We are part way through a long planned 5 weeks in Chile by car and have seen a reasonable number of distance touring riders
Some more photos here.
Couple of caveats. Altitude sickness is a thing ....this was taken at the geyser fields at 14,000' and I really felt it.
That's limit for flying without oxygen and even San Pedro de Atacama where we are staying ( the rider with the volcano behind him) is at 8,000' and that altitude can cause symptoms.....not a good mix with riding. You can acclimatise )
The other issues ...in the north ( of Santiago ) it's long distances with very little to see..reallllllly lifeless stoney desert ..tho the side valleys are pretty ...Elqi Valley notably.
Main roads are very good and well signed with speed limits to 120 kph. Fuel costs about the same but you need to fill up given the distances.
If planning I'd say south of Santiago is where to concentrate. Patagonia is flat out spectacular which is where we are going next ( by plane then small ship ) but driving there is a tough go with border crossings, iffy roads and ferries but then that might just be the ticket for the adventurous rider.
Some more photos here.
Couple of caveats. Altitude sickness is a thing ....this was taken at the geyser fields at 14,000' and I really felt it.
That's limit for flying without oxygen and even San Pedro de Atacama where we are staying ( the rider with the volcano behind him) is at 8,000' and that altitude can cause symptoms.....not a good mix with riding. You can acclimatise )
The other issues ...in the north ( of Santiago ) it's long distances with very little to see..reallllllly lifeless stoney desert ..tho the side valleys are pretty ...Elqi Valley notably.
Main roads are very good and well signed with speed limits to 120 kph. Fuel costs about the same but you need to fill up given the distances.
If planning I'd say south of Santiago is where to concentrate. Patagonia is flat out spectacular which is where we are going next ( by plane then small ship ) but driving there is a tough go with border crossings, iffy roads and ferries but then that might just be the ticket for the adventurous rider.
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