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Bariloche Mountain Bike Weekend
A special weekend of mountain bike and adventure in the magical surroundings of Bariloche

Bariloche is known around the world for its magnificent natural scenery – with amazing lakes and majestic mountains, thick native forests and magical deserts. The region never ceases to amaze, and there´s no better way of experiencing this than on a mountain bike. This unique weekend itinerary captures the essence of our incredible city in a 4-day package. You will deeply experience the highlights of our regular, longer tour in Bariloche; and surely, you will want to come back for more!

The highlights:

* Bike down the famous Mount Otto – at night! After riding through spectacular trails over the high ridges of the mountain, you´ll see the sun set with a panoramic view of the entire region – the Andes Range, its lakes and forests on one side, to the infinite Patagonian Steppes on the other. The nighttime descent to Bariloche will be an unforgettable adventure.

* Enjoy an exclusive day, biking through the heart of Estancia La Esperanza, an active ranch in the outskirts of Bariloche, also exploring the remote Vulture´s Nest Peak, a protected area that is the favorite nesting spot for the Andean Condor.

* Live a day of adventure in the incredibly beautiful natural setting of the Manso River Valley – we´ll mountain bike over smooth trails crossing exhuberant forests, after which we´ll raft over this amazing river, white water rapids included, to the border with Chile, deep in the famous Nahuel Huapi National Park.

day 1: night descent of Mount Otto - the perfect welcome
This afternoon we will receive the group with a welcome cocktail, followed by a detailed presentation of the tour, as well as a mini-clinic on mountain biking. We will fit the bikes and have a brief ride, making sure everything is in perfect order, after which we will hop on our van, driving to the top of Cerro Otto. The upper ridge of the mountain has great riding trails, crossing through thick forests – there are trails with different technical levels to choose from. The views from atop are truly magical, with the Andes Range on one side, the Patagonian Steppe on the other, and lakes and forests all around us. We’ll find the perfect spot to view the sunset over the Andes - a real treat! The adventure continues when we get on our bikes again, for a nighttime descent all the way back to town. With the city’s lights off in the distance, and wrapped in the immense darkness, our lamps will guide us on our way down. You will surely remember this experience!

Today’s activity
Approx. 15 km (9 miles) over dirt and gravel road or trails, with some light hills at the start, then all downhill, medium technical difficulty.

day 2: the Ñirihuau Valley - ranches, rivers and canyons
After a morning ride in our van, we’ll arrive at the edge of the Patagonian Steppe. With impressive peaks and green forests in sight, we’ll begin this magical day of crossing the Ñirihuau River Valley. We will approach the Cerro Las Buitreras (Vulture Nests´ Mountain) - this amazing peak is famous as a preferred breeding area for the Andean Condor, and its eroded volcanic rock makes for a truly impressive sight. Our morning’s biking ends upon arrival at Estancia La Esperanza, where we’ll live a very special day. La Esperanza (Hope Ranch) is a working ranch, situated in the heart of the Ñirihuau Valley, set deep among mountains outside Bariloche. We’ll meet Gerd Hickmann, our host at the ranch – born in Germany, Gerd is today an adopted Patagonian man. In this company we will enjoy an outdoors country picnic by a quiet stream or under the shelter of the ranch´s main house, while we sip on Argentine yerba mate.

After lunch and relaxing at the ranch’s main house, you will have the option for more biking. You can also opt to go horseback riding through the tight canyons of La Esperanza, under mountains and peaks eroded by the wind, creating an imposing and majestic landscape. This is also a special place for viewing the native fauna – it is common to see the Andean Condor flying high above, or red deer racing towards the forest.

Today’s activity
25 km (15 miles) over dirt back roads, some gravel, some light uphills, low technical difficulty.

Optional
For horse lovers, this is a unique opportunity - please ask us previously, so that we can organize your horseback outing after our morning ride (this activity is not included in the price of the tour).

day 3: mountain bike and rafting in the Manso River
The day begins with a morning drive, heading South in our comfortable van, travelling over the edge of the National Park – a fantastic ride, winding through various lakes and mountain ranges covered with thick native forests. After an hour and a half in the van, we arrive at the Manso River Valley, inside the National Park. This will be a day of adventure – we´ll first jump on our bikes, initiating a wonderful ride over trails on the edge of the river. After this very fun stretch on the bikes, we will stop for a light lunch, taken outdoors, inside an exuberant forest with views of the river.

The magnificent Manso carries cristal-clear snowmelt waters, fed by the mountain chains of the region, and winds its way towards the nearby Pacific Ocean. This creates an awesome setting for a rafting journey, all the way to the very border with Chile. The river’s rapids are great for a safe and fun rafting experience. After this fantastic experience, we’ll have a barbeque lunch together, prepared by our friends at the Manso.

Today’s activity
21 km (13 miles) over dirt trails, with some steep hills, medium technical difficulty; some streams have to be waded on foot. Rafting is class III + or below, depending on conditions. No previous experience is required.

day 4: adios in Bariloche
After breakfast, we will shuttle you to the Bariloche airport. For those remaining in the region, or continuing your trip in Patagonia – which we highly recommend – we will gladly help you with your travel plans within Bariloche or Argentina.

hotel: Hotel Tivoli
With a fantastic location in central Bariloche, everything is nearby, including the lake´s boardwalk, only a couple of blocks away. The location also offers an excellent variety in gastronomic and entertainment options nearby. The staff´s excellent service also make the Tivoli a great option, becoming an ideal base for your week of adventure. You might even stay a few more days in Bariloche, or make this your base for further travel within our wonderful region (which we highly recommend!).

what’s included

* All accommodations (two persons per room – single accommodations can be arranged for an additional fee), with half-board (breakfast and dinner)
* All 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
* Bike Guides (bilingual English-Spanish)
* Large, comfortable support vehicle equipped with VHF communication radio (everyday, with on-board full service, including fruits, power bars and other snacks and drinks)
* Entry fees for all parks
* Rafting trip on the Manso River, with professional rafting outfit
* Private transfer to Bariloche airport on the morning of tour’s last day
* Daily trip information notes, with maps, routes and detail on the region
* Tips at all hotels and restaurants that are part of the tour
* Pre-trip information package with details on how to prepare, what to bring, and plenty of information for your travel to Patagonia

mountain bike rental - We offer the following excellent options:

Our Merida Matts 80 and Matts Sub-20 models: front suspension, 24-speed Shimano Acera set, and V-brakes. The Matts 80 are available in size M, and the Sub-20 in sizes L and XL, also available in ladies’ frame. The rental rate for the tour is US $60.

Our quality GT Avalanche 2.0 and Schwinn Mesa GSD models: front and rear disk brakes, front suspension, 24-speed Shimano Deore or Alivio groups. Available in sizes S, M, and L. The rental rate for the tour is US $80.

Our Merida Matts TFS 700 / TFS 500 models: recently stocked and like-new, excellent mountain bikes, with Shimano Deore/XT 27-speed group, dual-control shifters, suspension control from the handlebar (remote lock-out). Available in sizes S, M, L and XL. The rental rate for the tour is US $105.

The bikes include a bike computer, hand pump, spare tire tube, tire repair kit and tools. These bikes possess the ideal characteristics for this tour, assuring a comfortable and stress-free ride. We take great pride in the care we give our bicycles, and we will do our very best to maintain them in great condition every day of the tour!

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

2010 dates: Jan 02-05, Feb 20-23, Mar 27 -30

Begins and ends in: Bariloche, Argentina

Price: US $720 (single supplement - add US $90)