Smoking volcanoes. Primeval monkey puzzle forests. Emerald lakes and cascading waterfalls. On our southerly journey through the astonishing landscapes of Chile you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
You’ll ride your mountain bike on the lava fields of active volcanoes, through thick araucaría (monkey puzzle) and bamboo forests, and along pristine rivers. Be prepared for lots of climbing, but the views are worth the effort. As is the rejuvenating soak in natural hot springs!
You’ll also experience the culture and traditions of the local Mapuche community, who are indigenous to the Lakes & Volcanoes region of Chile.
To find out if this intermediate+ mountain bike tour in Chile is right for you, read more on the skill and fitness levels required.
The itinerary for our incredible mountain bike tour Chile has been designed to flow perfectly, maximising your time on the best trails in the most spectacular spots in the South Island, whilst minimising time in the van.
£3,300 GBP/ $4,455 USD/ €3,960 EUR per person (ex. flights, based on two sharing a room)
*Single supplement is only applicable if you are travelling solo and do not wish to share a room with another rider of the same sex. If you’re happy to do that, you need not add the supplement.
We want you to have the best experience in Chile, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.
You’re an experienced mountain biker, riding at least twice a week through the season and comfortable on: long climbs on double track; steep, loose descents on volcanic ash; very rough, petrified lava trails; forested, rooty singletrack; muddy trails. Read more on our intermediate+ skill level.
Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours [link] that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.
Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.
Skill level: Intermediate+
Fitness level: 6/7
Typical trails you’ll be riding
Training for your Chile MTB adventure
To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in Chile you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.
You will experience altitudes of up to 2,500m when mountain biking in Chile and northern Patagonia, and lots of climbing, so be prepared for that!
The ideal bike for the Chilean trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, a dropper seat post, and 130mm – 150mm of travel front and rear. Enduro style tyres that have robust puncture protection, such as the Maxxis Minion with EXO+ sidewalls are ideal for this adventure.
If you wish to bring your own bike to ride you must ensure that it has been fully serviced before the trip. Here are some handy tips on how best to travel with your own bike.
If you would prefer not to travel with your bike, we can arrange rental of a high quality full suspension mountain bike for the duration of your mountain bike tour in Chile.
We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of 10 people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Chile is five.
Our mountain bike tour in Chile caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.
This mountain bike tour in Chile is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for intermediate+ mountain bikers. Riding here, amongst active volcanoes, lava fields, and bamboo forests you’ll experience some long, tough climbs and descents, as well as some lovely flowing singletrack and double track.
The distances we cover each day range from 20km to 45km, in accordance with the technical difficulty of the trails and height gain/ loss on each stage.
Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.
No, you only need to carry a 20 litre back pack with you whilst riding. We have a support vehicle and driver who will transfer your luggage to your next accommodation each day, and have it ready and waiting for your arrival.
Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Chile.
If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
Your mountain bike guides are local to the Lakes and Volcanoes region and experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the culture and landscape of Chile and Northern Patagonia.
Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Chile. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.
On this mountain bike tour Chile and Northern Patagonia you will be staying in a range of accommodation, including small, family-owned lodges and hotels. This will give you a flavour of real life in these areas.
7 breakfasts, 6 picnic/packed lunches, and 3 dinners are included in the price of your mountain bike tour Chile.
The ideal bike for the Chilean trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, a dropper seat post, and 130mm – 150mm of travel front and rear. Enduro style tyres that have robust puncture protection, such as the Maxxis Minion with EXO+ sidewalls are ideal for this adventure.
Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your mountain bike tour in Chile.
Yes, you will have the chance to have laundry done at most of your accommodations.
Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.
Chile’s primary airport for international travel is Aeropuerto Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) in Santiago, and there are many airlines flying to Santiago from Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
From Santiago you can then take an internal flight to Temuco, and then one of the official airport transfers with TransAraucania to Pucón (app. 90 minutes).
In Chile, domestic flights are operated by 3 local airline companies: Latam, Sky Airline and JetSmart.
Travellers from North American/Canada may be able to catch your onward flight from Santiago the same evening, but if you are travelling from Europe/ Australasia you will need to book a night in a hotel in Santiago to catch your connecting flight the following day.
Here are some handy tips and video on how to pack your bike for travel.
Visas
No advance visa application is needed for entry into Chile. South American countries and EU member countries don’t need a visa for Chile, and there is no reciprocity fee.
Australian and New Zealand citizens entering Chile for tourism purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival. Cash and credit card accepted.
US and Canada citizens no longer need to pay the reciprocity fee to enter Chile. A valid USA or Canada passport is required for travelling as a tourist for 90 days.
Upon entering the country, visitors receive a 90-day tourist visa that can be extended for another 90 days.
All travellers should consult the relevant government website to satisfy themselves of their requirements for entering and leaving Chile.
