Wine Roads of the Andes Cycling

Wine Roads of the Andes Cycling Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Our trip begins today in Buenos Aires, Argentina. REI will provide a group transfer from the airport to our hotel, where we'll have time to check-in, visit a charming local café and rest a bit before meeting up with our guide this evening. Buenos Aires, considered by many to be one of the most unique and impressive cities in the world, is a tantalizing mix of Italian, German and Spanish influences. We'll walk to a great local restaurant where we can review our itinerary over dinner and some of Argentina's most distinctive wines. Dinner included.

• Day 2

  Buenos Aires beckons exploration today and - true to our REI roots - we'll accomplish this by bicycle. Our morning bike tour of the city's diverse "barrios" leads us through the arts district of San Telmo, the bustling waterfront and other historic neighborhoods, cycling through the Plaza de Mayo and the nation's capital. Relaxing over lunch, we later set out on an afternoon ride of the exclusive Recoleta neighborhood before ending our day in vibrant Palermo. This evening we explore the celebrated tradition of Tango. Try a few steps yourself during a tango lesson with the locals at an authentic venue. Breakfast & lunch included. Dinner is on your own (there are many great options).
  
  Cycling: 5 hours. Terrain: Flat paved roads and bike paths.

• Day 3

  Early today we transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Mendoza, gem of the Argentine wine country. We'll visit central Mendoza and the city's impressive Parque San Martin for lunch at the central square. A quick ten minutes down the road from our lunch spot, we'll arrive at Bonfati, a small family-owned bodega serving superb wines. We'll do some tasting here, then transfer to the town of Tupungato in the Uco Valley where we'll set out on our first bike ride in the wine country, enjoying breathtaking views of the towering Tupungato section of the Andes. We spend the next two nights in the Uco Valley at Postales del Plata Lodge. Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is on your own (there are many options).
  
  Cycling: 27 miles. Terrain: Flat, on paved roads.

• Day 4

  Today's morning ride features two of the Uco Valley's finest wineries, Clos de los Siete, a joint venture initiated recently by the world famous French winemaker Michel Rolland. We then ride on along the bodega's inner roads beside the foothills of the Andes to Monteviejo Winery before our lunch today at a favorite local hotspot, Posada del Jamon. Here, we'll enjoy a traditional Asado (Argentine BBQ) lunch with magnificent views of the Andes. From our lunch stop, we'll stroll a few miles back to Postales del Plata for the evening where their expert chef will teach us how to prepare a favorite regional treat, delicious Empanadas! All meals included.
  
  Cycling: 20-24 miles. Terrain: Mostly flat, paved roads.

• Day 5

  We begin our day with a lovely two-hour ride through the Uco Valley, then a short transfer leads us into the heart of indigenous Mapuche legend to sample the wines of Ruca Malen, rumored to be spellbound by ancient gods. Here, we'll have the opportunity to blend a variety of different red grapes to produce our own unique wine! This is a truly memorable experience. After lunch at the winery you're free to relax at our next lodge or ride the surrounding countryside before dinner tonight. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner tonight is on your own.
  
  Cycling: 12-20 miles. Terrain: Mostly flat, paved roads.

• Day 6

  Today we depart early from Mendoza to make our journey across the Andes to Santiago. After breakfast, a three-hour transfer brings us to the foot of colossal Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. At Aconcagua Provincial Park, weather permitting, we'll stop for a short walk to Lake Horcones for dramatic views of Aconcagua's impressive South Face and a fresh picnic lunch. Then, we resume our journey through the Andes by vehicle, passing through customs as we cross into Chile and arriving into Santiago in the evening. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner tonight is on your own and your guide can recommend an excellent restaurant in Santiago.
  
  Cycling: None; Walking: 1 hour on easy terrain, but at altitude.

• Day 7

  This morning we begin with a walking tour of Chile's vibrant capital city, Santiago. Among Chile's most precious treasures are its well-known Mariscos (seafood), and the best Chilean chefs obtain their seafood from the historic and impressive Mercado Central. We'll enjoy lunch at this site before continuing on this afternoon walking among Santiago's notable historic sites. We'll spend one more night in Santiago tonight. Breakfast and lunch included, dinner is on your own tonight and there are great restaurants to choose from in Santiago.
  
  Walking: 2-3 miles, 3 hours. Terrain: paved city sidewalks.

• Day 8

  Some of Chile's favorite wines are produced in the Colchagua Valley south of Santiago. Today we'll head straight for the heart of the valley to the town of Santa Cruz. Enjoy a bit of time to walk around the historic town before our ride this afternoon along the backroads from Apalta to the Hotel Vina la Playa where we'll spend the night. This hotel, owned by Vina Sutil Wineries, produces a range of varietals and reserves. Before dinner, we'll enjoy a "tour" of Chile's wine-producing regions with a tasting of the country's most emblematic wines. Breakfast and dinner included, lunch is on your own in Santa Cruz.
  
