What riding experience do I need?
This route includes approximately 780 miles of gravel road through Patagonia on the Carretera Austral and Ruta 40. Ruta 40 can be subject to strong cross winds. There can be up to 200 miles between stops. We recommend this tour for riders who have experience of riding on unpaved surfaces, such as gravel or dirt. All roads used are public highways and shown on maps. Gravel roads are normally well maintained, but you do need to be aware of possible strong cross winds on Ruta 40 and deeper gravel on bends. To get the best out of this tour, we do strongly recommend that you take an off road course, such as Triumph Adventure Experience, Off Road Skills or for one to one training, go to Adventure Bike Training.
Do I have to ride in a group?
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, with recommendations for lunch or coffee stops, fuel stops and hotel information. You also get an SD card with mapping, custom routes & GPS co-ordinates to download to your GPS. You can use these tools to self-navigate. Most riders prefer to have this freedom, so they can stop where they want and for how long they want without feeling under pressure. However if you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Tour Manager, then you can do this. They will give you a time to start in the morning, so please be prompt and ready to ride with them. Each day you can change between riding on your own, or with a small group of other riders or with the Tour Manager. We like to have a very flexible approach.
What is the average group size?
Our groups are normally between 8 – 12 riders (some riders will have passengers).
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. 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?
Yes, this tour operates with a local support vehicle and driver. You are able to put luggage in the van, but this is limited to one soft waterproof and dustproof bag of no more than 60 litres. Hard suitcases are not appropriate. If you do not have a soft waterproof bag as described, we will loan you a suitable bag for your belongings. Your airline luggage will then be transported to the end hotel, ready for your collection when the tour finishes. The support vehicle has the capacity to carry two bikes and two passengers in an emergency situation, if you are ill or injured. This is not a designated passenger carrying vehicle.
What will the weather be like?
As we are in the Southern Hemisphere, March is the equivalent of the end of summer. However, we travel a long way south and so even in summertime, the weather can be unpredictable. It is likely that you will experience some rain, especially on the Carretera Austral, due to its temperate climate. You must be prepared for a range of weather.
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 BMW Approved. 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:
- 17 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
- Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers.
- International third party motorcycle insurance in Argentina and 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 £320 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 and not through us. Their details can easily be found via google.
What about flights?
We do not include your passenger flights in our tour price. Once we have confirmed the tour as a guaranteed departure, you need to organise your own flights to and from the destination. You should book an outward flight to our start point, Punta Arenas to arrive no later than around 1pm on the official start date. The earliest leave date is any time on the official end date from the town of Osorno. Your flight route will normally be an international flight to Santiago (Chile’s capital) and then via LATAM or Sky Airlines from Punta Arenas.
What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows: Passport, Driving Licence, International Driving Permit. In addition you must have travel/medical insurance and cancellation / curtailment cover. We also advise that any policy includes loss or damage to your property & equipment.
UK / EU / USA Citizens do not normally require a visa for Chile or Argentina. As visa requirements are dependent on your nationality and can be complex, with constantly changing requirements, we would direct you to a specialist visa agency for specific advice.
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 Tour 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 (including COVID-19) on this trip, and including injuries that may 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 once you have paid your deposit for the 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 monies simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.
Official Travel Advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) 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 tour 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.
As of February 2022, there are no travel restrictions in place to travel to Chile and Argentina. However, you should expect additional requirements imposed by the destination countries, such as proof of a valid COVID-19 vaccination, a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate less than 72 hours prior to departure and completion of locator or health forms. Chile requires you to validate your documents before travel via their government website. You may also need to take a further COVID-19 test on arrival or en route during the tour and there may be local restrictions in place such as mandatory mask wearing. We will update you closer to the time of travel as to what the requirements and restrictions are.
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 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. It is easy to get local currency from ATMs using your debit / credit card in all towns and cities. Cards are readily accepted by hotels, restaurants, fuel stations. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.
http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/
Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour. If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour. If we have to cancel the tour we will provide you a minimum of 84 days notice prior to departure.