Starting point

You can start a Bike & Boat trip in either country: from Bariloche in Argentina or from Puerto Varas in Chile.

How long does it take

You can finish the trip in just 1 day! (That is only when biking from Argentina to Chile, one way.)

If you plan on doing the round trip, you should plan for at least 3 days and 2 nights, regardless of the country from which you choose to begin your journey.

You can always extend your adventure by staying one or two nights more in Puerto Blest or Peulla, where there are hotels located in the middle of The Andes Mountains that organize a range of interesting and fun tours.

Is this crossing easy if you don't have previous experience?

No. It's important to bear in mind that the Bike & Boat crossing is a journey of around 180 kms, of which 121 kms is by bike.

The journey from Argentina to Chile is easier, because there are less uphill stretches to climb. The journey from Chile to Argentina is more difficult, because there are more uphill stretches to climb.

It includes

• Sailing Lake Nahuel Huapi
• Navigation Lake Frías
• Navigation Lake All Saints

Not included

• Bike
• Helmet, first aid kit, etc, the necessary to make the crossing
• Boarding fees
• Meals
• Accommodation
• Support Truck route between Peulla and Puerto Frías (on request)

Useful information

• Each passenger must arrive with his or her own cycle, prepared for high mountain terrains.
• We recommend that you carry a first-aid kit with you.
• Take into consideration that the difficulty of this route fluctuates between medium to high.
• Pack comfortable sports clothing and footwear, a warm coat, a hat, sunblock and sunglasses.
• It’s obligatory to wear a cycle helmet for safety reasons. Pack a water bottle to keep you fully hydrated.
• It’s obligatory to travel with al documentation required to make the border crossing from Argentina to Chile.
• Times are subject to modifications without prior notice. We recommend that you reconfirm all times before you travel.

From Argentina to Chile

Bike & Boat Crossing through The Andes in a day

Total kilometers covered by bike: 121 kms - 75 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Experience: Unique!

1st leg: Bariloche Center - Puerto Pañuelo | 25 kms - 15 miles
Altitude: 700 meters above sea level
Difficulty: Low
Land: Pavemented
Sailing trip aboard the first catamaran on Lake Nahuel Huapi: 9:30 am
Arrive to Puerto Pañuelo by: 9:15 am
Traffic: High

We recommend that you take extra care, as heavy traffic passes along this route and there’s little space to cycle off of the carriageway.

2nd leg: sailing trip from Puerto Pañuelo to Puerto Blest along Lake Nahuel Huapi
Length of sail: 1 hour aboard the catamaran Gran Victoria
It’s important to arrive for the first sailing trip aboard the Brazo Blest by 9:15 am.

3rd leg: Puerto Blest - Puerto Alegre | 3 kms - 2 miles
Altitude: from 700 meters above sea level to 780 meters
Difficulty: Low
Land: Soil
Sailing trip aboard the second catamaran on Lake Frías: 12.45 pm
Arrive to the port by: 12:30 pm
Optional accommodation: Hotel Puerto Blest
Traffic: Low - just long-distance buses

Puerto Blest is home to a beautiful boutique hotel with spa and heated swimming pool, where you can decide to take a rest from your journey and continue the following day.

4th leg: sailing trip from Puerto Alegre to Puerto Frías on Lake Frías
Length of sail: 20 minutes aboard the catamaran Victoria del Sur
It’s important to arrive to Puerto Alegre by 12.30 pm. Upon arrival to Puerto Frías, customs and immigration paperwork will be realized.

5th leg: Puerto Frías - Peulla | 29 kms - 18 miles
Altitude of cycling uphill: from 780 meters above sea level to 1000 meters, covering: 4 kms – 3 miles
Altitude of cycling downhill: from 1000 meters above sea level to 150 meters, covering: 8 kms – 5 miles
Altitude of cycling along horizontal plane: 150 meters above sea level, covering: 17 kms – 10 miles
Land: pebbly soil
Difficulty: medium to high (depending on each cyclist’s rhythm)
Sailing trip aboard the third and last catamaran on Lake Todos los Santos: 3:30 pm
Arrive to the port by: 3:15 pm
Optional accommodation: Hotel Natura or camping
Traffic: Low - just long-distance buses

Verify that the time it takes to complete this leg by bike, crossing the mountain range, is enough for you to arrive to Peulla by 3:30 pm and from where you can board the third ship. For those who opt to stay in Peulla and continue with the journey the following day, there are many extra excursions on offer that you can enjoy.

