Do gravel bikes work on these routes?

The Andes cross I prefer to advice to use mountain bikes. It can be done on gravel bikes, in fact, 25 years ago we used to cross the Andes with old mountain bikes, with no disc brakes, no suspension forks and we enjoyed it. But today I woul advice to use more comfortable mountain bikes, as the terrain is not a well cared gravel road, it's more a mountain road that it's open only some few months a year. If you don't care about your comfort when riding, then you can bring the gravel bike. If not, you can rent a mtb from us.

Could you please provide details on the intensity level of this adventure? Is prior experience necessary for participants, or is this adventure suitable for all skill levels? Is it possible for travelers to bring their own bikes, or is there an option to rent one at the destination? If rentals are available, could you please provide more information on the type of bikes offered? Lastly, could you clarify the additional upfront costs?

The Andes cross is considered an advanced tour. Daily distances don't seem to be that much, but elevation gain, combined with type of terrain (Gravel, sometimes sandy) and wind make the trip very intense, so suited for bikers that are used to ride weekly and used to ride up. It's not designed for experts, it has low technical difficulty as we always ride on gravel roads, no singletracks. Yes, travelers can bring their own bikes.

Is there an assistance car?

In the Andes cross we have two different types of support vehicles. There will be a van following the bikers and two or more 4x4 carrying the traillers with all the needed supplies for the bikers, meaning all the gear needed to set the campsites and all the food needed for the total extension of the tour.

Are mountain bikes used for this trip? What cycling skill level do you need for this tour? What is the terrain like on this trip?

The Andes cross is done mainly on gravel roads. There not single tracks and there are 40km to do on asphalt road in the end of the tour. Mountain bikes are the best bikes for this ride. The Andes cross is not a technical ride, you need to have an intermediate technical skills level, but you need to be reasonable fit as we do an average of 50km per day with a 1000mts elevation gain. You can bring your mtb or rent one from us.

Can i join the group on day 2 (Saturday) and catch the group up on my own

Yes you can arrive on Feb 10th either to Malargüe or to San Rafael (Mendoza province). If you get to San Rafael, we can arrange a shuttle to Malargüe, where the tour starts.

Can I join the tour on Saturday?

Yes you can join us on Saturday, depending on flight connections. We have two flights to San Rafael: AR1434 at 12.40 landing at 2.30pm and AR1900 at 2.50pm landing at 4.40pm. Do you need to rent a mtb? What's your bike size?

He had a few questions however and was wondering if you could answer him. Firstly, he would like to know how many people are booked on this date so far and so if you will be guaranteed to run the trip? Secondly, he and his friend would like seperate accommodation so single tents and single hotels rooms and was wondering if you could let them know how much this would be. They will also be renting the bikes from you. Lastly, he was enquiring about the distance and how long will be spent in the van on the first day travelling from Buenos Aires until the first stop?

1- The tour is confirmed and guaranteed. There are 25 people booked in from 5 different countries counting Argentina, USA, Uruguay, Poland and Brazil. 2- We can provide single accomodation. The price for a single tent along the tour is 130u$. The price for single rooming in the two hotels nights of the trip is 95u$. 3- I will need to know their bike sizes (in inches) to be sure we have the two mountain bikes for them. 4- The drive from Buenos Aires to Malargüe is 15hs and the distance is 1160km. I would advice them to fly to the nearest city to Malargüe which is San Rafael. The drive will drop then to 180km and 2 and a half hours. 5- Something important to say: We've learned that due to heavy rains in winter and heavy snow in springtime, Chile decided not to open Paso Vergara. So the Andes trip will start in the same city of Malargüe, will end in the same city of Curico (Chile), but we'll be using Paso Pehuenche instead of Paso Vergara.

From

US $1,690 per person

The Andes cross – Vergara Pass

9 days

•

From Malargue to Buenos Aires

View all
View all

From

US $1,690 per person

+ $330 additional upfront costs

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only 20% today. The rest is due 60 days before departure. Learn more

