advice and info
The Chilean side of Patagonia (Chile ruta-7) is absolutely more interesting and beautiful than the Argentine side. Its likely one of the most beautiful places to travel in South America.
Chile Ruta-7 or the Carretera Austral is mile after mile of amazing sights and off bike activities. It is truly special.
Southern Chile boast a long list of amazing things. Islands, lakes, Volcanos Rivers... If you take your time and do it right you will never have a boring day.
Raft the Futalefu river.
Take a glacier hike, there are several along the Carretera Austral.
Eat at all the small family owned restaurants. Chilean food is actually really good. Read up on the famous dishes and try them all.
While Argentina has a lot to offer it is now in really hard times. 10 years of what amounted to bad economic policy has put Argentina in a weird place. Gas is not always a guarantee, the ATMs limit withdraws, food is not always the best and not everything is available. Its just kinda a mess right now and the southern part will be worse than any of the major cities in the north.
Ruta 40 (Argentina's southern road) is flat and windy, but if that was a shock to anyone who went, then they did not read up and do the research. Its not exactly a secret the Argentine side of Patagonia is a windy alto plano.
However if you do not want to ride Ruta 40 you can take a ferry around the Southern Ice field south of O-Higgins down to Puerto Natales. If you want to make it to Tierra del Fuego or Torres del Piane that is. Which I would recommend 100%. Both Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine park are amazing places. Another world even. I have traveled here and I cannot say enough about southern Chile and Patagonia.
If you wanted to ride all of the Carretera Austral and then take the ferry down to Puerto Natales it can be done with a little back tracking, but that is not a bad thing because it all so amazing to ride.
If you want to earn you Ruta 40 sticker than have at it. I will say this. I left Bariloche Argentina once in the afternoon driving my Toyota Land Cruiser to cross back into Chile and it damn near blew us off the road several times. So on a bike almost all riding MUST be done early in the morning cause the winds pick up in the afternoon making it almost impossible to ride a moto.
Some advice would be not to rush southern Chile. Make a good plan for your route and have fun!!
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