EPGAMT-certified guide Ilan leads the way on this utterly thrilling, special and unique 17-day mountain biking tour in Northern Argentina and Chile, as you bike along the Atacama Desert Crossing, taking in the awesome sights and sounds of the Andes and soaking up the fascinating culture of this region.
Andes
17 Days
Mar - May, Sep - Nov
High
Intermediate
The vast, desolate and humongous landscapes of Northern Argentina and Chile are a truly wondrous sight, and I will guide you on this amazing 17-day mountain biking tour through the region, as we traipse and travail past volcanoes, salt flats, lakes and more, all while riding through the Andes, Abra el Acay Pass and San Pedro de Atacama, the driest desert on earth.
The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world, and is mostly made up of stony terrain, salt lakes, sand and felsic lava. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean on the Western Coast of Chile to the Andes in the East, and contains an array of flora and fauna that have been able to adapt to the hostile environment.
After meeting in the Northern Argentinian city of Salta, where all relevant safety and general information will be dispensed, we then head off for 5 days of riding through the gorgeous and pretty Calchaqui Valley, where we will stop in at the numerous quaint and rustique colonial towns that dot the landscape, as well as sample the local wines the region is famous for.
Day 7 is when we move on to challenging yet rewarding 16,150-foot high Abra el Acay Pass, with the high altitude pushing you to your physical and mental limits, the spectacular views out over the dry scenery providing welcome respite.
A well-earned rest day is spent in the town of San Antonio de los Cobres, with the Train of the Clouds a highlight, before we tackle the Andes Mountains. This section includes riding at high altitude past brightly coloured volcanoes, the salt flats of Aguas Calientes, old mining towns and the Argentine/Chilean border.
We finish our trip with a few days of fun and relaxation in San Pedro, including a visit to some local hot springs, and we will be immensely proud and satisfied at having completed such a magnificent journey.
Book now to experience this truly epic and awesome adventure in the dry terrains of Northern Chile and Argentina!
Arrival in Salta. Adjust bicycles, trip briefing and safety talk. Tour this beautiful colonial era city and enjoy a dinner of the delicious local cuisine.
Transfer to the spectacular red sand stone cliffs of Quebrada de las Conchas (Seashell Canyon) where the riding begins. The day’s destination is Cafayate, the center of northern Argentina’s wine country. In the afternoon, tour this charming colonial town, visit a local winery and taste the aromatic, yet dry, white torrontés varietal special to this part of the country.
On this first day of riding up Valle Calchaqui the road passes San Carlos, the first of six small colonial villages to be encountered along the valley. At San Carlos the pavement ends as the road continues to Quebrada de las Flechas (Canyon of Arrows), a gorgeous canyon with unique rock formations and beautiful panoramas of the fertile river bank and the immense Andes to the West.
Pass the sleepy village of Angastaco, seemingly untouched by time – sitting in the central square one is transported to another era. End the day in Molinos in the enchanting Hacienda de Molinos, formerly the house of the last governor of Salta to be chosen by the King of Spain before the Argentine independence.
Start the day with a challenging climb that leads to Seclantes, an artisan village that specializes in weaving colorful woolen products. Continue past a vibrant sandstone canyon to Cachi, the gem of Valle Calchaqui. Houses dating from the XVIII century have been carefully restored and converted into hotels, restaurants and cafes, making it a popular destination for tourists attracted by the less beaten path.
The views of the snow capped Andes are memorable on this stretch of the road. After a break in quaint Payogasta,
continue past farm houses dotted along the river and giant canyons that contrast breathtakingly with the blue skies and snowy peaks. Pass the night in La Poma, a small agricultural village, for the first time above 10,000 feet!
Climb slowly out of the Calchaqui Valley towards the Abra el Acay Pass. The riding is not steep but challenging
due to the altitude. There is a chance to see vicuñas, a cameloid similar to the llama with a short-haired, brown
coat. The only inhabitants along the road are goat herders who live in small isolated huts. Spend the night in a well appointed tent near the creek that follows the road.
Today is a unique challenge, only possible in the Andes or the Himalayas: a 2,290-foot climb on an unpaved road
up to 16,150 feet above sea level! The road is well maintained and the grade is never excessive allowing for a very manageable, slow-and-steady ascent to an incredible view and an unforgettable feeling of achievement. What
follows is a joyous descent that zigzags towards San Antonio de los Cobres where a well earned bed and shower await.
