My South American cycle tour begins

I flew into Buenos Aries from Amsterdam with KLM after 14 hours in my per carrier in the aircraft cabin. However, for most of the night flight I was tucked under a blanket on my mums knee. After a night in the capital I flew to San Carlos de Bariloche to begin my South American cycle tour. I would be cycling all the way to Ushuaia criss crossing the border between Argentina and Chile as I pedal southwards on the Careterra Austral.

My cycle south took me to El Bolson on good tarmac roads which continued through Epuyen to the turn on Ruta 71 to Cholila where it became gravel ripio all the way to the welsh town of Trevellin. The road became rougher through the beautiful Los Cipreses Park, although I couldn’t run by the side of the bicycle as dogs were not allowed. Just after the park I crossed the border into Chile at Futaleufu, a town renowned for exciting rafting.

Re-entering Argentina at Lago de Desertio

After cycling down the Careterra Austral I crossed back into Argentina at the border on the northern lake shore of Lago del Desertio, caught a ferry across the length of the lake, then cycled on very rough roads to the climbing and trekking tourist town of El Chalten. This busy town didn’t appeal to us at all, so we cycled out eastwards the next day, leaving Fitzroy behind us. A tailwind took us quickly to the turn south west on Ruta 40 to the turn of El Calafate where we paid for our earlier tailwind. I camped at the turning while we obtained paperwork to exit Argentina at the Torres del Paine National Park. The next morning, with paperwork all in place, we set off in howling winds and had a very tough cycle all the way to the park entrance. I wouldn’t be back into Argentina until the border post at San Sebastian on Tierra del Fuego.

Crossing into Argentinian Tierra del Fuego.

After camping in a gas field just over the border I cycled south on Ruta 3 through Rio Grande to Tolhuin, wild camping, enjoying the final days of our epic cycle tour, until we reached our destination of the southern most city in the world, Fin del Mundo, Ushuaia. We had a few days rest well deserved rest here before flying to Cordoba in the north of the country to cycle tour a little bit more.

Cordoba to Salta – hot, hot , hot

Cycling from Cordoba to Salta was hot, dusty, and mostly busy. With hindsight it was a mistake but for part of the journey north we met up with friends we had met on the Careterra Austral. We cycled through Chamical, Patquia, Nonagasta, to Tinogasta, At Tinogasta we stayed for a few days on a relaxing shady campsite to recharge. But the road was calling so we pedalled north to Belen, Cafayate, and Salta. At Salta we were ending our South American cycle tour by flying to Bilbao in Spain with a plan to cycle home to England.