Blog Archives

The Carretera Austral – An out and back ride worth the time.

5/30/2019

The Carretera Austral or Chile Ruta 7 connects the small Chilean towns of Northern Patagonia. It is 1247km of pure, exciting and beautiful adventure riding. To experience the entire road is quite an accomplishment. In this post I’m going to explain why it is worth it to do the whole ride.

The Carretera Austral starts in Puerto Montt Chile and ends in Villa O’Higgins Chile where the road is blocked by a massive lake by the same name Lago O’Higgins and the even more massive Southern Patagonia Ice Fields. You must understand the work to keep this road open and viable is constant, every year crews are working to improve it, pave it and simply keep it open. It passes through some of the most remote and diverse areas in all of Chile.

There are of-course many passes to travel between Chile and Argentina from the Carretera Austral over to Argentina’s Ruta 40. So, for much of the Carretera Austral you can cross into Argentina to travel further south in Patagonia. However, in Villa O’Higgins there is not a viable pass open during the summer months. Therefore, the last 220km from Cochrane Chile to Villa O’Higgins must be ridden again. That last 220 km from Cochrane to O’Higgins is the most remote and in my opinion one of the most beautiful sections. However, it gets passed up by many riders and overland travelers simply because there is no outlet. Oh, and I forgot to mention there is a first come, first serve ferry in that section that only runs 3 times a day in Summer.
The logistics start to pile up and create doubt for many travelers - Is it worth it?

Let’s discuss the pass that IS right outside of Villa O’Higgins and why it is not a viable option to cross into Argentina during summer. The pass named Paso Mayer is a legal and guarded international pass on both the Chilean and Argentine side. But between the two guard stations of Chile and Argentina there is no road that is passable during the summer because of the River Mayer, which you must ride through, and because of the snow melt the river becomes too deep and too strong to cross. The access road itself is a muddy mess and passable with a 4wd only in winter or the very few riders who are willing to risk it. In fact, the Chilean Carabineros (Police) will tell travelers once you stamp out of Chile and leave the border you are on your own and the Police cannot help you should you get stuck or have trouble. All of this requires riders to back track north on the same 220km and use the same ferry to get back to a pass that is open during the summer.

The Carretera Austral is a destination ride all its own. In fact, Moto Patagonia is likely the only motorcycle tour operator offering a tour of the entire route with off bike activities ranging from rafting the Futaleufú River to private airplane flights over the Southern Patagonia Ice fields. You don’t get access to these things skipping over sections. It’s why we offer a tour of the Carretera Austral all on its own, it’s worth it to spend a couple weeks and ride the whole thing, down and back. Stop at ALL the great locations and enjoy how much there is to do and see in this 1247kms worth of riding. If you have more time, use it on the Carretera Austral, if you are coming to Chile just for this route, you will not be disappointed!

The Ushuaia Route

5/24/2019

One of the most common questions we get is how many days it will take to make it to Ushuaia. Since Moto Patagonia is based in Puerto Varas Chile, the best location to start a motorcycle ride to Ushuaia. We are one of the most obvious and best choices for those who want to ride ALL of Patagonia and make it to the end of the world.

While we do offer a 16-day Guided Tour to Ushuaia there are many riders who prefer to rent a motorcycle and ride. While both options are excellent the later takes a touch more planning especially during summer when the lodges and hostels are booked up. One big advantage to a tour with Moto Patagonia is we can take the guess work out of where to stay every night and we can help prioritize what to see. However, the advantage with a motorcycle rental is you get to ride on your own schedule and see what you want when you want. Many people like to camp and there are tons of options to camp along the ride south as well.
The route itself is dynamic and you have many options on how to make your way south. I of course have my favorite route. In general, I like the more remote routes and I adapt that style to Moto Patagonia. This gives our tours a much more unique feel when ride throughout Patagonia.

For a rental I really do think that 16 days is still the magic number to ride from the North of Patagonia all the way to Ushuaia. This gives you the best number of riding days and rest days in key locations that can be used to explore the area off the motorcycle. It’s important to take time to rest in order to enjoy the area and not race through it. This also gives you the chance to end the ride in Puerto Natales, the jumping off point for Torres del Paine National Park. One of the most famous National Parks in all South America.

If you are a strong rider that can handle dirt and gravel road surfaces, I suggest riding the Carretera Austral south until Paso Roballos near Cochrane Chile then crossing into Argentina and heading south with stops in El Chaltén and El Calafate on the way to Ushuaia. This route gives you some of the most adventurous and remote riding with the most dirt roads possible.

If you are less confident on gravel surfaces, then I’d suggest Ruta 40 on the Argentine side as its nearly all paved. You can make a run through a short section of the Carretera Austral via the pass near Futaleufé and then back to Argentina near Coyhaique Chile. This gives you minimal gravel riding while still passing through very beautiful and fun riding.

