ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Road cycling, hiking, volcano climbing and hot springs
DATES
From October 2017 until April 2018
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate biker: You’re active on your days off, and recreational biking may even be your weekend sport of choice. You love to ride, and it shows in your endurance and strength. Our intermediate bike tours offer a steady but active pace, with opportunities to push yourself. Expect some challenging climbs, with great descents over rolling terrain. Average distance per day: 40-50 miles / 65-80 km.
Intermediate hiker: A reasonable level of fitness is required, as these hiking trips can require sustained endurance levels, hills and longer days. These tours are intended for active people who are comfortable participating in up to 6 hours of hiking per day. These tours may include hiking on difficult terrain, sometimes steep and/or uneven trails, with obstacles such as wet logs, branches and muddy areas. All our guided hiking tours include natural interpretation and focus on the history, volcanology and the native flora and fauna of the wilderness areas.
PACKING TIPS
Tips for cycling
We advise you to bring clothing for warm and cold weather; also including helmet and cap, brightly colored cycling jerseys, arm and leg warmers, base layers, windbreaker, booties, gloves, two pairs of sneakers, a waterproof jacket and any other waterproof item, sunglasses, bathing suit and sandals. Don’t forget your camera!
Tips for hiking
Clothing: Long-sleeved, synthetic or wool shirt. Short-sleeved synthetic or cotton/synthetic T-shirts. Medium-weight sweater or jacket of synthetic fabric, such as fleece. Gore-Tex wind parka for rainy weather. Full-length pants, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric. Hiking shorts, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric. Pile/fleece pants, ideal for relaxing time after hiking.
Accessories: Sun hat with wide brim, preferably with a chin strap to keep it from blowing off. Bandanna. It will keep your neck from getting sunburned and can double as a hand towel. Wool or pile hat or ski cap. Gloves or mittens (wool or pile).
Foot wear: Sturdy, properly fitting footwear can make your trip much more pleasurable. If you’re buying new boots for this trip, please break them in beforehand by wearing them as often as possible before the trip. Medium-weight, all leather, sturdy trekking boots with padded ankle, good arch support, and a lug sole traction. Your trekking boots should be well broken in, and suitable for prolonged walking on sandy and rocky terrain. Running shoes are NOT appropriate for this trip. Medium weight synthetic socks (we recommend Thorlo® Lt. Trekking). Athletic socks (synthetic for easy washing and drying) that are suitable for the shoes you’ll be wearing while in towns. Inner socks (synthetic) that can be washed and dried quickly.
VISAS
Visa to enter Chile: No advance Visa application is needed for entry into Chile. Australian and Mexican citizens entering Chile for tourism purposes will be charged a $160.00 processing fee payable on arrival. Cash and credit card accepted. USA, Canada and New Zealand citizens no longer need to pay the reciprocity fee ($160.00)to enter Chile. A valid passport is required travelling as a tourist for 90 days.
HOTELS
As indicated in the program or similar
FOOD
Food in Chile is great and healthy. Likewise, it is one of the highlights of this tour. Great wine, fresh and flavorsome produce, seafood and all kinds of meat (beef, pork, chicken, lamb and wild boar) will be part of the daily menus. We are prepared to cater vegetarian, pescaterian and gluten free food, however if you are vegan you may have to be flexible because in Chile we have very limited vegan options. Unfortunately, kosher food is not available.
VEHICLES
Modern Mercedes Benz Sprinter or van according to group size, air-conditioned
ITINERARY MODIFICATIONS
Slight itinerary modifications might occur due to weather and or road conditions, or force majeur.
WEATHER NOTES
We suggest visiting the web for current conditions in Chile and doing your own research on this topic.
www.meteochile.cl/reg09.html and www.meteochile.cl/reg10.html or www.accuweather.com
Generally the weather in this area is very similar to Northern California, specially the coast side. Late October and November (spring time in the southern hemisphere) present milder temperatures 10ºC to 25ºC (50°F to 77°F) with some scattered rain (likewise during our Fall, March and April). During December you can start feeling the beginning of the summer with temperatures around 10ºC to 27ºC (50°F to 81°F).
In January and February temperatures range between 15ºC and 35ºC (60°F / 95°F). Remember that you are visiting the Lake & Volcano district, so always expect some rain!
In this part of Chile there are no insects or animals that represent a threat to human beings.
