Best motorcycle destinations in South America
Best motorcycle destinations in South America
High Andean switchback routes and unpaved valley tracks in South America
South America is a dream for adventure riders, with high mountain passes, endless gravel roads and some of the wildest landscapes on the planet.
Ruta 40 in Argentina runs along the Andes for more than 5,000 kilometers, through wine country, deserts and the wide open plains of Patagonia. Across the border, the Carretera Austral in Chile winds past glaciers, fjords and green rainforest on a mix of asphalt and gravel. In Peru, the roads through the Andes and down to the coast have huge climbs and some of the most dramatic views you can get on a bike. Bolivia is for experienced riders, with rough tracks across the Salar de Uyuni and high plateaus where you can ride for hours without seeing anyone.
Many routes reach very high altitude, where both riders and engines can struggle, so take it slow and give yourself time to adjust.
Lists by region
Valley in Peru
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
The Urubamba River formed this valley, which Quechua speakers call Willkamayu, meaning sacred river. Its elevation drops from about 3,000 metres at Pisac to 2,050 metres below Machu Picchu. Pisac to Ollantaytambo covers about 60 kilometres. Inca ruins, terraces and the Moray site line the valley.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
The Inca capital until 1532 stands at about 3,400 metres. Roads connect Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, Arequipa, Abancay, Juliaca and Puno. The walled fortress of Sacsayhuamán lies just outside town. Salcantay, the highest peak nearby, rises about 60 kilometres to the northwest. Cusco became a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Desert in Chile
Atacama Desert
Endless dunes under starlit desert skies
A strip about 1,600 kilometres long runs along northern Chile's Pacific coast. It is called the driest nonpolar desert in the world and covers roughly 105,000 square kilometres. San Pedro de Atacama stands at about 2,400 metres. About 80 geysers fill a valley roughly 80 kilometres from the town.
Region in Chile
Carretera Austral
Endless Patagonian horizons under starlit skies
Work on Route 7 began in 1976 and the road opened to traffic in 1988. It runs about 1,240 kilometres from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins. The full route requires three ferry crossings. The Hornopirén to Caleta Gonzalo crossing takes about five hours and tickets are bought in advance.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
Seven hills surround the city, including El Volador, Nutibara and El Picacho. It lies at about 1,495 metres in the Aburrá Valley. Temperatures typically stay between 17 and 28 degrees Celsius with small variation through the year. That steady climate earned it the nickname City of the Eternal Spring.
Town in Argentina
Ushuaia
End of the World Adventures
National Route 3 ends in Tierra del Fuego National Park, where it meets the southern terminus of the Pan-American Highway. The road crosses the Andes through Garibaldi Pass. Commodore Augusto Lasserre founded Ushuaia on October 12, 1884. The Beagle Channel bounds the city to the south.
Region
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
National Route 40 runs 5,194 kilometres from Cabo Vírgenes to La Quiaca and crosses 11 provinces. Its stretch between Perito Moreno and Tres Lagos is described as the most remote part of the route. Los Glaciares National Park, the second largest in Argentina, lies close to the road.
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