South America Motorcycle Tour

South America Motorcycle Tour Itinerary

This spectacular South America Motorcycle Tour operates for 71 days. It starts in Cartagena, Colombia heads south to Ushuaia the most southern city in the world and finishes in Punta Arenas.

Week 1 – Colonial Towns & The Caribbean

Cartagena is a fitting start to this South America odyssey. It’s a UNESCO listed 16th century port town on the shores of the Caribbean. We are staying in an old monastery, on a coffee plantation and in sophisticated city hotels. Be prepared for ten bends a minute, but you’ll need some assertive and safe overtaking too!

Ride on through coffee plantations and sugar cane fields and into the lush green mountains. Believe us when we say that the biggest danger in Colombia will be wanting to stay!

Week 2 – The Equator & Ecuador

Let’s enter Ecuador! A major milestone on our South America Motorcycle Tour – a ride to The Equator! We can park one wheel in the north and one in the south as we straddle the line with our bikes.

We ride into the capital of Ecuador, Quito, where we have a day off the bikes to explore. This is followed by a ride to the small town of Baños, which is at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano. We then take the Amazon route to Loja before reaching the border with Peru.

Week 3 – Pacific Coast & Canyon del Pato

In Northern Peru, there’s desert riding to Trujillo, with time to explore UNESCO listed Chan Chan.

We ride the challenge of the Canyon del Pato, a single track road carved through sheer rock with many single track tunnels, and spend another night in the mountains.

We descend to the Peninsula of Paracas and the Pacific Ocean. Catch your breath and relax with a pisco sour on the beach! This area is famous for making Pisco and the famous Pisco Sour Cocktail has to be tried!

We have more superb riding days in the mountains through small colonial towns off the beaten track before reaching Cusco.

Week 4 – Inca Strongholds

We arrive in the famous Inca capital of Cusco. We stay in this region for four nights, with time to visit Machu Picchu (optional), ride the Sacred Valley of the Incas, explore the Ollantaytambo fortress, the market town of Pisac and wander through the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

Then we continue our ride across the remote altiplano to the town of Puno, where we can take a boat out to the famous reed islands of Uros. We skirt Lake Titicaca before crossing into Bolivia.

Weeks 5 – Salt Flats & High Altiplano

Our first destination in Bolivia is Copacabana (not the beach!) but a small colonial town on the banks of Lake Titicaca where we can get our bikes blessed at the cathedral.

We’re riding high altitude roads to the city of La Paz, with a rest day off the bikes. An incredible twisty ride takes us to the old silver mining town and cobbled streets of Potosi, followed by the famous shimmering salt flats at Uyuni.

We head south through cacti peppered desert landscapes, crossing the border into Argentina.

Week 6 – Andes & Winelands

The scenery is stunning – red rock formations (stop at the Devils Throat!), canyons and cloud forests are along our route to the vineyards at Cafayate. Nothing like sipping a Torrontés in the main plaza, as life goes by.

We continue to Lujan de Cuyo for wine tasting and a juicy Argentine steak. Ready for more mountain roads? We take the Cristo Redentor border into Chile, riding in the shadow of Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak.

Week 7 – Santiago & Lake District

Santiago is the modern, bustling, cosmopolitan capital of Chile and it is where we take a few days rest on our South America Motorcycle Tour and service our bikes to be ready for Patagonia ahead!

We continue south to the famous Ruta Interlagos and the Chilean Lake District, with its many volcanoes.

One of many Andean border crossings between Chile and Argentina takes us to the beautiful lakeside town of Bariloche. Be prepared to think you are in Switzerland!

Week 8/9 – 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. This section of riding can be challenging, but achievable and the region is pristine and stunning.

We continue to zig-zag over the border to Argentina. Then it’s the most infamous road in South America – Ruta 40. A gravel road through the heart of Patagonia where the strong crosswinds can battle you for the bike! We rest overnight at a traditional estancia and dine on fresh racked roast lamb.

In El Calafate, we divert from the main route to visit the immense ice colossus of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Week 10 – Torres del Paine & Tierra del Fuego

In Chile we ride to see the soaring granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, probably the finest national park in South America.

We head south and take the ferry, crossing the Magellan Straits to Tierra del Fuego. Back to Argentina, amidst reminders and memorials to the Falklands War at Rio Grande.

All too soon, you’ll ride the final pass – The Garibaldi, before dropping into Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel. We spend the next day riding to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and the “End of the Road” sign. Congratulations! You are one of a handful of riders to have ridden to the most southerly point accessible by road. Time to celebrate!

After a three night stop in Ushuaia, we head north and back to the mainland, finishing in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Join the Ultimate South America Motorcycle Tour!