Take time to recover from the previous day’s efforts and explore this small town, once an important stop along the Tren de los Nubes (Train of the Clouds). In the early 1900s the train connected mines in the Andes with Salta in
Argentina and later with Socompa in Chile. Now it is a tourist attraction taking travelers for a day ride from Salta to
San Antonio de los Cobres and back. The highlight of the trip is the 230-foot high viaduct crossed by the train and
the high altitude it reaches.
Renewed from the previous day’s rest, begin the adventurous, five day crossing of the Andes from Argentina to
the Atacama Desert in Chile. Enjoy the panoramic views of the valley engulfing San Antonio and of Abra el Acay,
the high pass from day eight, as the road slowly climbs out of town. Seventeen miles of great riding top out at Alto
el Chorri Pass (14,980 feet) before crossing into a new valley. The rest of the ride is a delightful descent past incredible rock formations and green patches of marshland called “Vegas”. Transfer 15 miles to Olacapato, a
small village that houses miners in the summer months. Winters here are frigid, forcing most of the local population to return to San Antonio or Salta when the mines are closed.
Reach today’s pass (14,270 feet) after twenty miles of gentle climbing. The goal on this day is to reach the Argentine border crossing. The silence and remoteness of this high altitude desert landscape is a unique
experience in today ́s hustle and bustle world.
Take in the kaleidoscopic colors and the view of tall volcanoes on the twelve mile climb to the first pass of the day (14,680 feet). On the way, cross the Argentine/Chilean border!! Take out the passports anew at the Chilean border crossing, Avansado Laco (14,320 feet), at mile nineteen. At mile twenty two, reach the high point of this part of the trip, (15,050 feet), as well as the last important climb. From here to San Pedro de Atacama, it is all downhill with the exception of several small hills. Descend past a coal mine to camp at Laguna Tuyajto for one last night in tents under the awesome, star-filled sky of the high Andes.
Ride thirty miles past the salt flats of Aguas Calientes (13,134 feet) and many more colorful volcanoes to where the dirt road ends and the smooth asphalt begins again. Take a side trip by vehicle to visit Laguna Miscanti y
Meñique. Finish the day with an elating twenty mile, 2,500-foot descent to Socaire, where comfortable beds and
a panoramic view of the Atacama await.
Begin the day with another memorable descent to the junction with highway 23 that leads to San Pedro de
Atacama. The last forty miles of this journey are a pleasant, smooth ride past small towns amid an austere
landscape of tall, conical volcanoes and the dry, flat valley floor. San Pedro de Atacama is a small oasis in the
middle of this immense desert. A little paradise of adobe houses, delicious eateries and fun bars. The perfect
ending to an epic adventure!
Spend several days relaxing in town and taking advantage of entertaining excursions that include a wonderful
visit to the local hot springs. From San Pedro there are flights to Santiago, Chile or transfer with us over the Andes
back to Salta, Argentina , this time via the Jama Pass.
Mountain Guide
For most of my adult life the mountains, especially the Andes of South America, have been a source of self realization and fulfillment. There is nowhere I feel more mindful and free then out in the hills. I fell in love with the outdoors on family hikes in the Israeli desert. My love affair with the mountains started while working in the Alta Ski Resort in Utah, USA. But it was in Argentina after a season working as a porter on Aconcagua that I decided to make guiding my profession. I am forever grateful for the chance to share my passion with others as a way of making a living.
During the austral summer I work exclusively on Aconcagua leading groups up the western hemisphere's tallest mountain. For most of my clients these expeditions are their first foray up a high altitude mountaineering destination. The altitude, extreme weather and two weeks of tent life are a new and challenging experience. Supporting clients through this experience is my favorite aspect of guiding: being able to introduce people to this knew powerful environment and to help them discover their inner strengths to complete this exciting challenge.
When I am not guiding on Aconcagua the Cordillera Real in Bolivia, the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in Peru and the national parks of Patagonia are my favorite places for climbs and treks in South America. Especially the Huayhuash Trek in Peru and Mt. Illimani in Bolivia for their utter beauty and incredible cultural richness.
I am also an avid mountain biker and hill runner. There is nothing I like to do more during the off season then to explore mountain biking itineraries that cross the Andes. I offer trips that cross the Andes twice in Patagonia, go over 5,000-meter high passes from Salta, Argentina to the Atacama desert in Chile and a ride that starts in Cusco, Peru descends to mythical Machu Picchu and then climbs up to Lago Titicaca.
The amazing thing about South America is that there is an infinite number of untapped destinations ready to be discovered. Whether it be for trekking, mountaineering, mountain biking or hill running there is an ideal itinerary for everyone. Some are classic destinations offered by various outfitters but many are bespoke trips tailored for your specific interests. It would be my great pleasure to be able to organize and lead you on your next South American excursion.
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EPGAMT
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
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