Road Cycling Chile Lake District 12 day tour

Discover the Lake & Volcano District cycling Chile’s southern backroads. Explore this fascinating part of the country dominated by clear-water lakes and amazing live volcanoes. Together with friendly locals, you will pedal alongside green rolling meadows and relax in soothing natural hot springs.

This tour is for nature lovers. For 12 days you will be visiting protected wild areas and observe endemic birds, learn about some of the most active Chilean volcanoes.

The thermal waters of this area are some of the best in the world; due to the volcanic activity, you can find hot springs and thermal spas almost everywhere you go. Likewise, the cuisine is another highlight of the tour, with the ingredients that have made Chile known worldwide: wine, delicious produce and seafood from the South Pacific Ocean.

Trip Summary
Duration: 12 days / 11 nights
Tour dates: 03/14 NOV 2012
Meet / Depart: Temuco airport – Puerto Montt airport
Accommodation: Lodging at 3* and 4* hotels and luxury lodges & spas
Flights: We can help you buying local flights at the best prices
Milleage: 635 KMS / 395 Miles
Activities included: Road Cycling, Hiking, Zip lines and Hot springs
Extras: We can help you planning a pre or post tour in Chile including hotels, transfers, car rental, all inclusive packages and daily excursions in Patagonia, Easter Island, Atacama, Wine country, Altiplano and Santiago.

Highlights:
- Channeling Andes Mountain range rides with amazing views
- 2 night lodging at Baobab Hotel & Spa in Huilo-Huilo Natural Reserve
- Lakes Villarrica, Caburga, Calafquén, Panguipulli and Llanquihue
- Volcanoes Llaima, Lonquimay, Tolhuaca, Villarrica, Lanin, Mocho – Choshuenco, Puntiagudo, and Osorno.
- Hot springs and national parks with pristine green backroads for nature lovers
- Petrohue Waterfalls and Osorno Volcano climb, one of the toughest climbs in South America
- Local cycling guide
- Amazing cuisine and the best wines
- Van Support every day
- Great bike rental available

What is included?
- Professional guide
- Lodging at 3 and 4 stars hotels and luxury lodges
- Private vans (1 van from 4 to 11 pax and 2 for 12+ pax)
- Support vehicle (pick-up truck) with bicycle trailer from 10 riders up.
- Basic cycle parts (cable housing, tubes, tires and spokes)
- Mechanical support on route
- Gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Full board – (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on-route snacks include: mineral water, energy drinks, trail-mix, fresh fruit and gourmet sandwiches)
- Entrance fee at Huife Hot Springs, and all activities according to the itinerary.

What’s not included?
- International and local flights
- Accident Insurance (you MUST have your own insurance)
- Other cycle parts and components (derailleur, crankset, fork, etc)
- Entrance fee to National Parks
- Beverages & cocktails not included on menus
- Bike rental (available upon request) TREK 1.5 18-speed Road Bike 2009 or similar
DAY 1: ARRIVE TO ARAUCANIA – TEMUCO HOTEL – DINNER
Upon your arrival, our staff will meet you at Temuco Airport and drive you to the city, where we’ll check in at your hotel and have a rest. That evening we will check and fit your bicycles, have an orientation and briefing session, and enjoy an introductory dinner with your guides and fellow riders.

DAY 2: CUATIN AREA TO ANDEAN MOUNTAIN RANGE RIDE
After traveling 30 Km on our van, we’ll start cycling a beautiful area next to River Cautín towards the Andean Mountain Range. The route passes through the middle of seeded fields on smooth hills with a beautiful view to the volcanoes Llaima, Lonquimay and Tolhuaca and an extensive green valley before we enter the city where we’ll enjoy box lunch on main square. From here, the road starts to ascend as we enter in foothills of the mountain range. Once the ride ends we’ll check-in at your Hotel where a soothing thermal bath awaits for us.
Bike traveled distance: 86 km

DAY 3: LONQUIMAY AREA – ANDES CLIMB RIDE
We ride alongside the Andean areas of La Araucanía on a very quiet and scenic road alongside Lonquimay River and the lands of different Pewenches indigenous communities. The road is rolling with false-flat sections and a few small climbs and good down hills. Afterwards, we’ll attack a climb up to the border with Argentina across Alto Bio-Bio National Park, reaching an altitude of 6,181 feet. At the top you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Andes and views of 5 volcanoes. After cycling we’ll drive back to enjoy a soothing soak in a hot mineral bath of Manzanar hot springs, the perfect end to this very active day.
Bike traveled distance: 88 Km

DAY 4: FARMLANDS, RURAL AREAS AND SHORT CLIMBS RIDE
Today after breakfast we start the day driving 2 hours from Manzanar towards the town where our cycling starts. (135 kms drive: 2 hours).
We begin the ride on a town located in rural area where most of their production is based on Cranberry and Hazelnut. This first 35 km section of the ride travels using the old Pan-American Highway (now closed for big trucks). The climb consists of two sections the first 5.5 km and the second 2.5 kms. Both sections are separated by a slight downhill of 1.5 kms and the average gradient is 5.5%. Then we take a secondary road heading east in direction to our final destination, the beautiful city of Villarrica. Lodging at hotel in Pucón
Bike traveled distance: 72 Kms

