I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This our most important experiences of the year. It is not a simple trip to plan, but we like to keep it simple in other aspects: connected to nature and to the locals. This is a trip between an amazing part of the Andes Mountains between Chile and Argentinas. We ride through forest, cross rivers and swim in lakes of Araucania en Chile and Alumine in Argentina.
This is a personal challenge the Andes Twice. To make it possible, we have to combine a couple of natural camp-grounds and cabins. Most lunches are on the way prepared by our support crew. Along the way we have support vehicles that help with logistics and the transportation of gear, food and our personal belongings. Our only concern is to RIDE.

Max of Participants: We belive that 30 people is a good MAX number to keep it simple. We start saving spots through the year with a simple downpayment of usd 100. The rest we expect to be paid few weeks before the trip.
Lodging & Camp-grounds: 
We will travel through some remote areas where the open field by a river protected by nice forest will be our camp-ground.
Other days we will enjoy the comfort of a small hotel or cabins. So we expect people to bring apart from their bikes and gear, a sleeping bag, matress and tent or to arange the renting of these item from us.
Meals:
 Most meal are included as explained in our day-by-day itinerary. Some meal – epecially dinners- are not inlcuded because we use some of the local restaurante of the small town we ride through. So everybody orders according to his/her choices.
The rest of the food is prepared by Grado Sur Support Crew. Breakfast lunches or dinners.optaron por opciones especiales: 
MEALS not included:
– Dinner at Argetinean Restaurant in Villa Pehuenia Day 03
– Lunch in Norquehue Day 4
– Lunch in Moquehue Day 5
Money during the trip: There is not much need for a big amount of money during the trip. We will be in remote areas most of the time. However, we will ride into small town where cash will be very handy ranther than a credit card. Bring Argentinean pesos or us dollars in small bills. We also eat at restaurants few times so cash will be needed, and usualy riders like to stop where there is opportunity for a cold beer or something equaly refreshing.
Gear & Bikes Transport:
 Grado Sur Expediciones tried to help as much as possible with personal logistics but just from Santiago we were are based at. Few days before the trip we travel with vehicles trailers and gear to Temuco where trip starts. We offer the option for people in Santiago to deliver their bikes and luggage to our office and we will take them to Htel in Cunco. Other people from other locations need to be in Cunco Hotel -Bello Horizonte – the day before the trip or morning of Saturday, early enough to prepare for departure at noon.
For any logistics other than ours please contact us.
III. Getting to Temuco:
The important part is that anybody taking part in this trip needs to be in Cunco Hotel – Bello Horizonte either Friday – which is the day before the trip – or the same Saturday the trip starts around 9am 10am the latest.
There are buses from Santiago direct to Cunco. Bus stops right outside hotel.
There are buses from others destinations to Temuco and we can pick people up.
There are flights also to Temuco and we can pick people in Temuco Downtown.
People who wants to drive there, they can leave the car at hotel parking no-charge until we return to hotel at the end of trip.
IV. While Riding: EWe want people who come on this trip to focuss on the riding leaving all the rest to us. We travel with support vehicles – usually 4×4 small truck carrying everything for the trip. There will be one of 2 guides on bikes with the group. We can also assist with mechanic issues with any of the bikes.
V. What is included:
– Free transportation of bikes and gear from Santiago to Cunco and back.
– Lodging and Food according to Itinerary.
– Local Ground Transportation in Temuco area (shuttles Temuco – Cunco)
– Support – 4×4 – vehicles during the trip.
– Guides and bike mechanics – Make sure though, your bike come 100% ready for such a challenge.
– farewell dinner on our last night of trip back at Bello Horizonte hotel in Cunco.

ITINERARY Day by Day

Sunday 4th January Day 01:  Arrival – Trip Starts – China Muerta Reserve Ride.
The trip starts on Saturday noon, so we expect people to arrive the night before or early in the morning on the same Saturday by 10am. (See how to get to Cunco above)
There will be a late breakfast for everybody at hotel. After that, we will start getting ready to start the trip. Check luggage, check bicycle, and all itemn suggested below in our packing list. People will be able to leave stuff that are not needed at hotel until we get back at the end of trip.
We check our bikes, make last minute adjustments.
At noon, we expect everybody at the front of hotel for the first group picture of the trip. After that, we load everything in the trailer or support vehicles and start the cycling.
The first stretch goes for 30 kmts (24 miles) on pavement which works great as a warm-up. We arrive in Melipeuco and make a stop for lunch .
Later, we start the ride inside Chica Muerta Reserve all the way to our camp-ground, a natural sport by a small river where we will set up our tents and support team will make sure that dionner is ready by 8pm.
Dinner prepraed by Grado Sur Staff.
Night at Camp-ground.

Monday 5th January Day 02: China Muerta Reserve and Galletue Lake – Cabins at Icalma Border Crossing
Groupo wakes up in the mountain. Time to undo tents and work on packing some of the gear we used during the night. At 8:30am we expect everybody to show upo for breakfast at our dining tent.
At around 9:30 people need to bring luggage and tents to cars and prepare bikes to start the ride for the day. Today first destination is Galletué Lake, headwaters of the BioBio river. Here, group will make a stop to enjoy the beautifukl waters of the lake and river, go for a swim, and enjoy a picnic lunch also prepared by Grado Sur Staff.
By 3pm group starts riding towards the town of Icalma. Here we stay at cabins by the Icalma Lake, just by the border with Argentina.
Dinner at Local Restaurant.
Night at cabins.