Arrival and departure details
Your mountain bike tour Chile starts in Pucón, the adventure hub of the Lakes and Volcanoes District of Chile.
You should arrive in Pucón at least one day before the start date of your mountain bike tour Chile and Northern Patagonia to allow yourself time to recover from your journey and adjust to local time, so that you’re ready to commence your trip early on day 1.
We recommend staying at Hotel Casa Solaria in Pucón, just a short walk from lots of restaurants, bars and shops.
On day 1 of your adventure with us, your guides will meet you at your hotel at 10am.
On the final day of your adventure we will aim to arrive at Puerto Montt airport by 11am to catch your onward flights.
If you wish to spend extra time in Chile, we have this handy guide to spending 24 hours in Santiago.
Our mountain bike guides in Chile are of the highest level.
They are qualified in first-aid and they have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild and beautiful parts of Chile and Northern Patagonia.
Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the trails of Chile and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.
The majority of accommodation that we use on this mountain biking adventure in Chile is family-owned and operated guest houses, lodges and small hotels. We have researched these areas extensively to select the most comfortable accommodation in the region, and have planned the itinerary accordingly.
The food you’ll enjoy in Chile and Northern Patagonia is locally-sourced and home-made, and includes favourites such as lamb, wild boar, venison, salmon, avocados, artichokes, and plenty of cake!
Whilst not all lunches and dinners are included in the tour price, we will eat together as a group at each mealtime.
Currently, no vaccines or medical examinations are required for entering Chile
The water in Chile is generally safe for consumption, however, it’s recommended that you drink bottled water for the first few days.
There are high-quality medical centres, clinics and hospitals, especially in bigger cities like Temuco, Puerto Montt and Santiago.
In the event of an earthquake or strong tremor, remain calm and follow the instructions of your guide or driver. People in Chile are used to natural disasters and know how to behave and what to expect in each situation, so stick with your guiding team and do as they say.
Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services [link].
You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.
The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso, with bills of 1,000, 2,000, 50,000, 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. Most international credit cards are accepted, but we would recommend having a cash backup of 10,000 pesos on hand at all times.
Tipping
It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in Chile, but it is much appreciated. We suggest a tip of 5%-10% of the cost of your tour could be paid to your guiding team, if you feel that they have provided an excellent experience and service on your mountain bike tour Chile with us.
It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% – 15% of your meal cost would be acceptable.
You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.
We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.
To make this a private tour for you and your favourite people, complete the form and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
To make this a private tour for you and your favourite people, complete the form and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
Chile is an adventure-lover’s paradise and our MTB guides in the Lakes and Volcanoes region are no strangers to adventure! Their love of the outdoors runs deep and they are amazing ambassadors for their home region, who will share their passion with you every step of the way.
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This biking trip was a blast! The riding took us through a mixture of terrain – steep descents with breathtaking views above the trees and cruising down to fast-flowing trails deep into the forest. Honestly, photos don't quite capture the full scale of this place.
Our days were packed with challenges, but we always wrapped up our rides with enough energy to dive into the awesome experiences they had lined up for us. This being my first bike tour, I was a bit apprehensive about being the only girl in the group but shoutout to the amazing guides, Daniel and Pancho – they were always there to help and give tips without making me feel rushed or pressured.
I also appreciated knowing our bikes were always safe, and there'd be a tasty lunch waiting at the end of each ride. Knowing we're on track and all logistics were sorted let me focus on the riding and have a good time.
We loved our time in Chile and would come back for a custom trip with our guides to see what other biking opportunities this place holds. Thank you H+I for an amazing time!
We really don’t have enough good things to say about our Chile trip. This was our first group tour and we were nervous going into it. Luckily, those nerves quickly dissipated.
Ours was a small group of various levels both fitness and skill level, but this was never an issue. Pancho and Daniel were excellent guides and were able to provide different lines for different skill levels. My boyfriend and I were really pleasantly surprised at how much steep, technical trail was available to us to ride as that’s our preferred riding. This was different terrain than we are used to, so it was great to ride trail that was so unique to us.
The amount of pedaling each day was perfect. It wasn’t so much that we were totally exhausted by the end of the day, but enough to feel like we were getting a work out in every day with some good steep climbs many of the days. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. We really fell in love with this region.
The accommodations were fantastic. We got to stay in some really unique and beautiful spots, some the likes of which I don’t think we’ll ever find again.
The guides and other support crew (Juan and Lionel) were incredibly well organized and always cheerful and helpful and really rounded out already awesome riding to a perfect trip! Maybe the best part for us was that they fed us so well. My boyfriend and I are both vegan and we ate like royalty. Every day was fresh, delicious vegan options (which is not always easy to come by traveling abroad).
Can’t say enough good things about this trip!
