From Puerto Varas, Chile to Bariloche, Argentina or vice versa
The Andean Lakes Crossing by bike is unique experience that navigates the Cordillera de los Andes through 3 beautiful lakes, connected in 4 terrestrial stages with your bicycle in 1 day or more, from Bariloche, Argentina to Puerto Varas, Chile.
Bike & Boat Crossing through The Andes in two days or more
(staying in Peulla and/or Puerto Blest)
Total kilometers covered by bike: 121 kms – 75 miles
It’s important to bear in mind that the Bike & Boat crossing is a journey of around 180 kms, of which 121 kms is by bike.
The journey from Argentina to Chile is easier, because there are less uphill stretches to climb.
The journey from Chile to Argentina is more difficult, because there are more uphill stretches to climb.
Bike & Boat trip INCLUDES:
- Sailing trip across Lake Nahuel Huapi
- Sailing trip across Lake Frías
- Sailing trip across Lake Todos los Santos
If you need more information please contact directly to: monica@visitchile.cl
Itinerary by bike:
1st leg: Puerto Varas – Petrohué | 64 km - 40 miles
▪ Altitude: from 75 meters above sea level to 150 meters
▪ Land: pavemented cycle path
▪ Difficulty: medium
▪ Sailing trip aboard the first catamaran on Lake Todos los Santos: 10.00 am
▪ Arrive to the port by: 9.30 am
▪ Traffic: Low
Note: This is the longest of all the crossing’s journeys
Leaving from Puerto Varas, you cycle along Route 225, heading towards Ensenada, along a luxurious cycle path. If you’re travel with a saddlebag, you can leave it at the dock and the port staff will keep it safe aboard the catamaran.
2nd leg: Sailing trip from Petrohué to Peulla on Lake Todos los Santos
Length of sail: 1 hour 40 minutes aboard the Catamaran Lagos Andinos
It’s important to arrive for the Lake Todos los Santos sailing trip by 9:30 am, a trip that passes through the interesting green color and exuberant vegetation of the Valdiviana Forest.
3rd leg: Peulla – Puerto Frías | 29 kms - 18 miles
▪ Altitude of cycling along horizontal plane:
150 meters above sea level, covering: 17 kms – 10 miles
▪ Altitude of cycling uphill:
from 150 meters above sea level to 1000 meters, covering: 8 kms – 5 miles
▪ Altitude of cycling downhill:
from 1000 meters above sea level to 780 meters, covering: 4 kms – 3 miles
▪ Land: pebbly soil
▪ Difficulty: medium to high (depending on each cyclist’s rhythm)
▪ Sailing trip aboard the second catamaran on Lake Frías: 4.30 pm
▪ Arrive to the port by: 14.15 pm, having passed through customs and immigration
▪ Optional accommodation: Hotel Natura or camping
▪ Traffic: Low – just long-distance buses
Note: This is the crossing’s most difficult route owing to the 8 kms uphill, which is why the recommendation is to continue the following day.
It’s important to consider the medium to high difficulty of this route, as it presents significant changes in altitude along its 29 kms. Verify that the time it takes to complete this leg by bike is enough for you to arrive to Frías by 4:00 pm. For those who opt to stay in Peulla and continue with the journey the following day, there are many extra excursions on offer that you can enjoy.
4th leg: Sailing trip from Puerto Frías to Puerto Alegre on Lake Frías
Length of sail: 20 minutes aboard the catamaran Victoria del Sur
It’s important to arrive to Puerto Frías by 4:15 pm, where customs and immigration paperwork will be
realized.
5th leg: Puerto Alegre – Puerto Blest | 3 kms - 2 miles
▪ Altitude: from 780 meters above sea level to 700 meters
▪ Difficulty: Low
▪ Land: Soil
▪ Sailing trip aboard the third catamaran on Lake Nahuel Huapi: 6:20 pm
▪ Arrive to the port by: 6:00 pm
▪ Optional accommodation: Hotel Puerto Blest
▪ Traffic: Low – just long-distance buses
Puerto Blest is home to a beautiful boutique hotel with spa and heated swimming pool, where you can decide to take a rest from your journey and continue the following day.
6th leg: Sailing trip from Puerto Blest to Puerto Pañuelo on Lake Nahuel Huapi
Length of sail: 1 hour aboard the catamaran Gran Victoria
It’s important to arrive for the third sailing trip aboard the Brazo Blest by 6:00 pm.
