Adventure Motorcycle Tours through South America

TOUR DIFFICULTY
Twisty narrow paved and dirt backroads with tight switchbacks All-weather motorcycling experience required Ability to ride tight turns and switchbacks required

TOUR SERVICES
TRANSPORTATION Airport Transfers National flights: Santiago - Antofagasta / Arica - Santiago / Cusco - Puerto Maldonado / Puerto Maldonado - Cusco Entrance fee to the TNR (approx US$10), airport taxes Rental motorcycles & fuel Transfer of motorcycles to Antofagasta and from Arica Motorcycle storage
GUIDES & TOURS Trilingual (German, Spanish, English) tour guide with years of experience in South America Train and tour tickets when applicable Guide with bus/boat for Cusco, Sacred Valley, Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, Uros Island, and Manu National Park Train and tour tickets when applicable Specialized and bilingual guide for the two nights in Tambopata ACCOMMODATION Comfortable three-star and four-star hotels (double occupancy) All breakfasts included Welcome and farewell dinners (alcoholic beverages not included) Meals, first aid kit, land & river transportation from Puerto Maldonado to Tambopata International third-party insurance; third-party national insurance in Chile Map of Chile Documents for Perú borders
NOT INCLUDED
Dinners, lunches, drinks, & snacks Individual activities

PRICING & DATES

**Minimum five riders required for this tour
$6,685	Riding a BMW F650GS (2008)		TOUR DATES May.15, 2009 Aug. 24, 2009 Or contact us with the dates that interest you!
$7,430	Riding a BMW F650 two cylinder (2008)
$8,008	Riding a BMW R1200GS (2008)
$3,073	Passenger
$788	Single room supplement
US$	Currency	CURRENCY ASSISTANT	ALL TOURS

DAY BY DAY

Day 1:
Santiago - Antofagasta [flight]
We will see a variety of desert landscapes, ranging from the lonely salt flats (called 'salares') in the high mountain ranges to the beautiful desert wildflowers that bloom in September and October.

Day 2:
Antofagasta - San Pedro de Atacama [ride]
San Pedro de Atacama is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of the old colonial desert towns. Along the way, we pass the 'Salt Range' - sharp ridges formed from erosion that, in some places, take on the appearance of dinosaurs. We will visit the Laguna Chaxsa with flamingour and the famous San Pedro church. The ceiling of this 260 year-old church is made of cactus stalks, one of the few building materials available in the region.

Day 3:
San Pedro de Atacama
Early rise to see the famous Tatio geyser field, in a valley surrounded by high peaks. We will go with a minibus and return at noon. The geothermal activity here is connected with the Tatio volcano, which has an altitude of 4,280 meters (14,038 feet). The geysers are most active right at dawn, producing columns of superheated water more than thirty feet high, filling the area with clouds of steam. The edges of the hot pool are composed of soft mineral salts, and it is extremely dangerous to get close to these pools.
San Pedro de Atacama had its origins long before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The town is small and made primarily from adobe, with narrow alleys dating back to its earliest days. We will visit the archeological museum of Padre Le Paige, which shows the evolution of the Atacama culture in its estimated 11,000 years of history. Along the way, we will see the unusual pre-Inca circular dwellings at Tulor, a 2,800 year-old village. If time allows, we may also visit the well-preserved Inca Trail and the ancient Indian defensive fortresses (called 'pucaras') of Quitor and Lasana.

Day 4:
San Pedro de Atacama - Iquique [ride]
Ride to Iquique through the coast of Tocopilla.

Day 5:
Iquique - Tacna [ride]
Ride to Tacna in Perú, stopping along the way at the ghost towns of Humberstone and Santa Laura, formerly among the most important nitrate mining centers of the Atacama desert region. Discover the history and importance of nitrate mining in these ghost towns, and view the original machinery (much of it imported from Europe).

Day 6:
Tacna - Arequipa [ride]
Ride to Arequipa along a beautiful road ascending to 2,600 meters (8,530 feet) above sea level.

Day 7:
Arequipa - Cusco [ride]
This is the longest day of the trip. After waking early in Arequipa, we will travel 630 km (392 miles) to Cusco. As we ride through the Andes, we will reach towering heights from 3,700-4,500 meters (12,140-14,800 feet) above sea level. It is difficult to describe the panoramic beauty of the view along this road. We will cross mountains and steppes covered with coironales and yaretales (two unique South American plant species). This area is populated by agriculturalists and cattle ranchers who live in constructions reminiscent of the rural Andalusian architecture. The road itself is paved, in good condition, and very clean - animals pose the only real danger. We will lodge in Cusco.

