Brochure The Andes Trail 2016

Transcription

1 Brochure The Andes Trail 2016

2 Introduction Most people have seen the famous pictures of South America. The ruins of the Incas surrounded by rainforest and deep valleys. Snow covered summits and volcanic cones. Indians in colourful traditional costumes. Magnificent granite pillars. Vast white salt plains and immense glaciers. South-America has so much more to offer. Bike Dreams has created a wonderful route which incorporates many main attractions allowing you to experience the full beauty of the South American continent. We would like to introduce an incredible bike race/expedition : The Andes Trail, from the middle to the end of the world in kilometres. The Mitad-del-Mundo monument at the equator marks the start line of this epic journey. The first stages in Ecuador you cycle through the mountainous heart of the country and pass sleeping volcanoes. Isolated areas and tough climbs await you in Peru, but you don t have to miss the highlights of Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. You ll bike at high altitudes at the altiplano in Bolivia. Crossing the flat plateau with little oxygen, herds of llama and vague tracks on the white salt of the Salar-de-Uyuni makes the cycling a surrealistic experience. The trail drops further down into Argentina with a mix of landscapes : coloured canyons, giant cacti, green valleys, the pampas and the Aconcagua - the highest mountain of the American continent. You cross the Argentinean-Chilean border more than once to experience the best of which Patagonia has to offer : crystal blue lakes, impressive glaciers, green forests and craggy, granite peaks. The finishing line of this grandiose bike ride is drawn in Ushuaia, the most southern city on the globe, the entrance gate to Antarctica and called the Fin-del-Mundo. The end of the world. The start of The Andes Trail is at July 29 th, 2016 from the equator, just outside Quito. The finish is 138 days later and kilometres ( miles ) further south in Ushuaia at December 13 th, You can expect all kinds of conditions along the trail. The majority of the roads is nicely paved, but you come also across some rough roads with washboards, rocks and loose sand. The weather conditions can also vary enormously in the Andes. Although we have chosen the best season, intense heat, severe rain showers, freezing temperatures and fierce wind are still possible. The high altitudes give an extra dimension to the tour. Anyway, smooth roads or dirt tracks, good or bad weather; it is all part of the game. You cover the kilometres within your own capabilities and in a pace you determine. This means that you can compete with the other participants and try to cover the distance as fast as possible, or you can choose to take it easy and enjoy the beauty of the Andes in all her facets. The landscape, the culture and the people. The Andes Trail is more than just a normal bike ride. It s a combination of the physical challenge, the adventure, the appreciation of the natural beauty and above all, a mental freedom. Next to that, the bike journey is open for cyclists from all around the world to create an exceptional atmosphere, during as well as after the bike ride. The people of the Andes and your fellow-cyclists will make it a memorable journey. 2

3 The Route The route has been divided into 110 cycling stages and 28 rest days. The cycling days have in general the same schedule : a start early in the morning to cycle the distance at your own speed to the next place. The stages have an average length of 100 kilometres, depending on the course, the road conditions and the locations of the next suitable accommodation. The rest days give you the possibility to visit local sites, but keep in mind that The Andes Trail is definitely not a tourist trip. It's a demanding bicycle expedition with a total distance of 11,000 km where scenic routes and traffic calm roads have been chosen. The tough stages, the long-term stay at high altitudes and the extreme weather conditions make The Andes Trail to a real challenge. Taking into account the accommodation, The Andes Trail can be roughly divided into two sections. You stay during the first half of the tour in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia mainly in hotels. Sometimes we make a bush camp, even on high altitudes. The second part of the tour in Argentina and Chile you stay mostly at campsites or in a temporary camp along the road. A comfortable hotel is waiting for you than occasionally. You will stay in total minimal 50 nights in a hotel accommodation. 3

