Patagonia Extra

This is our extended motorcycle tour of Patagonia, for 26 days, starting in Santiago, Chile and finishing in Punta Arenas, Chile / or Ushuaia, Argentina (depending on freight)

Week 1 CHILE & ARGENTINA LAKE DISTRICT
After we collect our bikes in Santiago, with a day to explore the city, we set off for the magnificent waterfalls of Salto de Laja.  Then we travel inland to Villarrica, a lovely lakeside spot in the Chilean Lake District. Our road to the border is in the shadow of Volcan Lanin and once in Argentina, we take the Seven Lakes Road for a two night stopover in the beautiful lakeside town of Bariloche.  Be prepared to think you are in Switzerland!

Week 2 CARRETERA AUSTRAL & RUTA 40

Cross back to Chile to ride the Carretera Austral, an incredible dirt road nestling between the ocean and the mountains, curling around turquoise lakes, passing jagged hanging glaciers and sparkling waterfalls. Our first night is in the small town of Futaleufu, before riding to the provincial capital of Coyhaique.  This section of riding can be challenging, but the region is pristine and stunning.  We can take a rest at our two night stop close to Puerto Guadal, where you have a free day to chill or take an optional visit to the Marble Caverns.

Then it’s the most infamous road in South America – Ruta 40. An isolated road, with sections of gravel, through the heart of Patagonia where the strong crosswinds will battle you for the bike! In El Calafate, we divert from the main route to visit the immense ice colossus of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Week 3 TORRES DEL PAINE & TIERRA DEL FUEGO
We return to Chile again to Puerto Natales for two nights, a perfect base to explore the soaring granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Listed sight.

We will board the ferry, traversing the Magellan Straits to Tierra del Fuego, which steams back and forth without respite. We cross from Chile back to Argentina amidst reminders and memorials to the Falklands War. Then all too soon, you’ll ride the final pass – The Garibaldi, before dropping into Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel. It’s straight to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and the “End of the Road” sign. Congratulations!  Time to celebrate!

Week 4 TIERRA DEL FUEGO & PUNTA ARENAS

There are two free days in Ushuaia for you to soak up the atmosphere, before heading back north.  Our final night on Tierra del Fuego is at a remote estancia overlooking Lago Blanco.  It’s a perfect location to reflect on the magnificence of Patagonia.  Our final days ride still has some awesome dirt roads across the island before taking the ferry again and a short ride to Punta Arenas (Chile) / we may ship bikes back from Ushuaia. We drop off our bikes, have our Farewell Dinner and say our good-byes.

This itinerary is primarily through remote locations and the nature of the accommodation will reflect this.   Some places we stay are more basic, than hotels you find in towns and cities.  It may be a pine cabin by a river, bunk rooms on an estancia (local ranch), a simple wooden lodge.  In these places, please don’t expect a television, wifi or even a mobile phone signal – you are hundreds of miles away from anything that can be described genuinely as a town!  Some places do not have single room options.  To give you a flavour for the types of places we do stay at, see our typical examples below

Mallin Colorado is a secluded eco-lodge on the side of Lake General Carrera, you may be in a cabin, a small lodge or the main house, all with great views of the water.

The night before we reach Ushuaia, we stay at Hosteria Kaiken on the banks of Lago Fagnano, with a breathtaking view and time to reflect on the journey.

On our penultimate night we head inland on Tierra del Fuego to the shores of Lago Blanco and receive a warm welcome from the owners of Hosteria Las Lengas

Hosteria America is our hotel when we reach Ushuaia and we base ourselves here for three nights.  Its great boutique hotel, with great views over the bay, only a few minutes walk to the town centre.

Note for Single Supplement
In remote locations, a single room is not always possible, so please note that there may be up to four nights in this tour where you will not be able to have a single room and also where there are multiple shared rooms (ie three or four riders to a room).  We have already taken this into account in the price for single supplement.

Before you go

• GlobeBusters Guidance Handbook with all pre-trip information
• Pre-departure expedition briefing and ongoing access to the GlobeBusters team for any questions you may have, via additional one-to-one meetings
• Assistance with the procurement of visas for each country and provision of Letters of Invitation, if required.
• Daily hard copy route notes with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for the region, suitable for Garmin units.

En-Route

• Normally 4* (sometimes 3*) hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, or in remote regions, the best available.
• Your price includes your room on a shared basis, unless you have booked a single room (not available for 4 nights)
• 5 group evening meals (drinks excluded)
• All en route ferry crossings.
• Local overnight hotel parking charges.