Tuesday 6th Day 03: Crossing into Argentina Icalma Pass – Climb Batea Mahuida Volcano Trail Down to Villa Pehuenia Town.
Our third day is hard to predict in terms of timing, because of the border crossing and all paper work and amount of people. Because of our experience, this is a short day of cycling but an intense one.
Once we are on the Argentenean side, we start our second part of the cycling which happens at the Natiinal Park Batea Mahuida. The goal of the day is the 2.000 meter top of the Volcano of the same name – Batea Mahuida.
While cyclist pedal to their rythm, the support vehicle finds it way to the top of the volcano as well to wait for the group with lunch. The view here is hard to describe, just breath-taking. It is hard to cycle all the way to te top. But with or without bicycles, we meet at the top for lunch.
After lunch, and after many pictures of course, we get back on our bicycles and start the down hill part, firt through the dirt road and then down an amazing single track trail through Araucaria tree forest. An amazing 10 minutes descent. Since day one, we have named this crazy trail: fun, long and safe. 
For those who prefer the safety of the wide open road, they can just follow the support vehicle and we will meet in town at the Wagon Restaurant for a well deserved beer in Villa Pehuenia. 
At around 4pm group meets at Lagrimitas Camp-ground. We have the mountain shelter for the group. Time to chill, clean up and rest before dinner at 7:30pm at a local Parrilla Argentina.
Cena at Parrilla Argentina.
Night at Mountain Shelter at Lagrimita Camping Ground in Villa Pehuenia.

Wednesday 7th  Day 04: Ride along Alumine River to Norquinco – Kimey Mapu Camp-ground by Norquinco Lake.
Breakfast in our lodge at 8:30am. then we get our luggage to the vehicle and get bikes ready for a long but amazing part of the trip: the riding to Norquinco Lake. 
The ride follows that Aluminé river all the way to the big bridge that crosses the river. under that bridge we meet for lunch. It is a 60 kmts ride to this point.
a beautifu place by the river. With good weather, a great place to gofor a swim while Grado Sur Staff prepares lunch.
After lunch, we resume our trip, now the destinatiin is a beautiful camp-ground by Norquinco Lake. Another 35 kmts away. Time to set-up tent, shower and relax.
Dinner at camp-ground.
Night at rural Camp-ground in Norquinco. 

Thursday 8th  Day 05: Ride through Mapuche land in Argentina – Through Moquehue – Back to Chile Icalma Pass.
Breakfast at Camp-ground at 9am. Later we get our luggage ready and close to vehicles. We start the ride over a mountain pass. Then we come down on the other side looking for the perfect spot for lunch by a small river. You will see the support vehicle from the road. Lunch time.
After lunch we ride on through Moquehue town, beautiful lakes and beautiful views of the Andes Mountains on the Argentinean side.
We ride on back to the border and do the same paper work to get back to Chile. And back to the same place to sleep in Icalma. 
Dinner at local restaurant – ON YOUR OWN.
NIght in Icalma.

Friday 9th Day 06: Down to Carilafquen and Back to Bello Horizonte Hotel in Cunco.
Today is a very especial challenge. Breakfast, luggague to vehicles and back on our bikes for the last stretch of this adventure. Firt, we start with a 7 kmts climb to mountain crossing and then we start coming down the mountains to the chilean plains. We ride on to Melipeuco where we will stopfor lunch at small local restaurant.
Time to chill rest and maybe check this small town, now with all the time in the world. 
Once group is ready, we start riding the last 30 kmts back to Cunco, to hostal Bello Horizonte where we started this trip.
Time to chill and enjoy the swimming pool and maybe a drink.
We will enjoy our last meal together at the restaurant.
Night at hostal Bello Horizonte in Cunco.

Saturday 10th Day 09: Departure. Group Members Leave – Transfer to Temuco Airport
Breakfast at hstal Bello Horizonte from 7:30 tom 9:00am.
Free morning accoding to your travel plans. 
IMPORTANT SUGGESTION: Because this is an advetureb trip, we cannot guarantee 100% all the schedule describe here. For this reason we suggest that you plan your trip back home after midday. If you have an early flight please make sure that you make plans to the airport or letb us know about it.

WHAT TO BRING in this Expedition: We need a lot for a trip like this, but we still encarage people to PLEASE pack light. We have limited space during the trip. However, you can repark at hotel in Cunco and leave items at hotel you dont think will be necessary during the trip.
– Camping gear. Sleeping bag, tent matress. (temp may drop to 0 degress 32 f at night)
– Youb regular riding gear. Helmets are mandatory.
– Rain gear. Though the trip sounds beautiful, we will be in the mountain and rain can hit us any minute. Come prepared.
– Warm layers for riding and for night at camp-grounds.
– Small set of bike tools, small pump and minimum 2 inner tubes even if your bike is Tubeless.
– One set of warm clothes for the nights. One pair of warm shoes. No need for heavy mountain trekking shoes.
– Small bagpak for daily rides.
– Bottles or camelbak for at leat 1 liter of water.
– Energy bars gel or any other kind of your favorite energy food.
Note 01: Please, dont bring electronic articles during thr trip other than your phone. It could get damage.
Note 02: Anything especial someone might need for this trip before or after, please let us know in advanvce, We will be happy to help as much as we can.

More info please write to info@gradosur.cl / pablo@gradosur.cl

Gradosur Expediciones Ltda
Email: pablo@gradosur.cl     /  Cel – Whatsap: +56 9 4407 050