4 Ecuador You start with two rest days of acclimatising in Quito before you hit the road for four months. The capital of Ecuador is located at an altitude of metres on a horizontal strip of land running north to south between beautiful mountains. The splendour of the city's natural setting, combined with its attractive squares, parks and monuments as well as the warmth of its people, make it a great place to get used to the altitude and the Latin way of life. The Andes Trail starts a couple of kilometres north of Quito at the 30- meter high Mitad-del-Mundo. This monument marks the equator, from which the country derives its name. The first days you ride on the Avenue of the Volcanoes which you already experience just after the start. You can recognise the perfect ice-covered volcanic cone of the Cotopaxi. It s with metres Ecuador's highest active volcano and the second highest peak in the country, only surpassed by Chimborazo which slopes you will climb a couple of days later. All traffic disappears slowly and the PanAmerican road takes you through the highlands with its deep canyons, winding climbs and colourful dressed Indians. Probably you ll bump into one of the traditional indigenous markets which express the old customs, which still play an important role in the multicultural society of Ecuador. One night you stay near the Inca ruins of Ingapirca which stand as the most important archaeological memory in Ecuador and provides a fascinating insight into this remarkable civilisation. The designated Unesco World Heritage City of Cuenca has been selected for a day to relax. This third largest city in the country is considered by many to be the most attractive. With cobblestone streets, flower filled plazas and many historical buildings constructed in the marble quarried nearby, the city still retains its traditional and colonial atmosphere. You leave Cuenca via the Pan-American Highway in the direction of Loja. This city in the Cuxibamba Valley is known as the musical heart of the country and has innumerable salsa clubs and other musical entertainment within her historical town centre. The Pan American Highway, world's longest road, is continued in the direction of the border with Peru. The stages in Ecuador include quite some climbing at high altitude. Fortunately most of the nights a hotel bed is waiting for you. It makes the first weeks of The Andes Trail tough, but it s also a comfortable way to adapt to the mountainous conditions. 4

5 Peru Peru fires the imagination like few other places. The country is full of highlights. First of all Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is considered the archaeological capital of South America. In the city of Cuzco, has like no other place, the complexity of the hybrid culture borne of the mixture of Spanish and Inca can be appreciated, especially in the fusion between Inca ruins and Spanish colonial architecture. Nearby you will find Machu Picchu, the famous Lost City of the Incas, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The Cañón del Pato in the north Peru is an expressive geographic feature where the whims of the nature have been well used by man. Due to the erosion of torrential waters of the Santa River the granites rocks of the Cordillera Negra and Cordillera Blanca ( the black and white mountain ranges ) come near to less than five meters of distance. You cross the scenic road with its nearly 50 tunnels. You go across a couple of scenic mountain passes in the Peruvian Andes, passing through unspoilt Andean villages, and gradually ascending to a mind popping altitude of meter. The area has very few tourists and is fresh from its lack of exploitation. Just before the border to Bolivia you ll cycle along the shores of the cool sapphire-blue water of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at meter. It is also the original place of the unique Floating Islands of the Uros Indians. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own islands by periodically adding new layers of Totora reed. And not only the islands, also their homes and boats are made from this material. Besides these mentioned highlights you can expect a lot more during your ride in Peru. Along the track you ll pass herds of llama and alpacas, hear millions of tropical birds and meet friendly Andean people who have hardly changed their lifestyle for centuries. 5