Motorcycle Freight

• Group freight of your motorcycle (including crating, where required, and Customs Clearance) from our UK freight agent to Santiago, Chile and from Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina back to our UK freight agent.  Freight may be by air or sea.  Options from other international destinations are available but may incur additional charges.
• In transit insurance for your motorcycle, during freight, subject to an excess of £500.

Motorcycle Hire

Where you have chosen to rent a motorcycle, this is organised by us with the local motorcycle rental provider, Motoaventura, who is the Approved Triumph Dealership in Osorno, Chile.   Your supplement rental fee includes:

• 23 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers.
• Compulsory legal minimum third party international motorcycle insurance for Argentina and compulsory legal minimum third party motorcycle insurance for Chile *
• One way charge to return the motorcycle from Punta Arenas back to the original hiring depot

*On booking, you can select to add “Damages Waiver” at a price of £480, which limits your liability to a maximum excess of US$2,500 if you damage the rental motorcycle.

Support Crew

• Motorcycle Expedition Manager to accompany the group
• Assistant Expedition Manager, where the group is more than 12 riders
• Support Vehicle, equipped with satellite phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle
• Support Driver, with motorcycle mechanical experience and first aid qualifications

Not Included

• Return passenger airline flights or any other travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for each motorcycle expedition or any internal flights or other travel costs required during the expedition.
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
• Third party liability or any other motorcycle insurance cover, motorcycle breakdown cover or recovery costs (unless renting a bike and insurance cover will be as stated above)
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional local excursions or local activities, (except where stated)
• Lunches, snacks or evening meals (except where stated). Any meals whilst on board ferries.
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees, motorcycle documentation (including carnet de passage)
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring a minimum of your own helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.
• Costs of motorcycle repair (parts, labour or other related costs), spares, transportation of your bike to the workshop
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables, toll road fees, traffic fines or other charges relating to breach of the law
• Any travel, subsistence & hotel costs to and from the freight depot when you drop off or collect your motorcycle, and to and from any UK briefing meetings.
• Freight of the Participant’s motorcycle back to their home county from a place that is not the official end point.
• Additional transportation of you or your motorcycle en route where you or your motorcycle cannot continue beyond the short and temporary assistance offered by GlobeBusters Support Vehicle.
• Transfers to / from the airport at the start and end of the expedition.
• Any other item not specifically included in the price.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions.

Flights

For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  Once we have confirmed that this tour is a guaranteed departure, it is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the start and end point.

You need to book an outward flight to our start point, Santiago to arrive no later than 20 November 2023.  The earliest leave date is any time on 15 December 2023 from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Only book your flights once we have confirmed that your motorcycle expedition is a guaranteed departure.  We do not refund flight costs if you have booked flights for a tour that has not been notified as a guaranteed departure.

Should you wish to arrive before the official date or stay after the official end date, please simply request extra nights at the time of booking and we can make the reservation at our group hotel.

We understand that booking a motorcycle expedition is a big commitment both financially and in terms of time and preparation.  Here are some of the most common questions we are asked before riders make a booking.  If you wish to meet with us prior to booking to ask more questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we can set up a one-to-one meeting.  In addition, we hold a Pre-Expedition Meeting for the group at our premises between 3 – 6 months prior to the start of the expedition.

What type of bike do I need?
Our expeditions are designed so that you can use your own motorcycle.  We recommend that you use a dual purpose / adventure style bike.  We support any make and model.  Our Support Crew ride the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or  Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.  We also have extensive experience with the BMW GS motorcycle range, having ridden them for over 15 years.  What is important is that you have a reliable and robust bike that you are comfortable riding and has been fully serviced prior to the start and has new tyres.

What riding experience do I need?
Riding in Patagonia is not suitable for novice riders. We generally recommend that you are an experienced motorcyclist, who has ridden overseas before and is used to touring. You will enjoy the experience more if your riding is of an advanced standard and by that we mean you have a good command of slow control (eg you don’t dangle your feet or paddle at slow speeds and can U-turn your bike), you are assertive on the road and have good forward planning and hazard perception, you are able to perform safe and precise overtakes and are able ride to the legal speed limits.

Please note that our route covers around 25% of dirt and gravel roads (up to 1,000 miles), although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years.  In addition the weather conditions can be challenging and in particular, Patagonia is known for its strong crosswinds.  Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have experience of riding your motorcycle on unpaved surfaces such as gravel, and dirt as some of the expedition routes are on these types of roads. In addition, if there any roadworks on our route, normally diversions will be on temporary dirt roads.

