Chile's Araucanía and Lakes District - 2 Weeks

CYCLOTOURING THE NORTHERNMOST PATAGONIAN LANDSACPES

LODGE BASED! FULLY SUPPORTED! BIKES INCLUDED! ALL MEALS!
SMALL GROUPS ONLY! MULTI-SPORT! EXCELLENT CUISINE!

The Araucanía and The Lakes District, where this adventure takes place, is a particularly lovely section of Araucania and Patagonia Chile. It is defined by picturesque, snow-capped volcanoes and many shimmering finger lakes as well as several fine towns and small cities that are well-heeled to receive travelers with great restaurants and fine lodging.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - HUB-BASED RIDING

Day 0 – Departure from Your Country or Region

Days 1- 3 – The Curacautin Region

Day 4 – Conguillillo National Park and Melipeuco.

Days 5 and 6 – China Muerta Pass and Flowers Valley.

Day 7 – To Villarrica and Pucón Lakes Region

Days 8 -11 – Exploring the Pucon Area by Bike. Rafting. Hikes. Lake Kayaking.

Days 12 – 15 – The Valdivia Area. Coastal Route Cycling. Coast Range Cycling.

Day 16 – Departure Midday from Temuco

ACTIVITY DETAILS

THE RIDING: Riding time each day can run from 3 to 6 hours. The rides average about 30 miles and cover relatively hilly terrain. There are so many scenic moments that the daily ride time has to take into account your shutter time! Riding generally begins by 8am and concludes by 3 or 4 in the afternoon, weather allowing.

THE DISTANCES: 16 to 45 miles per day, average is 30 miles per day with time to explore and enjoy each byway. Longer days are on more level terrain.

THE TERRAIN: Mountainous and Rural

OUR ELEVATION Max/Min: 0 to 5000 feet, but never in one day.

SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall

MONTHS: December to March

THE ROADS: Secondary and Tertiary Routes. No Pan-Americana Highway at all. Pavement predominates and we also will roll some fine hardpacked dirt backroads.

TRAFFIC: Certain routes will see more traffic. Weekday travel is better in some locations. Truck traffic cannot be avoided but the route is specially designed to avoid population concentrations and stay rural and enjoyable.

WANDERLAND GUIDED ITINERARY INCLUDES:

• A 16 –Day Bike Tour
• All on-the-ground travel in the itinerary.
• Support Vehicle
• All Lodging – 15 nights double occupancy
• Two Professional Guides and Mechanic
• Field Classes on Chile’s uniqueness.
• All Meals except 2 dinners on your own.
• Tee-Shirt
• Map Packet and Educational Material
• Chile Travel Particulars
• Bike Rental – front suspension mountain bike or similar

Not Included:
• Airfare; Arrival to Departure
• bike rental other than what we provide

YOUR ARE GOING TO LOVE CHILE!
We particularly love this area of Chile for mountain bike touring for the fine infrastructure and the many options for worthwhile asides to educational sites and adventurous activities.

GETTING THERE: You will take an international flight to Santiago and then a internal flight of only an hour to Temuco (LAN Chile is the recommended carrier for internal flights). Your guides will meet you at the Temuco airpark and shuttle you to your first night’s accommodations. Try and arrive to Temuco before noon on the first day.

This itinerary features the backroads and regions around four principle towns in the Araucanian and Lakes District regions of the Middle South of Chile. We will be spending multiple days (2-3) in each of four locations: Curacautin, Melipeuco, Pucón, and Valdivia.

While based in these hub towns we will do daily rides that will take in the great roads, parks and natural wonders in the region. We will ride between each townsite as well, connecting the dots with more awesome backroads.

The itinerary also includes short hikes to special vistas and natural features in the parks that we visit. There is time on layover days for activities such as rafting, canopy (ziplining), and other activities. This region of the country is noted for many fine small inns and lodges as well as for its excellent restaurants and delicious, fresh foods.

EDVENTURE CURRICULUM — Chile and Southern Cone Geography; basics of Chilean Castillian Spanish; Chilean History – Settlement Patterns; Teutonic Influences on Chilean Settlement Patterns Southern Chile – Contemporary Cultures and Issues; Andean Geology and Lakes District Formation and Glacial History; Valdivian Rainforest Complex and UNESCO World Heritage Designation; Biodiversity of the Valdivian Forest Region; Tourism Industry of the Lakes District; Mapuche and Pehuenche Cultures – Pre-History, History, and Contemporary Issues; Chilean Toponymy – Mapudungun Meets Manuel Montt; And So Much More!!!