Solo trip around around South America 2014
 

G'day all!!!!

Thought it best that I stop lurking around here and actually say hello!

I current live on the Gold Coast in Australia. I have been riding road bikes for 10 years and dirt bikes for about 20 years now. Like most of you here the idea of riding a motorbike across another country is nothing short of a spectacular lifetime dream! So, I'm doing it next year.

I'm flying into Santiago, Chile on the 10th March 2014 and will be buying a motorbike there. Then, the plan is to head south before their winter really hits in and work my way back up and around the Eastern Sea Board. I have allowed myself 4 1/2 months for this trip, no idea how far I will get, may even head into Central America if I have time.

Most questions that I have had I've managed to find answers for already on here but every now and then one comes up that proves a little more difficult to answer. So at this stage I just have a couple for you guys.

Is Argentina the only country that I need to pre-pay and organise a visa for? Does every other country provide you with a visa on arrival to their border? Are there any issues that I should be aware with crossing borders with a motorcycle?

I'm trying to find a device that will track my entire journey via GPS that I can translate back onto a map (ie Google Maps etc) when I return? Has anybody used anything like this or can recommend anything?

Anything fundamental that I should know? Even if you think it is silly throw it up here anyway, include all aspects of the journey!

Thank you in advance everyone for your advice so far!

Matt

Touring South America in 2014
 

Hey Matt, great minds think alike! I, too, am planning a trip to South America in 2014-15 where I will buy and then re-sell a bike. Only I plan to spend about 7 months from April tootling around Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina before hitting Patagonia as far south as possible around Dec-Jan (i.e., middle of their summer) and then crossing over to Chile, heading back up, crossing over to Brazil, taking the bike up the Amazon on a boat, then to Colombia and back to Ecuador to resell.

How far are you planning to go South in Chile before their winter? One of my big questions is how far down can I make the cross-over. In my dreams, I'd like to do it at the El Chalten, Arg to Villa O'Higgins, Chile pass (vice-versa for you). I read about muddy paths that bicyclists have to carry their bikes over and ferries that won't take cars, but I also hear that they are improving the road and don't know that the ferries *don't* take motorcycles. Ideally, I would like to take in as much as possible of both the Carretera Austral in Chile and Ruta 40 in Argentina.

Of course, if that's not possible I could also take Che Guevara's route from Bariloche to Puerto Montt. Other possibilities?

Where are you planning your cross-over and why?

Hi Merrill!

Glad to hear I'm not the only crazy one!

In terms of route and which way I am planning on getting South, I still have not finalised anything as of yet. Proposed plan is as follows:

Fly in Santiago, Chile, buy motorbike.
-Santiago to Puerto Montt via Rancagua, Chilian (duck out to San Pendro between these two) Los Angeles, Temuco etc
-Back track up to Osorno to Puyehue and then across the border into Villa La Angostura
-From Villa La Angostura south through San Carlos, El Bolson, Trevelin and then across the border to Palena, Chile
Now from here (not sure if I should cross here) because from here on down there are excessively long stints between minimalist civilizations.
If I was to cross there I would follow it down to Coyhaique probably via Cisnes.
From there down and across to Chile Chico and across into Los Antiguos, Argentina.
From there staying in Argentina and working my way down south and crossing back in at Natales and finally down to Punta Arenas.

Haven't really planned anything from there, just heading back up North heading through Argentina > Uruguay > Paraguay > Bolivia > Peru > Colombia (if I have to time a little bit of Central America) > Venezuela > Brazil for the FIFA World Cup!!!!

Is that roughly what you were planning? I'm keen to hear your ideas, while I have no issues going remote, running out of fuel or having a significant mechanical malfunction that can't be fixed road side in the middle of the Andes Mountains does concern me a little.

Look forward to hearing your response.

Some ideas
 

Hi,

I am Canadian and have been wandering around SA 3 months per year for 3 Canadian winters (jan, feb, March)

We need lengthy visa applications for Paraguay and Brazil, others at the border. I would suggest checking their official websites for Aussies.

By March it will probably be getting pretty cold in Pto Arenas and Ushuia. When I was there it was under 5 degrees C for a week. Don't linger north if you want to go south.

This year I am in Uruguay now, headed to Brazil.

Loved my year in Aus in the 90's.

Well, you do like adventure. Google Maps doesn't even list those routes (although on Google Earth, I can see roads). As I said, I'd like to cross from Argentina to Chile even further south if possible to make the most of the Carretera Austral going back up. Did you pick your routes based on hearing from other bikers who had done it or otherwise confirmed that it is possible or are you just going to take a chance? (Hats off to you, if the latter but do share with us the results!)

What bike will you be using? I'm looking at the heavier dual sports like the KLR and VStrom 650s because I figure I will also be doing a lot of flat road travel. I took a Royal Enfield 500cc 365 km into the Himalayas between petrol stations in Ladakh, India last year without running out of petrol. All I can say is: know your fuel economy, confirm the location of petrol stations (and whether they are open!), do the math, and take a spare 5-liter bottle as needed.

I'm going to be in that area in april-may. I'm heading down the east coast with plans to go only as far south as Buenos Aires, and then back up again, but I have no idea which route to take to cross from BA to the west side. I figure inspiration will strike me on the way down (anything but another vehicle!).

As far as GPS goes, I'm using a Garmin GPSmap 62s and it's always tracking me. I'm posting it online using RidewithGPS.com, which translates GPX files onto Google Maps for free. There's a link on my blog.

Cheers!

My tips
 

I completed my solo round the continent ride two months ago.There are many places you could cross from Chile to Argentina.In the end Chile Chico is the most practical. Unfortunately the entire Caratera Australis is now under construction in anticipation of paving. There are something like 20 contractors and thousands of workers in camps all along the way. Although I enjoyed the scenery in October I did not enjoy the non-stop detours, heavy equipment and dust. From about 100kms north of Cochrane and south it was much better because its already paved. My favorite part of my experience ws riding the entire Ruta 40 in Argentina. I especially loved the northern 1/3. Have fun!

2 Years Later
 

My 4 month planned trip is now going on two years.
Lots to see and spend time in places if you can. From Ushuaia, I took a cruise to Antarctica last Christmas. Have returned to Toronto 4 times....by plane.
I will head to Brazil, Guyana, Suriname maybe Venezuela.
The best advice I can offer is just do what you want.Have a GPS with good maps and also good paper maps. Don't plan too much ...just do it!
ENJOY!

P.S.
Get a SPOT for tracking.

I have a SPOT GPS but it will only store that data online on the maps for a set time then it deletes it. Would like to take all that data easily and put it into a google maps like site that would keep the data.
the Garmine Ride with gps seems nice right about now..

Matt did you finish that trip?