  Cycling: 17 miles. Terrain: Mostly flat, paved and dirt roads.

• Day 9

  Today we ride from the lodge to the village of Peralillo. Biking through picturesque vineyards and farms we arrive finally to the Montgras winery in the Colchagua Valley where we'll enjoy a picnic lunch. We return tonight to the Hotel Vina la Playa for our farewell dinner. We celebrate our journey and prepare for our final travel day tomorrow. All meals included.
  
  Cycling: 25 miles. Terrain: Mostly flat, paved and dirt roads.

• Day 10

  After an optional early morning ride, we'll visit another famous winery in the sun-kissed Colchagua Valley, the Laura Hartwig Winery. The Hartwig family takes great care to master their terroir - making soil, climate and grape work together in richer harmony. The vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignons are full of lavish spice and berry flavors, with pleasant touches of vanilla and chocolate! From here we will walk the vineyards to the lovely Vino Bello restaurant for our farewell lunch. Our adventure ends this afternoon with a transfer back to Santiago for flights connected to the U.S. Breakfast and lunch included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

We provide 24-speed Zenith hybrid mountain bikes (Shimano components) for most of the biking except in Buenos Aires, where we will be using urban cruiser-style bikes for this short city ride only. Our Zenith mountain bikes are perfect for the type of riding you'll be doing. They are unisex style frames of various sizes, with front suspension, water bottles and a water bottle rack.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available.

Meals as noted in the daily itinerary; hotel accommodations; guide leadership; bicycles; group airport transfers; ground transportation; winery tours, park fees.

Airfare to trip's start in Buenos Aires and from trip's end in Santiago; any additional hotel nights; 2 lunches; 4 dinners; cost of medical immunizations; insurance of any kind; excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); alcoholic beverages (not included with meals, but wine tasting is included); Chile's reciprocity fee upon entry ($100 – although not consistently charged); Argentina's reciprocity fee ($140); gratuities and items of a personal nature.

In addition to the $400 deposit required to reserve your space (fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure), the cost of the internal flight (Buenos Aires to Mendoza, $250 in 2011, $275 in 2012) is also due at the time of registration. This payment is due in full and is non-refundable unless REI Adventures cancels your departure for any reason. If you needed to cancel your participation on this trip for a reason covered by your optional Travel Insurance plan, this flight cost would be reimbursable by that plan.

This trip is rated Easy Active [2]. It includes easy walking tours and cycling on both paved and unpaved roads. Everyone must be in fair (or better) physical condition, comfortable on a bike and enjoy the outdoors. Please note that we cover a fair amount of distance on this trip, traveling from Mendoza in Argentina to Santiago in Chile while crossing over the Andes. Some days of the tour involve a van transfer of 3 – 4 hours.

March and April is autumn in Argentina and Chile, so you may be traveling during picking times and when the wines are being made.  Typical fall daytime highs are in the high 60s to low 80s, dropping about 20 degrees at night into the mid-40s to mid-70s. October and November is springtime in Argentina and Chile and by December it is summertime. Expect warm, sunny days, cool nights and typically very little rainfall. Daylight lasts from 6 a.m. to nearly 10 p.m. Typically, temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, dropping to about 55 degrees at night. Higher elevations will be slightly cooler with a breeze. Strong westerly winds are common at this time.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

October and November is springtime in Argentina and Chile and by December it is summertime. Expect warm, sunny days, cool nights and typically very little rainfall. Daylight lasts from 6 a.m. to nearly 10 p.m. Typically temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, dropping to about 55 degrees at night. Higher elevations will be slightly cooler with a breeze. Strong westerly winds are common at this time. March and April is autumn in Argentina and Chile, so you may be traveling during picking times and when the wines are being made. Typical fall daytime highs are in the high 60s to low 80s, dropping about 20 degrees at night into the mid-40s to mid-70s.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing (including hiking shoes), and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• We recommend bright-colored bicycle clothing for visibility and safety.
• Always test your clothing layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding.
• If you are not bringing a shoe and pedal system (optional), you will need a shoe designed for cycling or cross training to be used with the provided flat pedals. Consider these features: lightweight, closed toe, designed with stiffer soles to provide more efficient energy transfer as you pedal. Stiff soles protect your feet while riding and support the full length of your foot to reduce cramping and fatigue.
• If you bring your own saddle, please bring only the seat and not the seat post. Seat posts are not universal and will likely not fit the bike you’ll be riding. You are welcome to bring a gel seat cover for use on the provided saddle.
• With the exception of the Tango dinner, formal attire is not required at restaurants. Comfortable, casual clothes are appropriate for sit-down meals. We suggest bringing slacks, shorts that are mid-thigh or longer, skirts, or summer dresses in fabrics that are easy to wash and wear.