Patagonia is huge and the riding opportunities are vast. Whether you rent or ride with us on a tour one things is certain, it is the ride of a lifetime. Vast, remote and challenging riding.

Choosing a Moto Tour Company

5/18/2019

The motorcycle tour industry has a lot of offerings. I have been thinking about that a lot lately regarding our own marketing and how Moto Patagonia can stand out in the crowd. I have read a few trip itineraries of other companies; some are quite good while others are not that impressive. I see vastly different routes and prices. So, let’s talk about what things you should look for in a tour company. The basic things to be mindful about are; trip duration, where the company is based in the world in relation to the trip they are offering, group size and price.

How many actual riding days are included in the tour? I read an itinerary recently and it stated 14 days, so I decided to read the day by day details. The company was including the rider arrival day as part of the tour. When in fact there was no riding to be done that day. The reality is the trip is only 13 days. In my opinion that is misleading. At Moto Patagonia, our trips are based on days we will be traveling, arrival days are filled with paperwork, route reviews and motorcycle packing. I don’t count a prep day as a riding day.

Where is the company based in the world? Let’s use us, Moto Patagonia as the example here. We live and work in southern Chile full time, year-round. We pre run all our routes, and we have strong local knowledge and good community contacts. We specialize in Patagonia. These things matter. When you choose a company, my suggestion is stick to those specializing in the area you want to ride. Like most things, specializing in something is where you can gain quality AND value. Look for companies that know how the system works for that part of the world.

How many riders does the company allow on its remote adventure rides? At Moto Patagonia we limit trips to 5 clients max with me guiding for a total of 6 riders. My reasoning for this is based on my experience with the United States Forest Service as a Wildland Fire Fighter where I was designated a Type 1 Firefighter/IC5. That is a leader who can work with small groups not to exceed 7 firefighters and seven is not an arbitrary number. In that type of high stress environment, you cannot effectively lead more than a group of 5 to 7. From a guide’s point of view a multi-day, multi-country adventure motorcycle tour is not much different in terms of stress than a wildfire. The guide must have all the answers and must solve all the problems and create positive vibes. It’s a lot of responsibility and the reality is, it’s harder to do the more personalities you add. Smaller groups add value and can create high quality tours. The guide has more time to be an effective leader with a smaller group. Whether that is listening to feedback on the fly or handling a high stress situation like a sick rider or a mid-ride route change due to a road closure.

Finally, price is the big one. Price shopping is something we all do to get the best value and quality for what we want. However, in the case of a multi-day, multi-country motorcycle tour price is not always the best indicator of quality or value. One company may have a lower price but that doesn’t necessarily represent good value. At the same time another company may have a very high price, but that may not represent high quality. If you combine my other points of how many actual riding day’s the tour is, where the company is located in regards to the tour they are offering, as well as group size you can make an intelligent choice and likely end up with a very high quality tour for an excellent value.

I hope this helps anyone looking for a motorcycle tour. These are just a few conclusions I have reached after operating Moto Patagonia full time for nearly 4 years. Travel Far and ride safe!

The Mother's Day Post

5/12/2019

Like many riders, I would not be here in Chile running a motorcycle tour and rental company without the support of my Mom. She certainly planted the travel seed in me. Although my motorcycle antics sometimes worry her, she knows that experience out in the world is important. Mother’s Day got me thinking about Women Adventure Riders, how that small segment is growing fast. We have received many women riders, some with their partners and others who have traveled to Patagonia to ride alone.
I can’t say I’m an expert on women’s travel as I’m a dude and its silly for me to presume things, but I do have some info for women riders who may want to travel here alone or on one of our tours.
The safety factor is a top priority for solo or group travel. Patagonia is well known to be very safe and friendly. It’s a different way of life down here and one of the best places for solo travel. People are always amazed by the number of women traveling alone by Moto or Bicycle in Patagonia.
Amenities, this is one that gets overlooked sometimes. We do get many couples who ride together and while many guys may be cool with sleeping under a tarp on the ground like Austin Vince, their partners may be less than excited for that style of travel. For our tours we choose the most authentic and clean lodges and hotels we can in the areas we travel. Why is that? Because my wife Paula is the one in charge of the logistics and she finds places that area awesome. She is adventurous but at the same time she doesn’t want to sleep in a crummy place.
Prepare for a sweeping statement here. I see more guys than gals getting caught up about the motorcycle and less about the trip. Here in Patagonia off bike activities and experiences are a-plenty. Getting off the bike and going to see all the awesome places is important and easy to do here.
We here at Moto Patagonia support Women Adventure Riders and are happy to receive couples or solo women riders. Supporting all riders to get out and explore is our goal and we are happy to help!