If you need to improve your off road riding skills before arriving on the tour, attending a training school such as Adventure Bike Training www.adventurebiketraining.co.uk, Triumph Adventure Experience https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/adventure-experience or BMW Off Road Skills is highly recommended.

It is your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this Expedition.

How does motorcycle freight work?
Included in your price is freight to and from the UK, but no matter where you are based in the world, we can facilitate freight of your motorcycle.  Freight outside of the UK may incur additional costs – please ask us for a quote, or you are at liberty to organise your own freight and we will provide you with a price that excludes any motorcycle freight costs.

You must take your motorcycle to the appointed freight depot.  Our freight agent will crate your motorcycle and do all the necessary documents.  Your bike is air freighted or sea freighted to Santiago, Chile.  At the other end, the GlobeBusters Team facilitate the customs clearance of your motorcycle, but must also be physically present to sign documentation so that your motorcycle can be cleared; we cannot sign the documents on your behalf.  When the trip finishes, you will ride your bike to our freight agent, who will road transport and then sea freight your motorcycle back to the original leave point, unless you have made alternative arrangements with us.

Your tour price also includes in-transit insurance for your motorcycle, with an excess of £500.  If you need to make a claim on this insurance you must inform us immediately on taking receipt of your bike and document the damage, as well as taking photos.  The insurance company has the discretion whether to replace damaged parts or to refurbish them.

Tell me about the motorcycle rental
Riders must be age 25 years and older, with a valid, full motorcycle licence.  We work with the local motorcycle rental agency, Motoaventura based in Osorno Chile, who are the Authorised Triumph Dealership in Osorno. They are also BMW Travel Partners.  We act as an agent for them and your contract for the motorcycle rental is with them and not with us (you can request a copy of the contract from us in advance).  Your rental fee includes:

• 23 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers.
• Compulsory legal minimum international third party motorcycle insurance in Argentina and compulsory third party motorcycle insurance in Chile.
• One way charge to return the motorcycle from Punta Arenas back to the original hiring depot

Should you require any other equipment, you can order this when you make your booking.  When you collect your bike, you must provide Motoaventura with a valid credit card as a guarantee in case of damage, with at least US$2,500 credit limit available.  Note that you have the option to add Damages Insurance  when you make your booking for £480 and this will limit your liability to a maximum amount of US$2,500.  It is not possible to lower the excess any further than the amounts shown.  Therefore it is in your interest to ride the motorcycle in a safe and moderate manner to lower any risk of damage.

You are free to book motorcycle rental direct with Motoaventura.cl and not through us. Their details can easily be found via google.  If you decide to do this then you have the responsibility of dealing directly with Motoaventura.

What about servicing & tyres?
This ride is approximately 3,500 miles and so we do not organise any service points for the bikes or to pick up new tyres.  If using your own motorcycle, you must ensure that your motorcycle has had a full service prior to arriving and has new tyres. Tyre choice is your responsibility but we do discuss what some of the options available at our Pre-Expedition Meeting.

Is it difficult to get fuel?
We have never had any issue with finding fuel. In certain regions, once en route, we will warn you in advance of any possible fuel shortages or if there is a route with a key fuel stop, where everyone must fill up with fuel to get to the next destination. It is not necessary to fit any after-market large fuel tank or carry fuel bottles, although some riders chose to do so. Our support vehicle also carries spare fuel for emergencies.

What is the average group size?
Our motorcycle groups are normally between 10 – 18 riders, some with passengers.  Our groups are often very international and whilst the majority of riders come from the UK, we also get riders from USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and so on.  Groups are predominantly solo male riders, but every expedition normally has between one to four couples travelling.

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
We have had other riders successfully complete this ride with a pillion passenger.  Your passenger needs to also be an experienced tourer, used to long distance riding and riding on unpaved roads. Your passenger must ride the motorcycle each touring day – there is no option to sit in the support vehicle, as this is only for participants who are ill or injured, or unless the road conditions are too difficult for a rider and passenger to attempt two-up.

Is there a support vehicle?
All our expeditions have a dedicated GlobeBusters Support Vehicle, driven by a GlobeBusters Support Driver. It is capable of carrying two motorcycle and two passengers. Our support vehicles carry a satellite phone, mobile phone, medical bag and spinal board, spare fuel, water, tools, some spare parts, some spare tyres. Our support vehicle provides temporary assistance to you if you have a mechanical problem or an accident and are injured.