6 Bolivia Bolivia is called the Tibet of the Americas. It s the highest, most isolated and most rugged country of Latin America. A country of unparalleled natural beauty, vibrant indigenous cultures and whispers of ancient civilization. From Lake Titicaca you ll cycle to the highest capital city in the world : La Paz, the city that touches the sky. You have time to enjoy Bolivia s exciting capital life and to visit its mysterious Witches Markets. The city spreads over various elevations, making it a dazzling and breathtaking adventure. In Bolivia you will hardly get below metres, altitudes that leave normal Europeans and Americans gasping for air. Despite the altitudes there won t be many metres of ascending in Bolivia. For that you ll have to thank the nearly flat Altiplano, where the Aymara and Quechua Indians scrape a living from their small plots of land in the harsh climate. Spectacular scenery, friendly people and interesting towns will make the crossing of the Altiplano a truly memorable experience. A loop around the volcano Tunapa brings you to the Salar-de-Uyuni, the biggest salt desert in the world with its square kilometre. Blank as an empty page, a plain of possibilities stretching white into the horizon, then blurring seamlessly into sky, the vastness of this phenomenon - not of water, nor snow or ice, but of salt - is startling. Cycling for 100 kilometres on the salt flats with no road, and only vague tracks to follow, makes it to an unforgettable experience. You see the amazing island of Incahuasi covered with giant cacti, you stay at a hotel constructed out of salt blocks and you cycle through a salt mining area. During the rest day in Uyuni you can visit the train cemetery, a place where old steam trains and engines rest after they have retired from service. The fantastic mountain area around Tupiza, full of canyons, valleys, red rocks and cacti, gives you the feeling like you re riding in the Wild Wild West. And to keep your fantasy going, this was the area where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid found their end. Fortunately it is not the end of your journey. 6

7 North Argentina Comprising of almost the entire southern half of South America, Argentina is the world's eighth largest country. You enter the country for the first time as you drop down from the Altiplano. A wonderfully coloured canyon and a green rainforest brings you to the city of Salta where you can enjoy some Western city life. Yes, you will be pleased by the numerous Heladeria s offering a wide variety of excellent homemade ice-creams. It takes some time to taste every delicious flavour. Northern Argentina is full of surprising landscapes : desert traversed by green valleys, snow-covered mountains, colourful rock-formations sculpted by wind and water, canyons filled with huge cactuses and the Aconcagua. It s the highest peak of the Americas with an altitude of metres. The Cuesta de Miranda is notable for its vibrant red colour, which stands out from the surrounding green vegetation and makes it incredible beauty. After every turn, you will be surprised by stunning new scenery. In Northern Argentina you will ride mainly on the Route Cuarenta (R40), the backbone of the country. It is the longest road in Argentina and famous among motorcyclists for it being so hard to travel. Nowadays the road in this part of the country is almost fully paved, but you will find little traffic. The road offers you breathtaking views on the snow covered nearby Andes mountain range. A spectacular downhill with 365 turns and outstanding views brings you in Mendoza. A place to enjoy a day at a slower pace, which is enhanced by delectable local cuisine and not to forget the numerous wineries. The beauty of The Andes Trail doesn t stop if you head further south. You enter a deserted landscape with the highest concentration of volcanic cones in the world, some of them covered by snow. All of them are asleep and they won t wake up for brave cyclists. 7

8 Patagonia Patagonia, an extremely vast and diverse region, with scenery ranging from dramatic mountain formations to flat barren pampas and expansive ice fields. As you enter Patagonia you ll find a green mountain area with forests and a range of lakes of exceptional beauty. Its waters are transparent and distinct tones that differentiate from blue to emerald green. You can experience city life in San Carlos de Bariloche, famous for its chocolate, and El Bolsón with its hippies and handicrafts markets. You ll cross for the first time into Chile at Futaleufú along the ice-blue river of the same name which beckons rafters to test their dangerous skills. The Trail continues over the seldom-visited Carretera Austral which links widely separated towns and hamlets along its length as it passes through a wonderland of snow clad mountains, lakes, rainforests, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls and fjords. No matter where you look, fantastic scenery. Back in Argentina on the Ruta 40 again you probably have to fight the strong Western wind, which makes it together with the road condition one of the hardest sections of the tour. In El Calafate you ll have time to recover and visit one of the world's largest continental glaciers, the Perito Moreno. House size chunks of ice break off this advancing glacier regularly accompanied by thundering sounds. A few days biking and a second border crossing from Argentina to Chile brings you to the Torres del Paine. It s one of Chile s most spectacular national parks with craggy, granite peaks covered with snow, glacier-fed lakes, pampas, thick Magellanic forests and meadows. Your last day of rest in Punta Arenas gives you the opportunity to visit one of the nearby penguin colonies. A ferry gives you access to Tierra del Fuego, the Land of Fire. You are pushed by a fierce tailwind on this last bit of civilization on the South American continent. You cross the Andes for the last time to get to the final destination of the Trail : Ushuaia. Located on the Beagle Channel with an impressive array of the sea, forests, lakes, and mountains. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, it is the entrance gate to Antarctica and it is nicknamed Fin-del-Mundo. The End-of-the-World. The perfect spot to finish this extreme and challenging bike journey which starts at the equator and brings you over a distance of kilometre along, through and over the longest mountain range in the world. 8

