Optional 2-4 day add-on trips to Santiago & Wine country; Atacama Desert; Easter Island or Patagonia

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Discover the Lake & Volcano District cycling Chile 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, visit local ethnic villages and relax in soothing natural hot springs.

Lodging: Hotel Termas de Manzanar, 3-star. Km 18 Camino Internacional, Curacautín, La Araucanía.
Ph (+56 45) 88 12 00, fax (+56 45) 88 12 00
www.termasdemanzanar.cl

Features: Very nice old-fashioned hotel, built on the banks of the Cautín River

Facilities: Licensed bar and restaurant, outdoor and indoor thermal water pools. Satellite TV and internet access. The support vehicle will take us to the Sierra Nevada Range right through the tunnel Las Raíces, the longest tunnel in Chile (4,5 km / 2,8 mi). Here we’ll set off on our second ride, traveling alongside the Lonquimay River by a fairly flat valley; this 32-mile section features one of the smoothest roads. We’ll bike through the lands of different Pewenches communities, ascending the international path Pino Achado until reaching the Customs. The road is quite rolling with flat sections and a few small climbs and good down hills. If you want to pedal up some serious grades, it is possible to extend the route on 13.6 miles more, until the peak altitude of 6.181 feet; on the top you can enjoy breathtaking scenery of the Andes. In the small village of Liucura, we’ll arrive at the meeting point with the minibuses that will take us through the Icalma Lagoon, bordering the China Muerta National Reserve followed by reaching the old-fashioned town of Melipeuco.

Lodging: Hostería Los Pioneros.
Km 1 Camino Internacional Melipueco Icalma, Melipeuco, La Araucanía.
Ph (+56 45) 58 10 05, fax (+56 45) 58 10 05

Features: Cozy yet basic inn (best available) Hospitality service by Don Pablo Parra and his family. The inn is located near of the National Park Conguillío and at the foothills of Llaima volcano.

Facilities: Licensed bar and restaurant, outdoor swimming pool. Conguillío National Park is one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lakes & Volcanoes district and an early highlight of this trip. This well-conserved territory is situated between 900 and 3.125 meters high (2.953 to 10.253 feet) covering an area of 60.832 hectares (150.320 acres). Here you will witness how the Llaima volcano has permanently shaped the landscape of the area with its eruptions and you’ll have the fantastic opportunity to walk on the lava flows that once came from the heart of the earth.

We’ll start hiking along the Sierra Nevada trail (3 ½ hours round trip) surrounded by native trees, including ancient monkey-puzzle trees or araucarias (Araucaria araucana - some trees can reach 150 feet in height and about 2,000 years old). The views overlook the majestic lake Conguillío and the Sierra Nevada Range. We'll also be able to spot some endemic birds such as Magellan woodpecker, Chucao tapaculo and the noisy Slender-billed parakeet. Back to Playa Linda we’ll eat a picnic lunch and recover our strengths. Then we’ll get in the minibuses and drive back to our Hosteria in Melipeuco.

Lodging: Hotel RP, 3-star.
Diego Portales 779, Temuco, La Araucanía.
Ph (+56 45) 97 77 77, fax (+56 45) 97 77 78
www.hotelrp.cl

Features: A comfortable modern hotel, centrally-located.

Facilities: Satellite TV, internet access, laundry. Today we leave Melipeuco and head to the west; we’ll have a good pavement to bike towards Temuco, hitting the road that cuts through farmlands in the rolling hills of La Araucania. Riding with the Llaima Volcano behind us, we’ll enjoy the landscape of Mapuche land, along with smooth hills and scenic Nothofagus tree forests in the middle of green meadows.

As we approach to Padre Las Casas, with constants ascents and descends, we’ll arrive at Huichahue Bridge, near of Temuco, passing over the river Cautín next to the old railroad bridge of 1898 – end of the third ride. We’ll check in and then have a great dinner in a local restaurant; while having desert, we’ll review the following days’ route graphics and maps and watch a slideshow with the best pictures of the trip.