AIRLINE INFORMATION
We highly recommend getting the Chile Airpass ticket with Lan Airlines, which includes the international flight from your country to Santiago (Chile) and the domestic flights Santiago(SCL)- Temuco(ZCO) / Temuco(ZCO)-Santiago(SCL). This Airpass is definitely less expensive than buying the flights separately and what’s more important it is very flexible if there are some unexpected last minute changes. Lan Airlines Airpass can be purchased at any IATA travel agent.
We are happy to help you find and book your domestic flights, without extra cost.-
The international terminal at SCL is located in the same building than the domestic terminal.
Note: The local flights in Chile have a luggage allowance of 23kg. You will need to pay excess if your baggage exceeds this. There is an allowance for cycling equipment charged at 3kg (approx $5 per kg).
INSURANCE
Any policy you purchase should, at the very least, cover trip cancellation, loss of baggage, accident/life coverage, travel delays, and non-refundable airline tickets.
Carriers for travel insurance include World Nomads, Travel Guard and Travelex. You may also consider insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation. Search the web to find the best deal that suits your needs – read the fine print –
ROAD SAFETY
Besides your own on-road safety gear (helmet, rear-view mirrors, bright colored jerseys and gloves) we provide a support vehicle that drives at the rear of the group with a road-sign that alert other drivers the presence of bike riders on the road. Drivers in Chile are used to bicycles on the road, so they shouldn’t bother you while riding. All our staff communicates by radio at all times.
90 MINUTES RIDING WAIT POLICY
In order to ensure that the timing and logistics of the rides and tour go more smoothly, please be informed that from the time that it takes for the first rider to complete a ride, the transportation vehicles will wait a maximum of 90 minutes for the remaining cyclists to finish riding. After this point, the riders yet to reach the finish line will have to get into the vans and be transported in the vehicles to reunite with the group.
BICYCLE CHOICE
If you bring your own bike, make sure they have tires of at least 28 cm size. Although the road surfaces are normally in fine shape, one never knows what condition they will be in after the winter. Pack your bike well in a cardboard box that we can easily dismantle for its transportation during the tour. Standard size bike hard-cases are welcomed.
NON STANDARD WHEELS
If your wheel size is different than 700, you MUST bring your own parts (tires, tubes and spokes). Likewise, if your wheels have any special features make sure you bring your own special spokes.
BIKE FRIDAY
If your bike is like one of the Bike Friday models, please make sure you bring enough bike parts (especially: tires, tubes and spokes), as in Chile there are no places where you can purchase any part for that kind of bike.
BIKE HIRE US$ 100,00
Our company counts with great rental bikes: Cannondale Caad8-5 105 Alloy- 2014 road bike or similar.
Cannondale Caad8-5 105 Alloy – 2014 Road Bike

Kona Dew

If you rent one of our great bikes, feel free to bring your own pedals, seat and seat post (27,2 mm).
Helmets & Pedals
Most riders choose to bring their own helmets, but if you prefer, we have a small number of helmets available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please let us know in advance if you’d like to use one. All our bikes are equipped with Wellgo pedals and toeclips. We will be happy to substitute any pedals you choose to bring. Amity Tours also has a small number of Shimano SPD and SPD-SL pedals, available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please let us know in advance if you prefer to use them.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
There is nothing to be worrying about altitude sickness. We will never get higher than 9,340 feet
CURRENCY
In Chile and Argentina, the local currency is called “Peso”.
The current exchange rate is $1 USD = $650 Chilean Pesos (CLP).
Travel checks are not convenient because only few places accept them and the exchange rate is 10% lower than dollar bills. Most credit cards are accepted at shops, restaurants and hotels. The most common cards are Master Card, Visa and Dinners Club. American Express is less commonly accepted that the others. There is no need to bring a large amount of cash; there are ATMs almost everywhere we go on the tour. The maximum amount of money that you can withdraw per day is equivalent to $360.000 CLP.
For up to date information we suggest you visit the website www.xe.com/ucc/
Gratuity: In Chile the gratuity for hospitality services is normally 10% of the bill. People usually tip in restaurants, hotels and the local staff of guides. You shouldn’t tip taxi drivers, baggage carriers and bar tenders, they do not expect any tips. At the end of the trip gratuity for the crew for a job well done is highly appreciated. We encourage you to use your discretion and tip according to the caliber of service you receive. As a guideline, the industry standard is $80 dollars per person, per guide.