9 Race / Expedition Each participant can cycle the stages at his/her own pace. You can choose to cover the distance in a relaxed way with photo stops at every chosen moment, or a well deserved break on a terrace. Alternatively, you can try to cover the distance as fast you can. We do timekeeping every day, to make up a ranking at the End-of-the-World. When the organisation has the opinion that some parts are irresponsible to race ( e.g. traffic ), we choose to cover the stretch all together or without timing. There are no prices to win, it s only the honour to be the fastest person who crossed the Andes on a bike. The achievements of the first persons will not be more or less than of the people who take it easy and enjoy all the beauties of the Andes. Participants It is possible for people from all over the world to sign up for The Andes Trail. However the number of participants is limited due to organisational reasons. The Andes Trail is open for men and women with an age between 18 and 65. A good health and passion for cycling are necessary to finish the expedition in a normal way. Keep in mind that only a few succeed to cycle the total distance between Quito and Ushuaia; they need a strong constitution, mental toughness and certainly no set back. The cyclists who are not able to ride, or cannot finish the stage, have always the possibility to take a seat in one of the support vehicles. We will take care that everyone arrives at the finish location before the evening. It s also possible for a non-cyclist to take part in the journey. You travel in one of the support vehicles and can assist the staff with their daily activities like providing the meals, visit local markets, etcetera. Support The journey is supported by two vehicles which take every day the luggage to the next place. You don t have to carry luggage on your bike, except from water, an energy bar and a basic toolset. We provide on cycling days an extensive breakfast ( bread, cereals, fruit ) and halfway the stage a tasty lunch is waiting for you. In addition, we will take care that you can recover with an extra meal ( soup, bread, fruit ) after finishing the stage and that you always have sufficient water and sport drinks. The cook of Bike-Dreams prepares in campsites a healthy dinner full of carbohydrates. During the rest days and if we stay in a hotel you have the opportunity to explore and sample the local cuisine. The journey is supported by a nurse and a mechanic for the physical inconveniences to yourself and your bike. During the first half of the tour in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia - the accommodations are mainly hotels with also several bush camps at high altitude. The second part of the tour in Argentina and Chile 9

10 you stay mostly at a campsite or a temporary camp along the road. You stay in total minimal 50 nights in a hotel accommodation. Entry Fee Firstly, the journey is intended to complete entirely from Quito to Ushuaia. We also offer you the possibility to cycle parts of it, for instance from Quito to La Paz or the Patagonia section. This gives you the opportunity to complete the full Andes Trail in two or more years. Start Finish Dates Days Entry Fee Countries Full Tour Quito Ushuaia ,- Full Tour, divided 1 Quito Ushuaia ,- 1 If you divide the tour over two or more years, the Entry Fee is equal to the amount which you pay when you do the full tour in one year. Sections We understand that not everybody has four months of holiday. So we also offer the possibility to participate in one or more sections of the tour. The selected start- and finish places are nearby international airports or domestic airports with regular flights to main airports. Section Start Finish Dates Days Entry Fee Countries 1 Quito Huanchaco ,- 2 Huanchaco Huancayo ,- 3 Huancayo Cuzco ,- 4 Cuzco La Paz ,- 5 La Paz Salta ,- 6 Salta Mendoza ,- 7 Mendoza Bariloche ,- 8 Bariloche El Calafate ,- 9 El Calafate Ushuaia ,- The price of your complete journey can be calculated by summarizing the prices of the individual sections. 10

