Expeditions

Overland Expeditions

The Northern Andes

Highlights

Stage 3 of the Trans Americas follows the spine of the Andes to the Atacama Desert. Dispel the myths of Colombia – it’s a biking paradise, with consistently twisty roads through a tropical paradise! Cross the Equator and explore the Andean cultures in Ecuador & Peru - bowler hats, llamas, coca tea and guinea pigs await! Then traverse the driest desert in the world – the Atacama, with a final challenge of the the high Andes passes of Paso de Jama and Los Libertadores to the Chilean capital, Santiago.

Route Map

View The Northern Andes in a larger map

Is it for me?

Number of Days/Duration	41 days (6 weeks)
Approx total miles	6,500
Accommodation	100% Hotel Bed & Breakfast
Meals Included	All Breakfasts and 6 Group Evening Meals
Culture Shock Rating	Moderate
Riding Difficulty	Moderate

Riding Conditions

This ride covers around 5 -10% of dirt and gravel roads although as the infrastructure develops, this may disappear in future years. You need to be a confident road rider and ready to meet the challenges of Latin American driving.

What's Included?

Pre-Expedition:

One Days advanced rider course
One Days preparatory briefing meeting
GlobeBusters guidance handbook
Access to the GlobeBusters forum
One Days FBOS first aid course (Optional)

On the Road:

All accomodation as described
All breakfasts
One group dinner per week
Motorcycle Guide
2nd Motorcycle Guide if group is over 12 riders
Support Vehicle
Detailed daily route notes with GPS information
Freight of your motorcycle from UK to Bogota (UK/EU Price Only)*
Sea freight of your motorcycle from Santiago to UK (UK/EU Price Only)*

*For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us.

Detailed Itinerary

Week 1 COLOMBIA

We spend enough time in Bogota for you to collect the bikes, have them serviced and also see some of the city itself. The Gold Museum is a must! As we head to Medellin, be prepared for some of the best mountain riding on the trip. It is ten bends per minute! Ride on through coffee plantations and sugar cane fields and then back to the lush green mountains. Your first experience of riding in the Andes will never be forgotten! We are staying in an old monastery, on a coffee plantation and in sophisticated city hotels. The biggest danger in Colombia will be wanting to stay!

Weeks 2 ECUADOR

Crossing into Ecuador, we head for the quaint Indian market town of Otovalo. Then it’s a major milestone - The Equator! We can park one wheel in the north and one in the south as we straddle the line with our bikes. Time to explore Quito is followed by two days in the Amazonian Rain Forest, teaming with life. Through to Cuenca we can relax in the thermal pools, before taking a small mountain road to a quiet border and our entry to Peru.

Weeks 3 & 4 PERU

Peru is a contrast to what has gone before and our first day is long desert roads to Chiclayo. Take some time out to visit the Lord of Sipan Museum and learn about the ancient past of this bleak landscape. In the seaside town of Huanchaco, see the traditional fishing methods or explore the adobe ruins of Chan Chan. Travel the tiny dirt road of Canyon del Pato, back into the high Andes.

Once south of Lima, it’s the sights that Peru is most famous for. You’ll have time to take a flight over the Nasca Lines, do a day trip to the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, watch condors glide over the Colca Canyon, take a boat out to the reed islands of Uros and stroll through the white city of Arequipa. All this is sandwiched between breathtaking riding on uncongested, high altitude roads, swooping through the peaks of Andes and across the remote altiplano.

Weeks 5 & 6 NORTHERN CHILE & ARGENTINA

Take the Pacific coastal road, skimming the sides of sand dunes and hovering above the ocean. Then head inland to cross the vast expanse of the driest desert in the world, the Atacama. Ride through the Valley of the Moon and pause for wonder on the expansive natural Salt Flats. Settle down to enjoy your first juicy Argentine steak with a glass of full bodied red wine. Enjoy good mountain tracks through red rocks and canyons and ride in the shadow of Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. Return to Chile and its modern, bustling, cosmopolitan capital, Santiago with time to explore and to prepare the bikes for freight back home.

Dates & Prices

	2013 (UK / EU) Includes Freight	2013 (Rest of World) Excludes Freight
Start Date	03 October 2013	03 October 2013
End Date	12 November 2013	12 November 2013
Rider Price	£8,995	$12,295
Pillion Price	£4,995	$7,995
Specific Prices	Single Room £3,000	Single Room $4,900
Availability	Available to book now	Available to book now
	Book Now	Book Now

Useful Information

Country/Region Information

Its an extraordinary journey through extremes of landscapes. The cultures change along the way. This trip gives you an amazing flavour for the colour of Latin life.

Weather Information

The weather will be varied. Warm and balmy in Colombia, but cooler at altitude in Ecuador and Chile. As one of the driest places on earth you can bank on the Atacama being hot! Be prepared is the advice.

Visas Information

No Visas are required for UK citizens for this expedition. Other nationalities should check their own requirements, which may be different.

Travel Health Information

You must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.

Foreign Exchange Information

The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

Colombia - Colombian Peso
Ecuador - US Dollar
Peru - Sol
Chile - Chilean Peso
Argentina - Argentina Peso