look of the Espolon lake. The return ride has one steep pitch downhill and a slight downhill to the lodge.

Day 11. Monday: Ride to the National Reserve of Huemul – (12 miles)
Cross the mighty Futaleufú and ride up the river near the Argentinean border into the Patagonia Steppe and explore the pristine Río Chico Valley, a national reserve of a small deer like animal, called the Huemul. This ride takes us upstream to a charming valley that contains the endangered Huemul a small deer like animal that resembles the fictitious jack elope off the American intermountain west. Only this is real. This is a National Reserve for the Animal yet it is completely undeveloped except the sign announcing your entry into the protected area.

Day 12. Tuesday: Back in time to the "Las Escalas" Valley ( 13 miles)
This world class ride takes us along the Inferno gorge, a black rock canyon of the Futaleufu River. Five hundred feet below we view the agitated turquoise water. You will naturally not want to ride to close to the edge. The trail enters the open Las Escalas valley for a trip back in time. We cross the Futaleufu River on a swinging bridge and ride up through an old growth forest of Coyhue trees up out of the valley and around a small lake back to the village of Futaleufu.

Day 13. Wednesday: Andes to the Ocean (35 miles)
On day three we first ride along the Lonconoa Lake to the community of El Río Azul. Here we will enjoy lunch by the Futaleufu River. We continue riding down the Futaleufu to where we see it enter lago Yelcho. Along this lake we find a simple bed and breakfast.

Day 14. Thursday: Andes to the Ocean (33 miles)
After breakfast we ride up a hill and down into a valley village called Santa Lucia. Here we meet the southern gravel highway called the Southern Highway. This road to the end of the earth. We ride it over the highest elevation that we will encounter on the trip. The forests are of huge Coyhue trees and giant Devil's Club plants. It is downhill till we get to the western end of Lago Yelcho, which offers a spectacular view. Our lodging tonight is simple but the view outrageous as we look across the Rio Yelcho to a spectacular exiting Lake Yelcho.

Day 15. Friday : Andes to the Ocean (22 miles)
We ride down hill towards the hot springs at Termas Amarillo. Here we ride several miles up a hill to actually get to the springs themselves. We stay in a small hosteria and have dinner while we soak away our tired muscles.

Day 16. Saturday: Andes to the Ocean (15 miles)
We ride on 15 miles of paved road into Chaiten for our mid day flight back Puerto Montt.

Day 17. Sunday: Return Home

PRICE: $3395.00 USD

INCLUDES: Airfare between Chaiten and Puerto Montt. All local transport. All meals, lodging, guides, mountain bikes, gear and equipment while riding with us. See the packing list for specific details. The actual program for your individual trip will vary according to the desires and skill level of your group, the weather, or other factors.

	Experience Needed:Biking, Rafting Physical Challenge: Medium Cultural Experience: High Lodging: Lodge Comfort Rating:  High Days away from home: 16 Days with us: 14 Max Trip Size: 14 Price: $3395.00 USD Region: Lakes District, Region X, Chile; Bariloche, El Bolson, Esquel, Argentina; Futaleufu River Valley Patagonia Chile Lakes, Rivers, Sites Visited: Pacific Ocean, Chaiten, Rio Espolon, Entire Futaleufu, Escalas Valley, Futaleufu Village, Parque Nacional Los Alerces & Nahuel Haupi, Rio Fuy, Rio San Pedro, Rio Manso