Essential Information - Chile & Argentina

Before booking please check the status of the trip you are joining. We do not advise you to book flights until a trip is confirmed to run.

• There is a 5% booking incentive discount for all "Available" and "Available 2 More To Guarantee" tours. To confirm your place on a tour please make the deposit payment. Your deposit payment is fully refundable at any stage before the tour shows as "Guaranteed". Your final balance is payable no later than 56 days before the trip start date.
  
  On booking your trip you are agreeing to our booking conditions. Please read them fully via the link here. For each holiday a minimum number of participants is required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed'. You can check the trip status for each departure on our  ‘Dates and Prices’   page. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has reached guaranteed status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. 

  Guaranteed Limited - trips are open for booking and confirmed to run but have a limited number of spaces available.
  
  Guaranteed - trips are open for booking and confirmed to run.
  
  Available 2 More To Guarantee - trips are open for booking but not yet confirmed. 2 more bookings will guarantee the running of this tour.
  
  Available - trips are open for booking but not yet confirmed.
  
  Contact - If you would like to book this tour, please contact us.
  Fully Booked - trips now closed for booking.

• Support vehicle
• Accommodation
• Most meals (see trip notes for details) - welcome and farewell dinners, Days 1 and 13
• Snacks and mineral water during cycling days
• Airport transfers on the start and end day of the tour
• Passenger land transfers on days  1, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14
• Transfer on catamaran on days 4, 5 and 6
• Ticket for National Parks Nahuel Huapi and Conguillio.
• Local professional English speaking guide(s) on bike

• International flights
• Alcoholic drinks
• Meals not stated on the itinerary
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Single room supplement
• Tips for guide (s), support staff and restaurant services
• Bike hire (available if required)
• Cycle Helmet

The tour starts in Puerto Montt. You will need to arrive on Day 1 of your itinerary. We include two airport transfers in the tour cost at 1pm or 3.30pm - transfers outside of these times are at additional cost.  Your flight departure at the end of the trip should be booked for the final day of the itinerary.  Private transfers are available upon request. We appreciate that people join redspokes tours from all over the world. Whichever transfer you join on the trip start date, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel. Please bear in mind that if you arrive before midday you may have to wait for your room to be made available. If you decide to arrive early or stay on after the tour, redspokes can assist you in booking your extra accommodation and airport transfers at additional cost.

Our tour price does not include your international flight.

If you are flying from Europe, LATAM Airlines appear to be the airline favoured by our customers. You should look to get an "open jaw" flight that arrives into Puerto Montt on a Sunday and leaves from Temuco on a Saturday.

Check out www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk for an idea of times and prices.

Arrival transfers

We offer two arrival transfer times on the tour start date at 1pm or 3.30pm and will group customers according to flight arrival times.  We recommend reserving a flight that lands no later than 3pm so that you can clear customs in time to catch the last group transfer. The journey time from Puerto Montt airport to the joining hotel – Casa  Ayacara - is around a 1 hour drive.

We aim to get you on your way to the hotel with the shortest wait possible. After you have cleared customs and collected your luggage, please look for your driver in the arrivals hall holding a “redspokes” sign.

Departure transfer

We offer one departure transfer time on the last day of the tour at 12 noon. We recommend reserving flights with a departure time around 5pm so that you can join the group transfer. We allow 4 hours journey time from La Baita to Temuco airport, which includes the 2 hour pre-departure time. 

Private Car Transfer Option

If your flight arrival or departure time does not coincide with our group transfers, we can arrange a separate airport transfer for you.  If your arrival is outside of the official tour dates, we are happy to arrange your airport transfer, however as our team will not be on hand to do the transfers this will be carried out by an outside contractor at additional cost:

Puerto Montt airport-Frutillar : Private Car Transfer Cost £40 (up to 4 people)   
La Baita-Temuco airport : Private Car Transfer Cost  £100 (up to 4 people)

If you wish to hire a bike, e-bike or have a single room for the tour this can usually be arranged for you at extra cost. You will have the opportunity to request these extras at the time of booking or at a later date subject to availability, by emailing your request to us.

If you require additional accommodation or transfers in advance of the trip start date or at the end of your trip we can arrange this for you at extra cost.

