Chile to Argentina - Villia O'Higgins Crossing by Motorbike?

[alexlefur]

Hello everyone, does anyone know if the border crossing can be done with a motorbike between Villa O'Higgins and El Chalten by skirting the southern ice field? I heard that this is possible and not a problem on foot or bicycle but had not heard of anyone doing it by bike. Lonely Planet has a good write up on how to do it but i also heard that the crossing has several river crossings with one log which could be a bit tough on a motorbike.

[markharf]

I know someone who did it on a DRZ several years ago. He said it was very difficult, but we didn't talk about the details. He also said he was told he was the first to do it on a "big" bike--a few others had come through on little local 125s and such.

I don't know whether that's useful information for you or not. He and I are very loosely connected on Facebook, so I might be able to put you in touch if you're serious about it--not otherwise. Let me know about that.

Mark

[EM25]

In the link below you have the Argentine Gendarmerie oficial site with a description and contact info for that particular border. You can shoot them an email or call them and ask the guys at the border the details you want to know. Gendarmerie is typically very open to give information to travelers. You will have to use Spanish though.

good luck.

.::Gendarmeria Nacional Argentina::.

[alexlefur]

thanks this was helpful

[alexlefur]

Originally Posted by markharf

I know someone who did it on a DRZ several years ago. He said it was very difficult, but we didn't talk about the details. He also said he was told he was the first to do it on a "big" bike--a few others had come through on little local 125s and such.

I don't know whether that's useful information for you or not. He and I are very loosely connected on Facebook, so I might be able to put you in touch if you're serious about it--not otherwise. Let me know about that.

Mark

[alexlefur]

mark, can you provide more details? IM in El Chalten now but this is the famous route for our two wheel non-motorized friends. Would be cool if us big bikes could do it too! Lets share for the others coming behind us now.

[Moto Mikey]

I was riding with a few other guys from Brazil who attempted this crossing about 1-2 weeks ago and were unsuccessful. According to them, the path to the border is more like an animal trail and is very difficult on a motorbike. They got a couple kilometers down it before having to turn around due to very deep water crossings and waist deep mud.

Here's the photo he posted on facebook of him 'illegally' leaving Chile in Villa O'higgens They had to drag the bike under the barb-wire fence.

[markharf]

I got a description and a few photos from my friend. He said "It took me, Tito, a horse, rope and some confused caribaneros. You will wait at the chilean border for a few days in order for them to process the paperwork because they have no idea how to process vehicles. The route is muddy, steep, many water crossing and in general abusive......to put it bluntly: just plain fun!" The photos make it look brutal, including towing the bike behind a horse on steep, deep, endless mud.

On the other hand, maybe you like this sort of thing. Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[Alex Rubtsov]

hi,
has anybody a new experience passing this route by a big bike? have there any changes appeared during the last years?

Alex