How much time would you need from Santiago => TDF => Buenos Aires (relaxed speed)
 

Hi everyone:

Currently in Medellin Colombia and about to finally head south for Ecuador. A lady friend of mine in the States is toying with the notion of meeting me in Santiago Chile and riding with me along the route 40 to TDF and then back to Buenos Aires to fly back home.

Because of weather in the South, I'm thinking of arriving in Santiago mid to late November. I estimated it would be about 4 weeks getting down there, and maybe 1 week up to Buenos Aires. Is this reasonable? Or how much time would you suggest? If we did this, we'd want to take a relaxed pace (I don't particularly love the 10-12 hour days)... and we'd also like to have some time for some trekking in the Patagonian wilderness.

Please feel free to shoot holes in my timeline/theory etc. Would love your feedback on:
1) How long would you need from Chile => TDF, and TDF => Buenos Aires?
2) Is the routa 40 good enough that we wouldn't be facing lots of mud and mostly gravel?
3) Recommendations for which route north from TDF => Buenos Aires (would prefer to do something different going north).
4) Arriving in Chile in mid to late November... good timing for weather down there?

Best,
David

Shame i missed you. I left Medellin this morning having been there for 4 days. I am heading north.
Firstly anything is possible but you are going to struggle to do everything on your wish list
Ruta 40 is a mixed bag and not all of it easy and from what you say, you don't sound too keen on gravel (can't say I blame you with a pillion).

Personally, I would not miss St Martin or the Perito Moreno glacier.

A week to get back to BsAs will not give you much time to enjoy places.

If the riding is getting too much why not head to Pt Mont & take the 4 day ferry ride down to Pt Natales.

I am sure others will give you their opinions too but basically it is up to you.

Good luck
Delbert

hola yo vivo en tierra del fuego y es buena idea en noviembre realizar ese viaje si venis por la ruta 40 a veces no esta en buen estado pero es hermoso.. si te gusta el treking podes ir al chalten que esta cerca de calafate es capital nacional del treking y un lugar hermoso lugo para regresar a bs as lo podes hacer por la ruta 3 que es asfaltada y tambien tenes muchos lugares para conocer ..
sorrry a i not ingles write
ivan

Yes, you can ride the route in 4 weeks. You won't have to do 10 hour days. You can probably ride 6-7 hours a day. Some of the roads will be slow. As another rider mentioned. If you want to relax you can take the Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales and save some time and wear and tear on your bike. However, you'll miss the Carretera Austral. Leaving only a week to get from Ushuaia to BA might be a bit tight. It is doable, but you'll be riding some long days in the wind.

For both routes, it will not leave you much time to enjoy the hiking and parks. The W in Torres del Paine is typically 5-6 days of hiking. El Chalten is typically 2-3 days of hiking. You can hike for fewer days in both parks, but you may miss out.

Something to consider, the weather in Patagonia can change quite rapidly. You might consider allocating a few days for down days.

Enjoy