For this tour we have brand new Specialized Rockhopper Elite in sizes S to XL and Specialized Rockhopper Sport mountain bikes XS.  There is also the option to hire Specialized turbo Ebikes, VADO 3.0,  which are also brand new and available in a choice of sizes. They all are well maintained bikes with Shimano components and suspension forks. Spare parts (tubes, tyre, chains etc.) are included in the price of the bike rental and will be carried in the support vehicle with a tool kit and track pump.

The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. Those who prefer to use spd or clip-in pedals, are welcome to bring these with you, along with your own cycling shoes and cleats. You are also welcome to bring your own saddle.

If you are able to do a simple repair yourself then you can if you wish take a small repair kit with you as this will avoid the need to wait for assistance should the team or support vehicle be any distance away. The bikes will come with one water bottle cage fitted.

We strongly advise all customers to bring their own cycle helmet as this is not included as part of your bike hire and hire or purchase options at your destination cannot be guaranteed.  Please be aware that failure to wear a cycle helmet is at your own risk and might also affect the validity of your travel insurance. 

Please be aware that the hire bikes have the front brake on the right side and the back brake on the left side (as is usual  in the UK). 

Specialized turbo Ebikes, VADO 3.0, model 2018
Specialized Rockhopper Expert 2020

You will at all times have the security of a back-up vehicle; either a jeep or a bus. The vehicle will carry your luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next) and yourself if you want. The backup van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 12 miles (20 km).

Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems so all you normally need to carry is a daypack, for your camera etc. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so if you are bringing your own bike on the tour you must ensure that it is in good working order. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.

We have a wide mix of cyclists on our tours from couples and friends to solo travellers. Our prices are based on twin shared accommodation. If you sign up for one of our tours as a solo traveller we will twin share you with another person of the same gender in your group. If you prefer to have your own room this is an option on most of our tours for an extra charge.

Most meals are included in your trip price apart from on non cycling days and some other exclusions. Please check the itinerary for full details. If you have a special dietary request, please advise us at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for, but it is always important to advise us in advance.

Food is plentiful and nutritious; a variety of local and Western dishes will be provided.  Both Chile and Argentina have a wide variety of foods, including seafood, beef, fresh fruit, and vegetables. A traditional Chilean meal is pastel de choclo , a "pie" made with corn, vegetables, chicken, and beef.  The national dish of Argentina is asados (a variety of barbecued meat) grilled a large grill.  Argentinian & Chilean food in general is not spicy, even pepper can be classed as too spicy.

It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include cover for personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, travel cancellation or curtailments and negligent damage to or breakage of hire equipment  (all costs for damage or breakage are payable directly to our local agents at the time of the incident, to be reclaimed from your insurers.)

You should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in your tour. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance at the time of booking your trip to ensure that you are covered in the event of cancellation.

For people within the UK Snowcard Insurance Services specialize in all mountain sports holidays including mountain biking. Follow the link above to obtain full information and a quote.

We choose accommodation based on comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on sharing a twin room. There is a single supplement option on most of our tours, should you wish to have a room all to yourself. For more information on the additional costs please see dates and prices.

The accommodation for this trip is in hotels with one night in a unique mountain lodge - some rooms will have en-suite facilities and air conditioning.

For the Chile/ Argentina trip bikes need to be tough as they will take a bit of a battering. 

A mountain bike is a good option. Front suspension will help with the washboard tracks and potholes, but it is not essential. Full suspension is fine, but may be hard work on the tarmac stretches. If you have flat bars, fitting bar ends will give you a different hand position and help with the climbs. The trip can be done on a traditional touring bike, but it is important to ensure it has strong enough wheels, sufficiently wide tyres (37mm is about the minimum) and low enough gearing. It is worth investing in a pair of 36 spoke, hand-built wheels, using a good quality rim (e.g. Sun Rhyno, Mavic or Rigida).We recommend a low geared (such as a 22-tooth granny cog on the front crank driving an 11-32/34 block on the back). 

We strongly recommend that you have your bike fully serviced before going on the tour. Ensure that wheel spokes are adjusted, bearings are greased, gear and brake cables checked, all nuts and bolts tightened.  Also check chain, quick release clamp and tyres. Put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you.