The Experience Business

5/8/2019

When I started Moto Patagonia, it was a combination of ability, circumstance, with some luck thrown in. What I mean is, I had the ability to be a good guide, prepare a Moto for long trips, and organize awesome routes. And I was lucky enough to be living in an area that is best explored by Moto, being married to Paula, who was equally a passionate about adventure travel as me and to have the time to put together a business with such a tight focus.
The biggest challenge was selling an “Experience” as compared to a “Thing.”
(Seriously, it’s the most difficult thing I have done in my life, and I’ve done a lot of really difficult things--some by choice others by happenstance) Marketing to sell a “Thing” is pretty straight forward. Here it is, folks, and I can get it to you by next-day mail!

But trying to sell a multiday Moto tour in Patagonia is a whole different ballgame. It is truly challenging to explain that a Moto ride in Patagonia is totally life changing and has inherent value even though it is not something you can hold in your hand.
Aside from the obvious constraint on many riders like cost and vacation time. The small market of motorcycle tour and rental companies are all competing against each other not just locally but globally. People are looking for the next best place to ride, so we not only compete against other companies riding in Patagonia but also against riders who are choosing against, Patagonia and say Africa or Asia.

Traveling the world is not for the faint at heart and traveling by Moto is for certain an adventure in any place around the globe. I am confident however that we here at Moto Patagonia do create a unique environment in which to ride and experience Patagonia. My focus is keeping it authentic and keeping it familiar. Small groups and interesting challenging routes are what I like and what I believe most folks travel far and wide in search of.

You’re never a tourist while riding a Moto.

5/3/2019

Funny sentence, right? How can you be a tourist, but not be at the same time? Well in my experience here in Patagonia, riding a motorcycle opens doors that are otherwise closed for those stuck in buses, cars, cruise ships or planes. Its true in most parts of the world and its true here.
When you ride into a small-town people understand and take note the exposure you have dealt with; the wind, rain, cold, dust and heat. Its an almost automatic reaction to strike up a conversation about where you came from, where you’re going and how cool it is to be riding a moto. I have experienced this on every ride I’ve done in Patagonia. Its such a remote and beautiful part of the world that even non riders understand how amazing it is to see, hear and smell the surrounding in a way that only a moto offers. Don’t get me wrong there are days when its 38 degrees F, raining and windy and the jealousy of comfortable travel is reversed. Riding past cars in those conditions can sometimes make people think those dudes are nutz. But that’s the nature of adventure riding and that is what creates the open doors!
Motorcycle riding like many adventure lifestyles is one which creates respect from adversity. In Patagonia the good days are amazingly awesome days and the bad days are great days. The reward for riding here is 10-fold and the beauty and remoteness are beyond description. The photos I capture on every motorcycle tour I guide are unique and inspiring but rarely give justice to the scene I am trying to capture. Here at Moto Patagonia we strive for those authentic adventure rides, and I honestly believe we deliver that feeling of authenticity.

What are the main access by land into Patagonia?

5/1/2019

When you experience Santiago or Buenos Aires, it can be hard to believe that both Chile and Argentina share a sparsely populated region that is known for its nature, unique culture, and seclusion from the rest of the globe. Traveling in Patagonia can feel like you’ve been transported to a different world when compared to the 24/7 life-style that you will find in the capital cities. It’s that feeling that draws adventure riders from all over the world to come experience the natural beauty of one of the most beautiful regions on earth.

The two main access roads into Patagonia are via the Carretera Austral in Chile or Ruta National 40 in Argentina, these two roads are vastly different. Anyone who is considering a motorcycle tour in Patagonia should understand what those differences are so that they can plan their trip accordingly.

If you choose to ride through Chilean Patagonia the Carretera Austral is the road you will use. You’ll find that much of the countryside is a temperate rain-forest, it is dotted with glaciers, volcanoes, rivers and fjords. The Carretera Austral is a mix of paved and gravel roads. The weather, while generally very pleasant during summer, can change quickly. Traveling gravel roads in a temperate rain-forest means that heavy rains and poor road conditions can occur any time of the year. Being properly prepared for adventure riding in such an environment is key to any successful venture.

On the Argentine side travelers typically access this region via Ruta National 40. The Argentine side is a series of steppe-like plains that poses a completely different set of challenges than the Chilean side. The lush rain-forest of Chilean Patagonia gives way to plains with little vegetation where you are offered wide ranging views from one horizon to the next. The southern section of Ruta 40 is long and straight where flamingos, Guanacos and massive Estancias (think giant farms) full of sheep are all common sights. Argentine Patagonia is a windswept countryside that’s both stark and beautiful. Ruta 40 is famous for its overwhelmingly strong winds and motorcycle riders must take caution as they can be quite challenging to navigate.

When you ride in Patagonia-no matter if you are on a tour with us at Moto Patagonia or renting one of our motos - you earn respect for overcoming the many nuances that surround daily life in Patagonia. Riding in Patagonia can be extremely challenging, but as many of our clients can attest, the rewards far outweigh the risks.

What Is It Like To Ride A Motorcycle In Patagonia?