Lodging: Hotel & SPA Araucarias, 3-star.
Caupolicán 243, Pucón, La Araucanía.
Ph (+56 45) 44 19 63, fax (+56 45) 44 19 63
www.araucarias.cl

Features: A small and very comfortable hotel, centrally-located.

Facilities: Indoor heated pool, massage, Mapuche museum, souvenir shop, satellite TV, internet access and laundry. On our sixth day we’ll drive on the minibuses from Temuco to the south, through the famous Pan American Highway (Hwy 5), towards the town of Freire (27 km / 17 miles), where we begin to prepare our bicycles. We’ll turn aside of the main highway towards the mountain range. The route is quite rolling with slight ascents and slopes, there are two long flattish areas and five hills to be climbed (or skipped on the support vehicle); in some parts it is possible to see five volcanoes from the road. If we have favorable weather conditions, we’ll see how the Villarrica volcano approaches with each mile and acquires bigger dimensions. Then, following the Toltén River, we’ll arrive at the Villarrica Lake and as we go pedaling along its south shore we’ll take-in the view of the lake and volcano. Finally, we’ll arrive to the city of Pucón, the main adventure tourism destination in the Lake & Volcano District.

Lodging: Hotel Termas Coñaripe, 3-star.
Camino Coñaripe Termas Coñaripe, Panguipulli, Los Ríos.
Ph (+56 45) 44 11 11, fax (+56 45) 44 11 11
www.termasconaripe.cl

Features: A charming hotel surrounded by an exuberant nature

Facilities: Outdoor hot springs, therapeutic mud pool, massage, bar & restaurant Departing from Pucón, we drive 18 kms / 11 miles by minibus to Palguín Alto, where we start cycling the Mountain Bikes (supplied by operator and day rental included in rates). The road leads us by the Palguín valley through the National Park Villarrica, with views of scenic waterfalls, as we will pass several majestic snow-capped volcanoes. The vegetation changes spectacularly as we ascend to Chinay, the higher point of the day at 4.101 feet above sea level. After approx 3-4 hours (22 miles) of steady, non technical climbing up a forest service road, we’ll arrive at the Pichi Llancahue Glacier trail, where we’ll take a good break. Later we’ll hike the trail (2 ½ hours round trip) that leads to a phenomenal glacier which is absolutely covered by the volcanic ashes of the Villarrica volcano. Once again you’ll enjoy the stunning views of four volcanoes.

Back to the entrance of the trail, you can sag back or mount the bikes again and experience an exciting descent through the forest (not suitable for beginners) . After 30 minutes riding downhill we’ll exit the park’s boundaries. There is an option to visit the amazing Geometricas Hot Springs on the way down (Additional cost of US$25, www.termasgeometricas.cl). While driving in the bus we’ll have a wonderful view of Calafquén Lake, which is situated on the eastern border of Coñaripe, a town that was totally destroyed by the 1964 eruption of the Villarrica volcano (Rucapillan). After 90 minutes we arrive at a thermal hotel where we have dinner and stay overnight.

Optional Road Cycling (minimum 6 participants): we’ll start riding alongside the Villarrica Lake by its beautiful south bay until the city of Villarrica, where we’ll head south. Our destiny of the day is the Calafquén Lake located along Licanray and Coñaripe beach-towns. The landscape is dominated by the presence of Villarrica Volcano which we will be surrounding in a 75%. Later on, as we ride by the lake Calafquén, we’ll see in several places the lava flows that in 1964 destroyed the town of Coñaripe; end of the ride. From Coñaripe we’ll drive up the road to the Geometric hot springs and meet the others that went on MTB for lunch/hike.

Bike traveled distance: 64.5 km / 40 miles.

Lodging: Marina del Fuy Lodge, Huilo - Huilo.
Ph (+ 56 63) 1972426
Camino Internacional Panguipulli, Puerto Fuy Km 63
Puerto Fuy – Chile

Features: Lake front lodge; great service in a charming setting; fishing activities and water sports.