6th leg: sailing trip from Peulla to Petrohué on Lake Todos los Santos
Length of sail: 1 hour 40 minutes aboard the Catamaran Lagos Andinos

It’s important to arrive for the Lake Todos los Santos sailing trip by 3:15 pm, a trip that passes through the interesting green color and exuberant vegetation of the Valdiviana Forest.

7th leg: Petrohué - Puerto Varas | 64 kms - 40 miles
Altitude: from 150 meters above sea level to 75 meters
Land: pavemented cycle path
Difficulty: medium
Traffic: Low
Note: This is the longest of all the crossing’s journeys

Leaving the dock at Petrohué, you cycle along Route 225, heading towards Ensenada, along a luxurious cycle path of 64 kilometers.

From Chile to Argentina

Bike & Boat Crossing through The Andes in two days or more

Total kilometers covered by bike: 121 kms - 75 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Experience: Unique!

DAY 1

1st leg: Puerto Varas – Petrohué | 64 km - 40 miles
Altitude: from 75 meters above sea level to 150 meters
Land: pavemented cycle path
Difficulty: medium
Sailing trip aboard the first catamaran on Lake Todos los Santos: 10.00 am
Arrive to the port by: 9.30 am
Traffic: Low
Note: This is the longest of all the crossing’s journeys

Leaving from Puerto Varas, you cycle along Route 225, heading towards Ensenada, along a luxurious cycle path. If you’re travel with a saddlebag, you can leave it at the dock and the port staff will keep it safe aboard the catamaran.

2nd leg: Sailing trip from Petrohué to Peulla on Lake Todos los Santos
Length of sail: 1 hour 40 minutes aboard the Catamaran Lagos Andinos

It’s important to arrive for the Lake Todos los Santos sailing trip by 9:30 am, a trip that passes through the interesting green color and exuberant vegetation of the Valdiviana Forest.

3rd leg: Peulla – Puerto Frías | 29 kms - 18 miles
Altitude of cycling uphill: from 150 meters above sea level to 1000 meters, covering: 8 kms – 5 miles
Altitude of cycling downhill: from 1000 meters above sea level to 780 meters, covering: 4 kms – 3 miles
Land: pebbly soil
Difficulty: medium to high (depending on each cyclist’s rhythm)
Sailing trip aboard the second catamaran on Lake Frías: 4.30 pm
Arrive to the port by: 14.15 pm, having passed through customs and immigration
Optional accommodation: Hotel Natura or camping
Traffic: Low - just long-distance buses
Note: This is the crossing’s most difficult route owing to the 8 kms uphill, which is why the recommendation is to continue the following day.

It’s important to consider the medium to high difficulty of this route, as it presents significant changes in altitude along its 29 kms. Verify that the time it takes to complete this leg by bike is enough for you to arrive to Frías by 4:00 pm. For those who opt to stay in Peulla and continue with the journey the following day, there are many extra excursions on offer that you can enjoy.

DAY 2

4th leg: Sailing trip from Puerto Frías to Puerto Alegre on Lake Frías
Length of sail: 20 minutes aboard the catamaran Victoria del Sur

It’s important to arrive to Puerto Frías by 4:15 pm, where customs and immigration paperwork will be realized.

5th leg: Puerto Alegre – Puerto Blest | 3 kms - 2 miles
Altitude: from 780 meters above sea level to 700 meters
Difficulty: Low
Land: Soil
Sailing trip aboard the third catamaran on Lake Nahuel Huapi: 6:20 pm
Arrive to the port by: 6:00 pm
Optional accommodation: Hotel Puerto Blest
Traffic: Low - just long-distance buses

6th leg: Sailing trip from Puerto Blest to Puerto Pañuelo on Lake Nahuel Huapi
Length of sail: 1 hour aboard the catamaran Gran Victoria

It’s important to arrive for the third sailing trip aboard the Brazo Blest by 6:00 pm.

7th leg: Puerto Pañuelo – Centro de Bariloche | 25 kms - 15 miles
Altitude: 700 meters above sea level
Difficulty: Low
Land: Pavemented
Traffic: High

On route to the port, you can appreciate the region’s typical architecture, its large gardens that decorate the entire route from Bustillo to the city center. We recommend that you take extra care, as heavy traffic passes along this route and there’s little space to cycle off of the carriageway.

Map