This is not a luggage vehicle – you must carry your own luggage on your motorcycle. For more information, please see our Support Vehicle section.

Do I have to ride in a group?
No! We do not make you ride in convoy. We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride. We give you a road book, GPS co-ordinates and hotel information. You can use this to self-navigate. If you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Expedition Manager, then you can do this. Occasionally we will ask you to ride in a group when we are crossing a border or if there is a security issue.

What will the weather be like?
We are travelling in Patagonia in November and December and this is the start of the summer season.  It will be warm and sunny in Santiago, but as we head south, temperatures will fall and weather becomes more unpredictable.  There is still the possibility of snow flurries at this time or you could be wearing a T-shirt!  Come prepared.

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:  Passport (valid for more than 6 months after the end of your Tour), Motorcycle Registration Document or Title, Driving Licence, International Driving Permit (1949), minimum Third Party Motorcycle Liability Insurance (where available) and  Travel Insurance Certificate (see below) and COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for Chile Entry.

You should note that we need to request copies of the above documentation, which we have to send to suppliers who are outside the EU and who do not have the safeguards in place with regard to data protection as we have within the EU. These suppliers are for services such as motorcycle freight, hotels, customs clearance, ferry services.  Please refer to our Privacy Policy.

What about insurance if I am using my own motorcycle?
You can purchase “Mercosur” 3rd party insurance for Chile & Argentina.  In addition, it is obligatory in Chile to buy SOAPEX insurance in case of injury or death to a third party.  Levels of this 3rd party cover meet statutory legal minimum requirements, which are low (sometimes only US$10,000).  Where local 3rd party insurance is available you must purchase this.  We are not aware of any insurance cover available to cover damage or theft of your motorcycle.  You accept the you carry the risk where insurance is low or not available.

Do I need visas for travel?
UK / EU / US / Canadian citizens do not require visas in advance for this Tour.  However, as visa requirements are dependent on your nationality and are complex with constantly changing requirements, we would direct you to a specialist visa agency, such as CIBT Visas.

The above information is general information and provided in good faith.  It is your responsibility to have the correct visas in place prior to travel.  Other nationalities should check as to the visa requirements.

Are these countries safe?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) monitors overseas destinations and provides destination travel advice for UK nationals. GlobeBusters monitors the advice from the FCDO and any decisions taken regarding a Tour’s safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 17 years of operating as well as the FCDO advice. In the interests of your safety and security, changes may be made to your trip based on any FCDO warnings given.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about the country you are planning to visit to be fully informed – each country has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health, and road conditions.

Currently all countries on this itinerary will allow travel by overseas visitors to the countries listed in the itinerary, but you may need to comply with additional entry requirements such as presenting a valid COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate, completing a Health Form in advance of Travel, random PCR tests on arrival.

If you are not a UK national please make sure you have checked your own country’s travel advice for your destination/s: The US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov Canadian Foreign Affairs: www.voyage.gc.ca Australian Government Travel Advice: www.smartraveller.gov.au NZ Government Travel Advice: www.safetravel.govt.nz.

What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions.  It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. For up-to-date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “MASTA”  https://www.masta-travel-health.com/, the NHS website  http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx  or NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/.

You will be obliged to disclose any medical condition or medication that you are taking to GlobeBusters in advance and to your Expedition Manager at the start of your Tour, for health and safety purposes. We provide you with our Emergency Details Form for this purpose and to collect information about who to contact for you back home in the event of an emergency.

Please note that many countries on this route do not have the same level of medical infrastructure nor consistent medical standards that you may be used to.  In particular, emergency services often may be a long distance away, with no co-ordinated response, or sometimes no medical response available within reasonable times. Please do not book this trip if this unduly concerns you.

First Aid Training
It is not a requirement to be first aid trained to participate in this expedition. However, we do strongly recommend that you consider doing a motorcycle first aid course.  Some sections of this trip are remote and hundreds of miles away from medical treatment.  If you, or a rider you are with, are involved in any accident, whilst not riding with or not close to the support team, having first aid skills may make a significant difference to an injured party.

Travel / Medical Insurance
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured.  Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger.  It is important that your insurance company understands that the MAIN PURPOSE of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle.  Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment.

We also strongly recommend that you take out your travel insurance at the time of paying a deposit your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will therefore provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious injury. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.

What about local currency?
The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. When you bring US Dollars, it must be in MINT condition or locals will not readily exchange the notes. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/