11 Discount We offer a discount of 1.000,- for participants who register for the full tour and pay the down payment before December 31 st, You'll pay an Entry Fee of 9.900,- in stead of ,-. Sectional riders, who participate in four or more sections, receive a discount of 100,- per section if they register and pay the down payment before December 31 st, What's included? The entry fee includes : Accommodation based on hotels ( minimal 50 nights ) and campsites Pre- and post accommodation in Quito ( 3 nights ) and Ushuaia ( 1 night ) Breakfast, lunch, extra meal after finishing the stage ( during cycling days ) Fruit, water, sport drinks and energy bars ( during cycling days ) Dinner ( only during cycling days if we are camping ) Transportation of luggage Organisation of the journey Support by nurse and bike mechanic The Andes Trail cycling jersey Daily detailed description of the route Tour guide with extensive information about the route DVD with compilation of the best pictures Entrance fee of the National Parks Huascarán in Peru, Los Alerces in Argentina and Torres del Paine in Chile Ferry tickets The entry fee excludes : Transfer to the start and from the finish location of your journey Meals on rest days Dinner at the days with hotel accommodation Personal health- and travel-insurance Entry fees of tourist sites 11

12 The Schedule Date Place Country Section July 26 th July 28 th Acclimatizing Quito Ecuador 1 July 29 th Start Quito Ecuador 1 August 5 th Rest day Cuenca Ecuador 1 August 8 th Rest day Loja Ecuador 1 August 16 th 17 th 2 rest days Huanchaco Peru 1,2 August 22 th Rest day Huaraz Peru 2 August 27 th Rest day Huanuco Peru 2 September 1 st Rest day Huancayo Peru 2,3 September 2 nd Rest day Ayacucho Peru 3 September 9 th Rest day Andahuayles Peru 3 September 14 th 16 th 3 rest days Cuzco Peru 3,4 September 22 nd Rest day Copacabana Bolivia 4 September 25 th 26 th 2 rest days La Paz Bolivia 4,5 October 4 th Rest day Uyuni Bolivia 5 October 7 th Rest day Tupiza Bolivia 5 October 12 th 13 th 2 rest days Salta Argentina 5,6 October 20 th Rest day Chilecito Argentina 6 October 27 th 28 th 2 rest days Mendoza Argentina 6,7 November 4 th Rest day Chos Malal Argentina 7 November 11 th Rest day San Carlos de Bariloche Argentina 7,8 November 19 th Rest day Coyhaique Chile 8 November 29 th Rest day El Calafate Argentina 8,9 December 3 rd Rest day NP Torres del Paine Chile 9 December 8 th Rest day Punta Arenas Chile 9 December 13 th Finish Ushuaia Argentina 9 The gray marked lines are the places where you can start or finish the sections of The Andes Trail. The mentioned dates are the rest day(s) in the cities. The stages finish the day before and we leave the day after ( e.g. We arrive in La Paz on September 24 th, the rest days are September 25 th and 26 th and we leave La Paz on September 27 th ). The dates of the rest days and finish can change slightly, due to unforeseen conditions. As according to our schedule we arrive in Ushuaia on December 13 th, When you intend to join us midway, we advise that you book your arrival date at least the day before the start date of the journey. You should also allow time ( 2-3 days ) at the end of the bike journey for any unexpected delays. You can find detailed information about the transfers to the start- and finish places in the Information Kit. 12

13 Bike Dreams B.V. Marktstraat EN Roermond THE NETHERLANDS Telephone : +31 (0) info@bike-dreams.com Website : Bike Dreams B.V. is registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Roermond under number

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