• Multi tool
• Tyre levers
  
• Pump
  
• Spare inner tubes
  
• Spare spokes
  
• Check with your bike shop for disc/ brake pads
  
• A few links for your chain
  
• Spares for any unique things for your bikes i.e fluid or bleed kit.

Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance. The weight of a bike in cardboard box is about 15-20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing for the trip and you may have to pay for excess luggage.

Please note:   Please ensure that your bike and bike box are adequately insured for the entirety of the tour, including all  transfers, as redspokes are not liable for any damage that might be caused to your equipment. If you are taking a flexible bike-bag or a collapsible bike-box, depending on the group size and available space,  it will be transported as passenger luggage on the support vehicle. In all other circumstances, your guide will arrange for your box to be sent to the end destination.

Whilst we endeavour to provide correct and relevant information obtained directly from the relevant Embassies, High Commissions and Consulate Generals - this information is subject to frequent changes, without warning and at very short notice. Due to this, we cannot be held liable for any errors in the information provided on this site. We strongly advised you to check all information with the relevant embassy for details on your visa/passport requirements.

You must be in possession of a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining after date of arrival and an outward ticket. For UK passport holders, visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days.  All other nationalities should check visa requirements either on this website World Travel Guide or with their nearest Chilean / Argentinian embassy.

Australian tourists arriving at Santiago International Airport must pay a USD 117 `reciprocity fee' by credit card, EFTPOS or in US dollars.

When you arrive in Chile you will be issued with a Tourist Card (PDI). Please ensure that you keep this with you during the whole tour as you will require it when you leave Chile. 

It is your responsibility to arrange visas prior to the start of the trip.

Vaccination requirements can change and as we are not medically qualified to answer questions regarding immunisations, we strongly recommend that you contact your health professional or local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before departing for your trip for advice on the correct vaccinations required. You can also refer to current advice from National Travel Health Network and Centre. 

Our tours run from November to March, the ‘summer season’.  Temperatures in in Puerto Montt and the Lake District region in general are around 20C.  The weather in this part of the world is changeable and there is a likelihood of some rain showers.

In Chile and Argentina, the weather conditions are changeable, and you will be travelling over some mountain passes where you may well experience colder temperatures. You need to be prepared for this and have suitable warm and waterproof clothing.

• Cycle Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Water bottles or camelbak
• Base layer tops
• Fleece jacket/ pullover
• Waterproof Biking Jacket (breathable fabric)
• Down Jacket
• Padded cycling shorts
• Cycling shoes Over Shoes – extra warmth
• Lightweight socks & heavyweight socks
• Trekking Shorts 
• Trousers 
• T-shirts– lightweight 
• Long-sleeved shirt 
• Fingerless cycling gloves
• Warm gloves
• Warm fleece hat
• Buff
• Towel
• Lipbalm/ sunscreen

Our guides carry first aid supplies, however we recommend you bring your own first aid kit which should contain the following item; 

• Paracetamol/ Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer for headache)
• Lomotil or Diacalm
• Rehydration salts (Dioralite)
• Antiseptic cream
• Throat lozenges
• Plasters (band aids)
• Nasal spray
• Eye drops
• Ear plugs
• Anti bacterial hand wash
• Antiseptic wet wipes
• Insect Repellent

Miscellaneous

• Energy Bars (gels, power bars)
• Energy/recovery drinks
• Camera

Tipping is an accepted part of everyday life, and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service.  £25 for the guide and team at the end of the tour is recommended - payable in US Dollars.

It is customary for this to be collected up and given to your guide who will distribute it amongst the team. Unfortunately there is usually a hierarchy for the division between guides, helpers and drivers.

The amount of spending money you need will depend on your taste for restaurants, souvenirs, drinks etc.  We estimate that £425 will be more than enough to cover the 14-day tour. 

• Population 17.9 million

• Area 756,096 sq km (291,930 sq miles)

• Major language Spanish

• Major religion Christianity

• Life expectancy 77 years (men), 82 years (women)

• Currency Chilean peso

• Population 44 million

• Area 2.8m sq km (1.1m sq miles)

• Major language Spanish

• Major religion Christianity

• Life expectancy 73 years (men), 80 years (women)

• Currency Peso