From the Caribbean shores of Cartagena to the windswept tip of Tierra del Fuego, finishing in Punta Arenas, this is the most iconic motorcycle journey in South America. Ride with the GlobeBusters team, who’ve led countless expeditions through the Andes, across salt flats, deserts, cloud forests and the edge of the world. Join us to experience the ultimate South America Motorcycle Tour!

Accommodation on our South America Motorcycle Tour

Cartagena to Santiago

We use 100% hotel accommodation on our South America Motorcycle Tour, which is booked in advance. We primarily use good quality 4* and some 3* hotels. In bigger cities, this tends to be 4* hotels, sometimes belonging to an international chain; in smaller or more remote places, hotels can be more independent, characterful hotels or lodges.

We don’t promise you that we stop at the top hotel in every town we pull into. This is not billed as a luxury tour, but we do ensure that you are comfortable, have a clean bed, can get a cold beer and a hot shower. Almost all hotels we use as standard will have rooms with en suite bathrooms, satellite TV, free wifi, bar and restaurant. In warmer climates, hotels generally have swimming pools.

We like to favour independent hotels with character where we can and in this part of the world, it can mean hotels with colonial character, like old haciendas, converted monasteries or those that typify the places where we stay, such as wine lodges or adobe built rooms. Some of our favourite places to stay are:

It’s great to soak up the history in a converted 17th century colonial mansion in Cusco, just a few minutes walk from the buzz of the main plaza.

We love to relax at the lakeside hotel in Puno, with a view over Lake Titicaca, and its own private jetty if you wish to take a boat trip to the Uros Islands.

We have great fun sipping wine at Villa Mansa, a small wine lodge in the foothills of the Andes.

Another firm favourite is Patios de Cafayate, amidst the vineyards of the winery El Esteco, the original farmstead of this estate founded in 1892.

Santiago to Punta Arenas

This part of the South America Motorcycle Tour 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

El Mirador – nestled in the heart of the Sierra del Ventana Provincial Park, this traditional lodge is full of quirky old artefacts, and has a huge swimming pool.

Puyuhuapi Lodge – take a small boat across a picturesque inlet to this thermal spa resort for a days rest and relax in the hot tubs and soak away the dirty gravel roads! all with great views of the water.

Weskar Lodge has spectacular views over the waters of Golfo Almirante Montt and is nestled at the edge of Puerto Natales.

Hosteria America is our hotel when we reach Ushuaia and we base ourselves here for three nights. It’s a boutique hotel, with great views over the Beagle Channel, and a short 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 (i.e. three or four riders to a room). We have already taken this into account in the price for single supplement.

What’s Included in Your South America Motorcycle Tour

The assurance of booking with a fully insured UK tour operator, acting in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring your money paid in advance is protected.

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.
• GPS routes supplied via .GPX file suitable for importing into GPS units and/or some phone navigation apps.
• Expedition Tour Shirt

En-Route

• Normally 4* (sometimes 3*) hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, or in remote regions, the best available. All breakfasts are in keeping with local traditions.
• Your price includes your room on a shared basis, unless you have booked a single room (not available for three nights)
• 14 group evening meals, with bottled water (drinks excluded)
• Ferry crossing to / from Tierra del Fuego
• Local overnight hotel parking charges.

Support Crew

• GlobeBusters Expedition Manager to accompany the group, either in a Support Vehicle or on a Motorcycle depending on numbers.
• Local Support Vehicle with a local driver to accompany the group across all countries, equipped with satellite phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle
• If the group is more than 12 riders, an additional GlobeBusters Assistant Manager will be part of the GlobeBusters Team.

Motorcycle Freight

If you select the freight options as an extra, we will facilitate the freight and be on hand to help you through the process. The freight price in not part of the tour package with us. It is a separate charge and it includes all costs for freight (including crating) and all destination charges (handling, warehouse storage, customs clearance). However, the price that we quote is paid by you directly to the freight agent, not to GlobeBusters. If you notify us by ticking the extra box on booking, then this freight price is fixed at the time of booking. The contract for the freight is between you and the freight agent.

We will be on hand to assist you in Cartagena to clear your motorcycle and ensure everything goes smoothly. And at the end of the trip, we will co-ordinate drop off with the freight agent in Punta Arenas.

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.
• Unless selected as an extra, motorcycle freight which is carried out by a third party freight agent.
• Personal travel and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
• Any other appropriate personal insurance for eg Personal Accident Insurance, Search & Rescue Memberships
• Third party liability or any other motorcycle insurance cover, motorcycle breakdown cover or recovery costs
• 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
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring a minimum of your own helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.
• Costs of motorcycle servicing, 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.
• 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 Your South America Motorcycle Tour

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, Cartagena, Colombia to arrive no later than around 12pm on 26 September 2029. The earliest leave date is any time on 4 December 2029 from Punta Arenas, Chile. Punta Arenas will have flights to Santiago where you can get longhaul international flights.

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.

