Riding in South-America in June - Is is to cold?
 

We are two guys planning to rent 2 x BMW 650 GS - starting from 1. June 2014. We will start in Santiago, Chile and ride northward on the Argentinian side towards to Bolivia, then to La Paz and the "worlds most dangerous road" before turning around south through Chile to Antofagasta.

Looking at the average temparatures in this period, will it be to cold for a pleasent ride at this time of year?

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Altitude trumps latitude
 

That's unlikely if you stay low: Santiago is located at about 35 degrees south which is the equivalent of the mediterranean sea in the northern hemisphere and you plan to move toward the equator.
If it does become cold then that is much more likely to be because of altitude rather than latitude. The former can be much more temporary unless you are aiming to cross the high passes - my point is that you have some control of the altitude (your choice) but much less over the time of year you aim to be there.

Going from Santiago across to Argentina means crossing the Andes and they are high, they don't need to keep beer in the fridge up there. If Touratech do a snowplough fit for the 650 I would get one. Ride safe.

Bolivia in the Andes will be great in June! 70 degrees when the sun is shining (which is almost all the time in May to Oct). The jungle areas in Bolivia will be warm, dry and dusty.

Northern Chile will be warm and dry (except for fog at the start and end of day. The trouble is that if you do a loop, you will have to cross the Andes somewhere in the south! :helpsmilie:

I am doing a tour through Bolivia (including the 'road of death'), northern Argentina (Salta to Puerto Iguazu), and Brazil (to catch a World Cup match in Cuiaba, Brazil) in June. I run Honda and Kawasaki 650s. Simplify your life (and costs) by joining us! :thumbup1:

Cheers! Toby

Tunnel from Chile to Argentina
 

Is there a better alternative to "Paso Internacional Los Libertadores" to cross into Argentina in June?

What is the chance of being able to cross from Santiago, Chile to Argentina 2nd of June on motorbikes? If there is a low probability, what are the options? Geta truck to drive us over, or are there a second crossing further north?

Hola
The chance will be in regard of the weather conditions from some days before, this pass usually is open the whole year but as big snow storms are common up there during the winter could happen that they have to close it for few days till the machines open it again, and then the only option will be to wait, sometimes for few hours, maybe 1 or 2 nights, sometimes during several days. Long queues of trucks will be waiting there for the reopen and really cold during nights, better to wait on the closer towns before to go up. Hard to know exactly how will be there exactly by 2nd June 2014.
Last July I was passing trough Uspallata (first Argentina town there) and cross with a Brazilian couple on a G650 coming from Chile and they were freezing, they didn’t have heated clothes or even real good (for cold) motorcycle gear adding that Brazilians usually are not really accustom to the extreme climate there but they have done it, no big deal... Little later same day we were at the Aconcagua base park in T-Shirts and few days ago some other friend were at same spot freezing (in October)!!!...
Some months ago in other thread about Argentina–Chile crossings and weather conditions I posted links for the passes:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...h-closed-70922

Saludos

Thanks for the information. This is the same info I've recieved from other sources.

So generally following Routa 40 from Mendoza and northward will be a warmer experience at this time of year, or is it recommended to get a heated vest etc for driving Routa 40 to Bolivia in June?

Regards,

C