Day 8:
Cusco - Urubamba [ride]
In the morning, we will tour the city of Cusco by private bus to examine various historical sights, such as churches, Saqsaywan, and the ruins of Cusco. We will leave Cusco in the afternoon, travelling to the sacred valley of Urubamba.

Day 9:
Urubamba [ride]
The paved ride through the Sacred Cusco-Valles (also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas) is a truly gorgeous experience - a dream for riders. This area has been revered for its use in ceremonies and rituals. After observing the beauty of this place, you will be skeptical to hear that the best is yet to come.

Day 10:
Urubamba - Machu Picchu [bus]
We will leave at 6:00 to travel to Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of the Incas", a 15th-century city perched high in the Andes. The trip will be taken in a spectacular and modern train with a wonderful panoramic view. We will arrive at 9:30 and leave by 15:00, providing ample time for you to enjoy this world-famous remnant of a remarkable culture.

Day 11:
Urubamba - Cusco [ride]
We leave Urubamba at midday and go to Cusco to enjoy this historical city.

Day 12:
Cusco - Puerto Maldonado [fly]
Flight to Puerto Maldonado, and journey to the lodge. Following your early morning flight to Puerto Maldonado from Lima or Cusco, you will be met at the airport by your naturalist guide and transferred to a dugout canoe for the trip up the Tambopata River to the lodge. On the journey the vegetation changes from colonized deforested areas to virgin rainforest. A box lunch is provided on board. On arrival, you'll have a welcome drink and meet the rest of the staff. In the late afternoon we set off for an introductory walk into the 'terra firma' forest behind the lodge (Trail 2), dominated by giant Brazil-nut and Dipteryx trees. Frequently-seen mammals on this trail are the Saddle-back Tamarinds, Brown Capuchins, Agoutis, Pacas, Blue-Morpho butterflies, Trogons, Toucans and many other species of birds. After dinner, we will take a night walk to find nocturnal animals or insects by their eye-shine, a specialization for increasing light and seeing better. About 50% of the animals are nocturnal in the rainforest.

Day 13:
Puerto Maldonado - Condenado [ride]
Hike to Lake Condenado. After an early breakfast, you and your nature guide will board the motorized canoe once more for the short journey to the trail head to begin a morning's exploration by foot and paddle canoe of the lake system of Condenado, rich in bird and aquatic life. A family of giant otters lives in the vicinity of the lake and are often observed. Birds abound, especially Rufescent Tiger-herons, Great Egrets, Wattled Jacanas, Hoatzin, the noisy Danacobius and many others. Remember to bring your hat and sun creme, for there is no shade out on the water. You will return to the lodge in time for lunch. The afternoon is for exploring the forest close to the lodge (with or without your guide), relaxing and bathing in the Gallucunca, a cool clear stream beside the lodge, or visiting our tree platforms, going up with ropes and harnesses for a bird's eye view of the forest and for close-ups of arboreal orchids and many other species of plants and animals that are never seen near the ground (extra cost). After dark you will go searching for caiman (alligators) and other nocturnal animals by motorized canoe along the Tambopata River.

Day 14:
San Pedro - Puerto Maldonado [ride]
A dawn start is required for the canoe trip back to Puerto Maldonado, giving memorable views of the sunrise over the river. Look out for the early morning wildlife, which is particularly active at this time. Howler monkeys are frequently heard, as they stake out their territories. Your guide will take care of you on arrival in Puerto Maldonado and will deal with all the necessities at the airport prior to your departure.

Day 15:
Puerto Maldonado - Puno [ride]
Travel to Puno, where we will have a boat tour in the afternoon. A Peruvian guide will accompany us on a tour to the floating island of the Uros.

Day 16:
Puno - Tacna [ride]
Travel to Tacna, through the Andrean. About 630 km (390 miles).

Day 17:
Tacna - Arica [ride]
Travel to Arica in the morning. Sight-seeing in the afternoon and finishing up with a farewell dinner.

Day 18:
Arica - Santiago [flight]
Flight to Santiago.

Note: We reserve the right to make changes.

Ready to ride? Book here