Route Advice - South America
 

sorry posted this in general forum but here looks more appropriate

Hi All,

This is my first post so a brief intro - I have been living in Sao Paulo for several years and I am planning a 12-14 week trip around South America with my girlfriend on a K1200RS - obviously given the limitations of the bike (weight, limited/no off road capability) I will have to take the well trodden route. My current thoughts regarding a possible route are as follows:

(BRAZIL) Sao Paulo > Curitiba > Florianopolis > Porto Alegre > (URUGUAY) Punta de Leste > Montevideo > (ARGENTINA) Buenas Aires > Rosario > Cordoba > Mendoza > (CHILE) > Santiago > Valparaiso > Antofagasta > (BOLIVIA) > Arica > La Paz > (Explore Macchu Pichu) > Arica > (CHILE) San Pedro de Atacama > (ARGENTINA) Susques > Jujuy > Salta > Foz de Iguazu

I have the following questions:

1. As I will start the journey in July, I am concerned with crossing the Andes from Mendoza, and on the return trip, through Pedro de Atacama - I guess I can try and hire a truck just to get me through the Andes and then carry on from there. Is there a better alternative? Will it be possible to cross in July/August on the bike?

2. Will the roads be good enough to get me to La Paz on the K1200RS?

3. Any thoughts/recommendations on the proposed route would be hugely appreciated, including any recommended places to visit during the trip.

Many thanks

James

... Based in BsAs for most of this year (bike due to arrive in July)

... Just a thought ... If you head south from SP, through Uruguay carry on from montevideo towards Colonia then on towards Fray Bentos, there are three bridges linking Uruguay to Argentina from any of which it is an easy trip straight through to Rosario.

... It avoids the Rio Plata ferry crossing, pick BsAs on your way south, east trot to Mendoza if you're looking for smooth road.

... Happy riding!

..up to about a week ago (and I assume it's still the case), the nearest bridge to Fray Bentos had been blocked against all traffic. We had to wheel north and use the one around Conception..

mendoza pass
 

The pass is often closed in winter (July is midwinter here), information about whether the pass is open or closed is readily available from tourist offices in the Mendoza area.
There are ploughs which clear the pass and it will often be opened quickly after a brief closure. It is possible to wait on the Argentina side at say Uspallata for a night or two , then carry on as the pass is cleared.
If the pass is possible with snow chains, then dont bother on a bike!!!! I tried it last July and couldnt get much further than Puente del Inca, had to return to Uspallata and wait.
Try to arrive early in the day as the midday sun can open the pass for a few hours , then it will be closed again as the temperature drops.

Arica to La Paz
 

Road from Arica to La Paz is paved all the way... no problem...

Thanks very much everyone - this is very helpful.

JohnandAnnette - great advice. It sounds like finding a local truck to take the bike across might be the best way to avoid any mishaps crossing the Andes where a bad fall sounds very likely - I assume this would be fairly easy to sort out near the border maybe - has anyone done this?

Good news on the paved roads from Arica to La Paz - do you know the state of the roads from La Paz further up (Copocabana, Puno, Cuzco) towards Machu Picchu - I am trying to understand how close I can get before I will need to dump the bike and take alternative transport to Macchu Picchu.

Thanks

James

Road to Cusco
 

Hey Vicks7, posted this on another of you replies.
The road from Puno to Cusco is good and all paved.
If your time is bad for the crossing a Mendoza, you could reroute to JuJuy Ag and cross at Paso Jama then to San Padro de Atacama. If you are trying to avoid unpaved roads, steer clear of Salta to San Pedro de Atacama through Paso Sico.

Just did Veranopolis Brazil to Macchu Pichu in Jan/Feb although in cages.

On the Whole, you should have no problem. Made a similiar trip with my wife on our Harley Davidson Touring Bike. Xmas in Ushuaia and then rode to Winnipeg Canada. Might be a bit of a problem when I get older, but at 60 years of age we had no problems.

The Andes from Mendoza to Chile is all paved. The road from Chile to La Paz and then to Cusco is all paved. Was a great ride.

All this is assuming you are traveling in the summer season when snow and ice is not an issue.

For more details, send me an email.

paso de Jama
 

I would say clear from paso de jama if you are concerned with off-road.
It is a very bad road on the Argentinian side.

Maarten:mchappy:

Are you confused?
 

Hey Maarten, when did you make you trip through Paso Jama?
Whent through in Feb 07 and the road is great, paved all the way San Pedro de Atacama to Salta via Jujuy.
On the other hand, "Paso Sico" San Pedro de Atacama to Salta via Los Cobres is mostly unpaved for at least 3/4's of the way. Did this in Jan 07.

Blaze