Cycling Chile’s Lake and Volcano District is definitely a must-do if you are a cycling enthusiast. Here’s a list of the top reasons why riding the backroads of Southern Chile is a true once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.
Amity Tours, as a company, has been specializing since 2003 in active trips such as hiking, trekking, skiing and cycling. Our main ground operations are based in Pucón, located in the Lake and Volcano District.
Our main motivation to offer adventure experiences in this region is quite obvious. Along with being the best place for outdoor activities, we truly believe it is one the most beautiful regions of Chile. If not the most beautiful.
Below you will find out the top reasons why you should definitely come and cycle in Chile with Amity Tours.
Discover the top regions in Chile
Lake and Volcano District (Southern Chile)
From Temuco to Puerto Varas, we take you to cycle the most scenic routes of the Region. Your cycling adventure will be filled with amazing landscapes composed of lakes, active volcanoes and the Andes mountain range. Moreover, you will observe some incredible endemic fauna and flora.
Cycling Chile’s southern backroads is the best way to explore this fascinating part of the country. In other words, you will pedal alongside the Andes mountains, green rolling meadows and through national parks. In addition, you will visit local ethnic villages and relax in soothing natural hot springs.
The best ? You will be fully assisted by our team of professional and passionate guides/drivers.
During our bike programs, you’ll get to explore the following highlights of the region:
- Kutralkura, Chile’s first Geopark in the Malalcahuello National Reserve, always with the Lonquimay Volcano watching you
- The Andes Mountain Range at the Alto Biobio National Reserve
- Pucón, Capital of adventure tourism and Villarrica Volcano, Chile’s most active volcano
- The 7-Lake Route, Chile’s most scenic route
- Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve
- Puerto Varas with the Llanquihue Lake, Osorno Volcano and the Petrohue Waterfalls
The Atacama Desert (Northern Chile)
Also known as the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert is an excellent place for some bike adventures. Actually, this is the only place in the world where you will get the impression to ride on Mars Planet.
We will take you off the beaten path, into areas not accessible by vehicle and trodden only by local natives and their llama or goat herds. You will encounter small villages, geysers, altiplanic lagoons, valleys, archaeological ruins, Andean wildlife along with the most spectacular desert and mountain landscapes. And of course, always crowned by high dormant volcanoes.
Professional service and safety measures
In Amity, we aim at providing the best travel experiences in Chile. This means for us that this comes with an excellent service, comfortable hotels and great local food, beer and wine. Secondly, you will really find true a friend in our experienced and professional guides/drivers. They will show the best of Chile. Along with them, you’ll get to meet local people at every destination. Finally, they’ll make sure you discover the best hidden places that will take your breath away.
As a responsible travel company, we make sure our bikers get the best experience possible. This is why we’ll make sure that safety always comes first. Here are our most important measures taken during our trips:
- Our professional guides and drivers always have with them radio. Communication is the main element in our staff.
- We use support vehicle to carry all the food, water, snacks and all the spare equipment needed for such activity. For those who can no longer ride, our vehicle is here to pick them up
- The helmet while riding is mandatory
- Van stops every 10 or 20 kilometers depending on group pace. Just to make sure everyone’s ok and enjoying the ride
- For every 9 riders, 1 professional guide is in charge for support
- At the beginning of our tours, we make sure a technical speech is given regarding road rules
Mountain Bike & Road Cycling
Being the longest country in the world, Chile has a lot of biking trails to offer. You’ll absolutely get fascinated by the diversity of landscapes at the wheels of your bike.
In the Atacama Desert, we recently have developed our top mountain bike experience. As a result, this trip will allow you to fully appreciate the vastness of the driest desert in the world. You will ride on are a mix of asphalt and dirt roads, and mainly on a flat terrain. For such a trip, you don’t need to be a bike expert since the routes are very easy to ride on.
On the other hand, the Lake and Volcano District offers even more biking trails. If you are an adrenaline seeker, or an avid challenger, you will definitely be amazed by our tours.
Our 7-Day Mountain Bike Tour was especially designed by our top cyclist guide. He is the former national champion of XC MTB in 2004 and winner of silver medal of the Pan-American Games of XC MTB. This program will take you to the best bike trails of the Lake and Volcano District, off the beaten path. You will absolutely love riding among endemic tree forests or descending the Villarrica Volcano.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Jünge
If you’re are more into paved road, don’t worry. Our famous road cycling experience will make you ride the most beautiful and scenic roads of Chile. Designed for intermediate and advanced road cyclists, this experience will surely challenge you. From the Malalcahuello National Reserve, through Pucón to Puerto Varas, this journey will never cease to surprise you.
Our last ride, in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, gives you the opportunity to push your limits. Indeed, you will get to climb the Osorno Volcano and one of the steepest climb of South America. If not Europe.
Want to mix hiking and biking ? Read more about our special travel experience!
Chilean Culture and Food
Not everything is about physical activity, adventure and amazing landscapes. We also make sure our bikers’ belly gets well treated with our delicious Chilean cuisine.
Food in Chile is great and healthy. Likewise, it is one of the highlights of our bike tours. 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, gluten free and dairy free food. However, if you are vegan or eat kosher food you may have to be flexible because in this part of Chile we have very limited vegan options and kosher food is not available.
And to make it memorable, you will experience an indigenous encounter with the Mapuche community. You will have the privilege to share a typical dinner, drink some Maté and learn more about their ancient culture.
During the bike rides, you will have all the necessary snacks to refill energy. For lunch, you will either get to eat the typical Chilean food in our selected restaurants. Or get to have a buffet picnic, prepared with love by our drivers on the perfect scenic spot.
In Southern Chile, tap water is not only safe, it tastes great too!
Check out our top 8-Day Road Cycling Tour in Chile’s Lake & Volcano District, group departure dates available until April 2021.
