gpsKevin Adventure Rides

Patagonia Backways Adventure Trail

Chile and Argentina Motorcycle Adventure

Southbound Journey: November 15 – December 1, 2024

Join us for this 15 day Adventure ride from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina to Punta Arenas, Chile to explore the backways around Patagonia

This Adventure is arranged to be a 15 day riding adventure. There are two trips offered here: A southbound trip starting in Santiago, Chile and a northbound trip starting in Punta Arenas, Chile. The routes are the same and will cover over 5,000km.

The routes are a mix of paved and dirt roads; about half the ride is on dirt and gravel roads, mostly graded but sometimes in poor condition. Weather can be challenging and change road conditions.

Our route takes us through the Andes to the most remote parts of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. We will pass through 5 of the most spectacular National Parks including: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Queulat National Park, Parque Nacional Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, and Tierra del Fuego National Park. We reach the southern tip of Argentina at Ushuaia and then continue on to Punta Arenas Chile.

Riders will be staying in some of the nicer hotels along the way. Rooms are double occupancy. We will be eating in some great finds from great restaurants to street vendors and gas stations.

November/December are generally beautiful weather months in Patagonia. In central areas, you can expect daily highs to linger in the 60s. Further north, temperatures may creep in the 70s, while in the south, they may fall to the mid-50s. In other words, this is an ideal time to travel throughout the region. But the weather can change and winds and rain can be strong. Come prepared for adversity.

Southbound Riders will fly into Santiago, Chile and will fly home from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Rental motorcycles arrangements are at the beginning and end of the ride. The ride will include a support vehicle and driver to carry your daily gear.

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Ruta 40 in Patagonia

Patagonia, the southernmost tip of South America, beckons to adventurous souls like a siren song. Here, tarmac snakes through rugged landscapes, seamlessly transitioning from lush Patagonian rainforests to arid Patagonian steppes. Wind whispers secrets through ancient valleys and towering peaks, sculpted by time, pierce the sapphire sky. Motorcycle riders on this legendary frontier navigate challenging gravel tracks and smooth asphalt, each bend bursting with breathtaking vistas. The rumble of engines becomes an ode to nature's grandeur, punctuated by the silence of glaciers, their secrets preserved in the frigid air. Every mile is a conquest, a testament to both machine and rider, while every turquoise lake, reflecting the heavens, offers a moment of awe-inspiring stillness. Patagonia on two wheels is more than just a journey; it's a communion with the wild soul of the Earth's southern crown, an experience that resonates long after the engine falls silent.

Navigation Made Easy

We have made navigation easy for riders by developing a custom GPS chip to simply install into your Garmin or BMW GPS unit. We have also made matching paper ride maps that you can carry directly with you for quick reference and collaboration with your friends.

Is this route right for you?

This route is not good for beginners; you should be very experienced in backcountry travel and prepared for any difficulty or failures. This route includes options: both easier and harder routes. As an example for those wanting to avoid river crossings, we have added workaround route options. For those just tired and wanting to end the day early, we have added easy paved shortcuts. And for those tough guys wanting more, we have added some challenging routes.

Signup info:

Note: Only 3 Spots Left

The price to join this 15 day ride is:

$8,495 includes shared room (Double Occupancy)
$10,500 includes your own room (Single Occupancy)
$13,820 Two Participants on one bike in one private room (Couples Package)

This covers your lodging for the 16 nights during the ride and the cost of a support truck and driver. This also covers your ride packets which include a custom Garmin GPS Map on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions. Note: Ride is limited to 13 riders

What are the additional costs:

Airfare is not included (in my case from San Diego to Santiago, Chile is $500 and return from Punta Arenas is $655)

The cost of food: A little cheaper then the USA depending on where you eat.

The cost of gas: similar to the USA

The stuff you buy ??? You're on Your Own

The cost of rental motorcycles ($2,880 to $4,320) depending on your bike choice

Ride signup $2000 Deposit, Southbound November 15 – December 1, 2024

After your signup riders will receive an email from us with further ride information and instructions on how to reserve your rental bike.

Note: Riders must make 50% payment by June 15th, 2024 and full payment by August 16th, 2024

Riders will receive ride packets in the mail two weeks before the ride.

Refund Policy

Your $2,000 ride deposit is refundable until June 14th, 2024

Ride Details

I know many of you also enjoy dreaming about the ride and making your plans, so here is the detail, enjoy!

Ride Plan PATAGONIA Southbound

Route Choices: Don't put yourself in a bad spot. gpsKevin route maps always include route options. We recognize that weather and conditions can change. We design these adventures with multiple routes in different colors. The main adventure route is colored Blue, then there are easier and harder options, Green and Red, respectively. This allows riders to choose their own level of adventure appropriate for their own skill and desires. We don't want to put you into a challenging spot without options; we let you make the choice.

Ride Yodas

Magic Yoda Roberto

Yoda Jane

Support Truck

Master Yoda gpsKevin

Support Truck

View the ride maps

OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.

I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride. At first glance these maps do not look so impressive, but they are way cool. If you start zooming in, you can see the ride in incredible detail. I have spent a ton of hours sorting through the details of the ride for each day, so for those of you that enjoy this sort of thing, well enjoy!

Legend:

The Blue and Cyan lines are MAIN routes

The Black lines are the out and back viewpoints

How does the ride navigation work?

This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You will be given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.

(see my ride Navigation Video)

Are you right for this ride?

When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff, come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.

How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?

I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride. They come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.

(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)

Note from me, gpsKevin

My goal for this ride is simple,: great riding. So you can count on great routes and places to ride.

But in addition, the ride is about: discovering new places, meeting new friends, seeing new parts of the world.

Thanks

gpsKevin

FAQ's

Q; What do I do if I don't have a Garmin GPS?

A: Buy one, you need it, we will show you how to use it. You can get a great one for under $200 bucks. ( See gpsKevin's gps recommendations)

Q: Is the riding really on my own?

A: Yes, but almost everyone hooks up and rides with a friend, or a new friend or me.