Facilities: Licensed bar & exceptional restaurant, outdoor hot tubs. We commence the day riding from Coñaripe alongside the shores of Calafquén Lake towards the village of Licanray and continue by a route that goes along the lake by the west. In a spot of the route we’ll have the opportunity to see again five volcanoes of the region. Today we won’t find many long ascends and the road stands out by the green prairies with native forests. The road asphalt is as smooth as silk because almost no vehicles drive by this road. After about 35 miles, we’ll get to Panguipulli city, which name means “land of lions”, and also it is a tourist destination located at the border of the lake that takes its name. From this city we’ll cycle another 20 miles (highlighting two fun descents and two steep 2-mile climbs) and then drive about an hour until arriving to the Natural Reserve Huilo Huilo where we’ll eat dinner and stay overnight.

Lodging: Marina del Fuy Lodge, Huilo - Huilo.
Ph (+ 56 63) 1972426
Camino Internacional Panguipulli, Puerto Fuy Km 63
Puerto Fuy – Chile

Features: Lake front lodge; great service in a charming setting; fishing activities and water sports.

Facilities: Licensed bar & exceptional restaurant, outdoor hot tubs. Huilo-Huilo Reserve boasts of nearly 155 miles of roads and trails that allow you to discover pristine beaches, streams, waterfalls and lakes. We can truly say that Huilo-Huilo is one of those places that “has everything you need". The Mocho and Choshuenco volcanoes, spectacular water falls, native forest, rivers and a wide array of activities ranging from canopy, horse-back riding, 4x4 overland and hiking trails for all levels.

Within the park we find 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-point (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. Finally, a terrific way to experience the nature here is with the canopy tour (additional cost of US$18); a group of platforms between 50 to 80 feet high are linked to each other by hanging bridges and suspended steal-wires. You’ll literally feel like you are flying over the rainforest, rivers and canyons, as you glide across the cables, following a route that extends for 3 km /2 miles.

Lodging: Termas Puyehue Hotel & SPA, 4-star.
Ruta 215 Km 70, Puyehue, Los Lagos
Ph (+56 2) 293 6000
www.puyehue.cl

Features: Luxury hotel with all the services of a world class Hotel & SPA.

Facilities: Licensed bar & restaurant, indoor and outdoor hot springs pools, jacuzzi, sauna, massage and beauty therapy, gym, mini golf, library, souvenirs shop, satellite TV and internet access. Leaving Huilo Huilo and Panguipulli, we’ll start this day with a relax morning, because the first 135 km (84 miles) will be done on transport by the Pan-American highway until Osorno city. Again, we’ll leave the highway to ride our bikes towards the Mountain Range and a new lake, the Puyehue. The route follows towards the Andes by the shore of the lake, biking next to beautiful beaches and hills. The cycling starts easy the first 25 miles, but then there are two climbs of 2 miles each (with the rewarding downhill), and at the end of the lake, the route ascends 3 miles (good climb) until reaching the fantastic Termas de Puyehue Hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Bellavista, 4-star.
V. Pérez Rosales 060, Puerto Varas, Los Lagos
Ph (+56 65) 23 20 11, fax (56 65) 23 20 13
www.hotelbellavista.cl

Features: Opposite the beautiful lake Llanquihue and overlooking Osorno volcano.

Facilities: Licensed bar & restaurant, satellite TV and internet access. This trip of a lifetime is about to end. During the morning, the minibuses will take us to the Llanquihue Lake, where a unique landscape is waiting for us, the Osorno Volcano with its perfect cone. The side of the Volcano reaches the same shore of the lake and we’ll pass through the middle until the village of Ensenada. We can make a short tour to the Petrohué Falls (entrance fee not included / US$4) and return to Ensenada to attack a complete section of 34 miles until reaching the charming german-style city of Puerto Varas, our last destination where we let ourselves to relax and enjoy a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, the transportation will take you to Puerto Montt Airport to catch your flight back to Santiago. You can catch your flight back home or take some of the add-on trips. End of services