Crossing the Andes in May/June
 

Greetings All

Due to circumstances beyond my control it look like I will have to radically change my South American itinerary and like my signature says, I need a plan B, or maybe plan C.

I need to ride from Sao Paulo across the Andes to Cusco and then south to Valparaiso to ship the bike home. It looks like I have two options, I can go through Bolivia or go further north via Porto Velho and then into Peru. I don't have a preference about which way I go. Any suggestions?

?c?

The problem is that I won't be able to do this until the end of April or more likely mid May and I estimate the whole trip will take about 4 weeks.

1) Has anyone ridden across the Andes at this time?

2) What were conditions like?

3) Does anyone know when it starts snowing up there?

I'm not worried about how cold it gets (I love my heated vest :-) ) but snow and ice on the road is another kettle of fish.

Thanks for your help

Ian J

I have ridden both of those routes and you won't need any heated vest April to November! I ride the Andes (up to 6,000 meters) with basic under armor and a jacket that air flows thru. Just do it each day before 3 pm! You will have sun and 25 degrees C every day!

It doesn't snow (this season) below 16,000 ft so no worries there!

Cheers! Toby

Greetings Toby

That's the best trip news I've had for while. I assumed at that altitude I would have problems, well I'm always happy to be proved wrong, especially when it's to my benefit. :)

I only disagree with you on one point, where I go my heated vest goes with me, I'm turning into a wuss in my old age.

Thanks for your help

Ian J

Hey Ian,
If you want to take time and explore Bolivia and Peru' then your route sounds good ... IF .. you have the time to take it all in along the way. Up to you of course. But the mountains are slow and a bit technical, windy and take forever to cover any great distance. Also, as you mentioned, weather may be changeable??

If you just need to make time and get to Chile, I'd simply head due SOUTH into Argentina. The smoother and faster and more direct modern highways will get you there more quickly. You might even do 300 to 400 mile days ... in the mountains of Peru' ... 150 mile day would be good.

Head into Argentina on main roads then angle over toward Cordoba then on to Santiago and Valpo. I assume you're aware of the major Earthquake that happened the other day in Valpo ...?? Lots of damage, not sure how things are functioning ATM. You could also ship out of Brazil, no? Or Air ship it anywhere for a few hundred more?? :confused1:

Hope everything works out. Ride safe, have a blast! :mchappy:

bier

Greetings Patrick

The earthquake in Chile potentially could complicate things with damage to roads, etc but I suspect (hope) that by the time I pass that way enough basic repairs would have been completed/under way/started to make travel possible. Yes I am being an optimist :)

I have shipping from Valparaiso organised but I am looking at other shipping options just in case.

Regards

Ian J

Ian,

THX for the pm. Peru has recently paved over almost every major route in the Andes (darn it! @#%^* They are putting me out of business with my Moto Adventure Tours here in Peru!! doh)

But Mollydog would have been right only two years ago!


Enjoy your trip!

Toby :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Wow! I had no idea so much infrastructure upgrades were in place. Good and bad I guess. But seems to me ... if one were in a real hurry ... going through the flatter/straighter Argentine roads would be faster than winding over
4,000 meter mountain passes, one after the other.

I guess Southern Peru' is flatter ... but if you pass through Bolivia ... you can't really avoid mountains.

Of course going Peru' and Bolivia will be much more interesting and fun on a bike! bier