DAY 5: HIKING DAY OR FREE DAY IN PUCON
A day of rest from your bicycles doesn’t mean you have nothing to do. There are activities in Pucón for everyone; including hiking trails (price included), white water rafting (US$50), and horseback riding (US$40), volcano climbing (US$90) and spectacular waterfalls. Price of activities NOT INCLUDED.
We highly recommend for you to explore this nice touristy town with its many shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Ask our guides if you need some local knowledge about dining and good shopping.
Pucón is known in Chile as the main adventure destination in the Lakes & Volcanoes District, and today we’ll head southeast in the direction of Huerquehue National Park, located at the foothills of the Andes, 35 km (22 miles) from Pucón.
The hike starts easy but after a short distance the trail becomes rougher and sometimes steeper, but is still considered a relatively easy hiking level.

DAY 6: PUCON LOOP RIDE
We’ll cycle from Pucón to a small village at the Argentina border where we can visit a museum and learn about the Mapuche, the area’s indigenous people. The road today is generally flat with a few rolling hills – just enough to get your legs going. Then we’ll climb a 15 km section on new asphalt (international road to Argentina) and then get back enjoying the same 15 km riding downhill.
Along today’s ride our guide will help us identify several species of birds and trees enjoying views of two volcanoes, Villarrica and Lanín.
Bike traveled distance = 100 km

DAY 7: VILLARRICA LAKE AND VOLCANO RIDE
Today we’ll cycle from our hotel to the village of Caburgua where we’ll eat a snack at the beach of Lake Caburgua. The road today is a constant false-flat with a few rolling hills – just enough to get your legs going. Throughout today’s ride our guide will help us identify several species of birds and trees as we cycle next to beautiful farms and enjoy views of the Villarrica volcano. With a little good luck, we will see smoke coming out of the active Villarrica volcano. After cycling to Huife, we will visit the Hot Spring Resort and enjoy a soothing soak in a hot mineral bath. Later we’ll take a short ride in the vans back to our hotel in Pucón. Evening at leisure (dinner NOT included). We highly recommend for you to explore this nice touristy town with its many shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Ask our guides if you need some local knowledge about dining and good shopping.
Bike traveled distance: 56 km

DAY 8: CALAFQUEN AND PANGUIPULLI LAKES RIDE
Each day brings new beauty on this tour, and today is no exception. We will ride the shores of two beautiful lakes, Calafquén and Panguipulli, and will cycle three-quarters of the way around Villarrica, a majestic, snow-capped active volcano. This road is smooth and quiet as almost no vehicles drive here. At one point we should be able to see four volcanoes Lanín, Villarrica, Mocho and Choshuenco. The last 50 Km are on amazing new road and asphalts. You’ll be amazed by our lodging in Huilo Huilo Natural Reserve.
Bike traveled distance: 91 km

DAY 9: HUILO HUILO NATURAL RESERVE DAY – FREE DAY
A day of rest from your bicycles doesn’t mean you have nothing to do. There are activities in Huilo-Huilo for everyone; including hiking trails, horseback riding, and spectacular waterfalls. For the adventurous, there are two canopy (zip line) options.
We can organize any day excursion with a minimum of 4 people. Please ask our guides the night before about the availability and additional costs of these activities.

Within the park there are four hiking trails: the Magnetic Stones trail (3-hour hike, medium), the Truful Route (3½-hour hike, medium), the Truful River (6-hour hike, difficult) and Quinchamalí Lookout (3-hour hike, easy). Some of the highlights include a botanical forest, scenic clear-water lagoons, mighty waterfalls and amazing views of snow-capped volcanoes..
For those who want to learn about the reserve’s plants and wildlife, there are scientific walks that focus on botany, bird watching, and geology, as well as flora & fauna interpretation
A terrific way to experience the beauty of the area is with a canopy tour (additional cost of USD40); a group of platforms between 15 and 25 m high (50 to 80 feet) that are linked to each other by hanging bridges and suspended steel wires. You’ll literally feel like you are flying over the rainforest, rivers and canyons as you glide across the cables.

DAY 10: GERMAN STYLE TOWNS AND LLANQUIHUE LAKE RIDE
Today we’ll ride in the vans 135 km (84 miles) until we reach the town of Osorno, where we will begin cycling. From this point we’ll start our ride towards Puerto Octay. This is a small charming village with a strong German heritage. The ride will end in Frutillar town, located by the Lake Llanquihue, where a unique landscape is waiting for us, the Osorno Volcano with its perfect cone.
Bike traveled distance: 85 km

DAY 11: OSORNO VOLCANO RIDE
This trip of a lifetime is about to end. We’ll ride from Puerto Varas to Ensenada alongside Lake Llanquihue until arriving at the amazing Petrohue Falls and the Osorno Volcano. You’ll have the opportunity to Challenge yourself and climb Volcan Osorno and one of the steepest climbs in S. America.
Bike traveled distance: 56 km

DAY 12: PUERTO MONTT AIRPORT – SANTIAGO
Sadly, it’s time to say good-bye to the beautiful Lake & Volcano District of Chile. After breakfast, we’ll ride in vans to Puerto Montt Airport to catch your flight back to Santiago. It’s been a trip you will always remember!