7th leg: Puerto Pañuelo - Bariloche Center | 25 kms - 15 miles
▪ Altitude: 700 meters above sea level
▪ Difficulty: Low
▪ Land: Pavemented
▪ Traffic: High
On route to the port, you can appreciate the region’s typical architecture, its large gardens that decorate the entire route from Bustillo to the city center. We recommend that you take extra care, as heavy traffic passes along this route and there’s little space to cycle off of the carriageway.
End of journey
| One Way Ticket | Round Trip Ticket | |
| Adult | USD 120 | USD 180 |
Rate are:
- Per person
- Valid until April 2023
- In US dólares
Include:
* Sailing ticket to the Lake Nahuel Huapi
* Navigation Lake Frías
* Navigation Lake All Saints
Doesn’t included:
- Bike
- Helmet, first aid kit, etc, the necessary to make the crossing
- Boarding fees
- Meals
- Accommodation
- Support Truck route between Peulla and Puerto Frías (on request)
- Useful information:
▪ Each passenger must arrive with his or her own cycle, prepared for high mountain terrains.
▪ We recommend that you carry a first-aid kit with you.
▪ Take into consideration that the difficulty of this route fluctuates between medium to high.
▪ Pack comfortable sports clothing and footwear, a warm coat, a hat, sunblock and sunglasses.
▪ It’s obligatory to wear a cycle helmet for safety reasons.
▪ Pack a water bottle to keep you fully hydrated.
▪ It’s obligatory to travel with al documentation required to make the border crossing from Argentina to Chile.
▪ Times are subject to modifications without prior notice. We recommend that you reconfirm all times before
you travel.
| One Way | Round Trip | |
| Adult | USD 132 | USD 198 |
Rate are:
- Per person
- Valid from May 1st. 2023 until April 30th. 2024
- US dollars
Crossing The Andes along the lakes that connect Puerto Varas with Bariloche is like something out of a film. Here are four reasons why you should give yourself the opportunity to make the crossing at least once in your life:
1. Puerto Varas in Chile and Bariloche in Argentina, two of the Patagonia’s prettiest cities
In Puerto Varas, a city colonized by Germans, you can find examples of the colonists’ architecture and gastronomy, always accompanied by a backdrop of tall mountains and volcanoes, including the Tronador, Puntiagudo and Osorno. It’s one of Chile’s prettiest volcanic regions. On the other side, Bariloche boasts forests, city landscapes, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, steppes and valleys. During your trip, take the time to explore both cities, visit the chocolatiers and artisanal breweries, enjoy the excursions and all that these incredible destinations have to offer.
2. Sail across three lakes: Todos los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi
This is the only crossing of The Andes that allows you to sail across three lakes. From Lake Todos los Santos you arrive to Port Frías, where you say goodbye to Chile and welcome Argentina. You sail along Lake Frías at the foot of The Andes Mountain Range and then, having crossed the mountains, you arrive to the third sailing trip along Lake Nahuel Huapi (the fourth largest lake in Argentina).
3. Explore some of Chile and Argentina’s most untouched national parks
National parks always add that special something to a trip and, on many occasions, they are the difficult feature when we want to explore by bike. Therefore, when we find out which is explorable by bike, we really mustn’t waste the opportunity. Both Vicente Pérez Rosales and Nahuel Huapi are the oldest of all national parks located in Chile and Argentina. Explore their uninhabited and untouched routes, surrounded by coihues, ulmos, myrtle and olive trees.
4. Once in Puerto Varas or Bariloche, you can plan your route just as you’d like it
Upon arrival to Bariloche you can continue towards:
– The south: on route to the Argentine Patagonia
– The north: Villa La Angostura, traveling along the edge of Lake Nahuel Huapi, continuing towards San
Martín de los Andes and then crossing the international border at Cardenal Samoré to enter Chile via
Puyehue.
Upon arrival to Puerto Varas you can continue towards:
– The south: The Southern Highway (Carretera Austral)
– The north: returning to Bariloche via the international border at Cardenal Samoré
Bike & Boat Crossing through The Andes in two days or more (staying in Peulla and/or Puerto Blest)
Total kilometers covered by bike: 121 kms – 75 miles