South America Motorcycle Tour FAQ’s

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 book our South America Motorcycle Tour. If you wish to meet with us prior to booking to ask more questions, do not hesitate to contact us. 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 Pro. 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 for the South America Motorcycle Tour?

This motorcycle expedition 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.

Riding in South America can make for a challenging ride. Unpredictable road conditions, such as broken asphalt, potholes, homemade speed bumps, lack of road markings or properly marked junctions, worn cobbled surfaces, or objects and animals in the road are just some of the things to contend with.

It is also 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, especially down in Patagonia. Please note that our route covers around 6-8% of dirt and gravel roads (up to 800 miles), although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years. 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, attending a training school such as Adventure Bike Training, Triumph 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?

You have the option to add a freight service to your booking which will be carried out by a third party UK freight agent. You can select outward freight, return freight or both. The freight price quoted includes all costs for freight (including crating) and all destination charges (handing, warehouse storage, customs clearance). However, the price that we quote is paid by you directly to the freight agent, not to GlobeBusters. The contract for the freight is between you and the freight agent. You will receive a contract and invoice for the outward freight and a second contract and payment for the return freight. Please note that the freight is not part of your tour package with us and the responsibility for the freight service rests with the freight agent.

You must be physically present for customs clearance to sign documentation in person, but a GlobeBusters representative will also be there to assist you.

The quoted price does not include in-transit insurance. If you want in-transit insurance, please organise this direct with the freight agent.

What about servicing & tyres?

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.

Due to the length of the journey, your motorcycle will need to be serviced en route and have a tyre change. The service point(s) on this expedition will be in Santiago, Chile, where there are authorised dealers for most brands. You are responsible for taking your bike to the dealer and the paying for the costs of the service and new tyres directly with the dealer. We can assist you in making your service appointment, if required.

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 10-20 riders (some have 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, 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 on the South America Motorcycle Tour?

All our expeditions have a dedicated Support Vehicle, driven by a GlobeBusters appointed 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 short term 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?

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 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 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 and / or Title, Driving Licence, International Driving Permits (1968 & 1949), minimum Third Party Motorcycle Liability Insurance (where available, see below) and Travel Insurance Certificate (see below).

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 for my motorcycle?

The only insurance for your motorcycle available for this trip is local 3rd party liability insurance, which can normally be bought at the local borders as you cross. Local 3rd party policies will comply with statutory minimum legal requirements, and so levels of cover are low (sometimes only US$5,000) and normally will only apply to personal injury or death for 3rd parties (and not property). Where there is local 3rd party insurance available to purchase, you must get this. However, you have the financial responsibility for any claims made against you for personal injury and property damage that is not covered by or is in excess of local 3rd party liability insurance. We are not aware of any insurance cover available to cover damage or theft of your motorcycle.

Do I need any visas?

UK, EU, USA, Canada citizens do not require visas for this trip, with the EXCEPTION of:

US Citizens currently require a visa for travel to Bolivia and although it is possible to buy a visa at the border, it can cause delays. Therefore, we recommend that you get a Bolivia visa in advance of travel. See information here.

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 20 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.

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, Canadian Foreign Affairs, Australian Government Travel Advice, NZ Government Travel Advice.

What will the weather be like on the South America Motorcycle Tour?

We operate this trip at the most optimum time for the best weather possible. However, given we are travelling the length of the South American Continent, there are sections of the trip which will not have perfect weather conditions. The bottom line is that on this trip, it is possible to experience every weather condition – from above 35 degrees centigrade heat in Cartagena in Colombia to snow flurries in Tierra del Fuego. But we are in the Andes Mountains in Bolivia and Peru as the dry season starts, and we should have blue skies and clear conditions.

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

“MASTA”,
The NHS website; or
NaTHNaC.

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 trip, 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.

Altitude

When we ride in South America, you will be in areas of high altitude of up to 3,800m (sleeping) and 4,500m (riding). You must think carefully about how fit you are and whether altitude may be an issue. Some pre-existing medical conditions are known to severely worsen at high altitude and be difficult to adequately treat on the ground, leading to more serious consequences.

Disease from Mosquitos

Whilst travelling, there are small sections of the trip where a low malaria risk exists. Please take your own medical advice and you can do research at Travel Health Pro.

Travel / Medical Insurance

It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured. In addition, it is an entry requirement of Argentina that you have a valid medical insurance policy in place for the duration of your stay there. You must carry a printed or digital certificate as it may be requested at immigration.

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.

Search & Rescue (SAR) Membership

We recommend that you put in place a search & rescue policy, in addition to travel/medical insurance. Such policies are commonly linked with satellite emergency messenger devices such as Garmin inReach or SPOT X. We recommend that you research these options as they provide an extra safety net for you in case of any injury in a remote location and getting medical help. Standalone options such as Global Rescue also exist.

Foreign 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.

OANDA
Travelex

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.