The Andean Los Lagos Route

Crossing The Andes Mountains by bike is a classic experience. Do you know how many crossings you can make through The Andes from Chile to Argentina or vice versa? 43. Yes! It's a large number!

Now, there's only one crossing that offers the experience of navigating across The Andes via three lakes, connected by four land legs by bike, in one day or more, departing from Puerto Varas in Chile or from Bariloche in Argentina.

Here's 3 reasons why you really mustn't miss out on this experience.

The Andes crossing, sailing on three lakes, connecting Puerto Varas with Bariloche is the kind of crossing depicted in the movies. Here's three reasons why you have to take the opportunity to live this experience at least once in your life:

This is the only crossing through The Andes that allows you to sail across three lakes: Todos los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi. Beginning with Lake Todos los Santos, you'll arrive to Port Frías where you'll say goodbye to Chile and give a big welcome to Argentina. You'll then navigate across Lake Frías at the foot of The Andes Mountains. Once having made the crossing, you'll begin the third sailing trip across Lake Lago Nahuel Huapi. You'll make the connection between each lake and the next by bike.

You can explore some of the most unspoiled national parks in Chile and Argentina. National parks always add that special something to a journey. More often than not they can present a number of difficulties for those travelers wanting to explore by bike, which is why when you finally come across a national park route that can be enjoyed by bike, you mustn't miss out on the opportunity to ride and discover. Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and Nahuel Huapi National Park are two of the oldest national parks situated in Chile and Argentina. Wild, unspoiled routes, surrounded by coihues, ulmos, olivillos and myrtle trees await you.

Puerto Varas in Chile and Bariloche in Argentina are two of the most beautiful cities located in The Patagonia.
Puerto Varas, a city colonized by Germans, is full of German-influenced architecture and gastronomy, surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes including Tronador, Puntiagudo and Osorno. On the other side of The Andes, Bariloche is a city surrounded by forests, mountains, lakes rivers, waterfalls, steppes and valleys. During your visit you must make time to wander through both cities, visit chocolatiers and artisanal breweries, before planning your onward route.

If you arrive to Bariloche you can continue your journey onwards to:
- The south: towards the Argentine Patagonia
- The north: towards Villa La Angostura, travelling along the edge of Lake Nahuel Huapi to reach San Martín de los Andes, before then making the international crossing at Cardenal Samoré to enter Chile via Puyehue.

If you arrive to Puerto Varas you can continue your journey onwards to:
- The south: along Chile's Southern Highway
- The north: returning to Bariloche via the international crossing at Cardenal SamoréSamoré

BASIC CIRCUIT - BIKE & BOAT

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.
More information is available on the information fact sheets.

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.

Bike & Boat: what is included and useful information

Bike & Boat trip INCLUDES:

Sailing trip across Lake Nahuel Huapi
Sailing trip across Lake Frías
Sailing trip across Lake Todos los Santos

Bike & Boat trip DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Bicycle
The necessary equipment to make the crossing: helmet, first aid kit, bike bags, etc.
Boarding taxes
Food
Accommodation (unless booked with the trip in our website)
Emergency van en route between Peulla and Puerto Frías (available at an extra cost) "

Useful information

You must have your own bicycle and it must be a mountain bike
We recommend that you travel with your own first aid kit
Take into consideration that the level of difficulty of this crossing is medium to high
Travel with comfortable clothing and sports shoes, jacket, hat, sun block and sunglasses
It's obligatory to wear a bicycle helmet at all times
Travel with a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated
Make sure you have all obligatory travel documents with you to make the crossing from Argentina to Chile, or vice versa
Travel times are subject to change without prior notification. We recommend you reconfirm your travel times before departure.