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: MTB Tours
Bicycle: Pedal through scenic landscapes on two wheels
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
High Intensity: Travelers should be in very good physical condition and expect continuous demanding activities
Guided in English: Other languages on request: Portuguese, French, Spanish
Group Size 12 - 23
Ages 18+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Malargüe
Malargüe
Optional Activities
- Stroll through the town
- Visit a museum
Landmarks
Malargüe
Day 2
Malargüe Cycling Stage
Malargüe Cycling Stage
Meals
Lunch (Hearty picnic lunch prepared by support team), Dinner (Dinner at campsite prepared by support team)
Included Activities
- Guided mountain bike ride from Malargüe central square to Portezuelo del Carqueque
- Picnic lunch during ride
- Dinner at campsite
Landmarks
Castillos de Pincheira
Cerro Torrecillas
Day 3
Andes High Pass to Río Grande
Andes High Pass to Río Grande
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Hearty picnic lunch at midday stop), Dinner (Traditional Argentine asado (barbecue) at local puesto)
Included Activities
- Guided mountain bike ride to 2,800m Andes pass
- Picnic lunch during ride
- Dinner with local asado (barbecue) at puesto hamlet
Landmarks
Mt. Campanario
Río Grande
Peteroa Volcano
Mt. Planchón
Day 4
Peteroa Volcano and Glacier Camp
Peteroa Volcano and Glacier Camp
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch during ride), Dinner (Dinner at glacier campsite)
Included Activities
- Guided mountain bike ride toward Peteroa Volcano plateaus
- Picnic lunch during ride
- Dinner at glacier campsite
Landmarks
Peteroa Volcano
Day 5
Argentina to Chile Border Crossing
Argentina to Chile Border Crossing
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at Chilean border control), Dinner (Dinner at Río Teno campsite)
Included Activities
- Guided mountain bike ride from Argentina across border into Chile
- Picnic lunch at Chilean border control
- Dinner at Río Teno campsite
Landmarks
Río Teno
Day 6
Final Descent to Curicó
Final Descent to Curicó
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at hotel with champagne celebration), Dinner (Group dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided mountain bike ride to Curicó
- Lunch at hotel with champagne celebration
- Group dinner at hotel
- Hotel pool access
Landmarks
Los Queñes
Curicó
Day 7
Curicó Departure
Curicó Departure
Included Activities
- Minibus transfer from Curicó
Optional Activities
- Shuttle to Santiago de Chile (arrangement available)
Landmarks
Curicó
Malargüe
Santiago
Day 8
Return to Buenos Aires
Return to Buenos Aires
Landmarks
Malargüe
Buenos Aires

Landmarks
Malargüe

Landmarks
Castillos de Pincheira
Cerro Torrecillas

Landmarks
Mt. Campanario
Río Grande
Peteroa Volcano
Mt. Planchón

Landmarks
Peteroa Volcano

Landmarks
Río Teno

Landmarks
Los Queñes
Curicó

Landmarks
Curicó
Malargüe
Santiago

Landmarks
Malargüe
Buenos Aires

Accommodation
Guide
Insurance
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

MTB Tours

Response time: 9 hours
Response rate: 100%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Dates & Prices

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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Ends on 11 Nov, 2026

From Friday
8 Jan, 2027
To Saturday
16 Jan, 2027
English, Portuguese, French, Spanish +3 more
From:
US$1,690 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Shared Room
Additional Upfront
$330
From Friday
26 Feb, 2027
To Saturday
6 Mar, 2027
English, Portuguese, French, Spanish +3 more
From:
US$1,690 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Shared Room
Additional Upfront
$330

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

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Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

J
Janet
Asked on April 6th, 2026
Do gravel bikes work on these routes?
Tour Details
- MTB ToursOperator•Written April 2026
  The Andes cross I prefer to advice to use mountain bikes. It can be done on gravel bikes, in fact, 25 years ago we used to cross the Andes with old mountain bikes, with no disc brakes, no suspension forks and we enjoyed it. But today I woul advice to use more comfortable mountain bikes, as the terrain is not a well cared gravel road, it's more a mountain road that it's open only some few months a year. If you don't care about your comfort when riding, then you can bring the gravel bike. If not, you can rent a mtb from us.
J
Jasmine
Asked on November 12th, 2024
Could you please provide details on the intensity level of this adventure? Is prior experience necessary for participants, or is this adventure suitable for all skill levels? Is it possible for travelers to bring their own bikes, or is there an option to rent one at the destination? If rentals are available, could you please provide more information on the type of bikes offered? Lastly, could you clarify the additional upfront costs?
Tour Details
Transport
- MTB ToursOperator•Written November 2024
  The Andes cross is considered an advanced tour. Daily distances don't seem to be that much, but elevation gain, combined with type of terrain (Gravel, sometimes sandy) and wind make the trip very intense, so suited for bikers that are used to ride weekly and used to ride up. It's not designed for experts, it has low technical difficulty as we always ride on gravel roads, no singletracks. Yes, travelers can bring their own bikes.
- MTB ToursOperator•Written November 2024
  The upfront costs are: 200u$ Bike rental (if needed) 130u$ Sleeping bag rental (if needed)
L
Lee
Asked on October 22nd, 2024
Is there an assistance car?
Tour Details
Transport
- MTB ToursOperator•Written October 2024
  In the Andes cross we have two different types of support vehicles. There will be a van following the bikers and two or more 4x4 carrying the traillers with all the needed supplies for the bikers, meaning all the gear needed to set the campsites and all the food needed for the total extension of the tour.
J
Juan
Asked on May 15th, 2024
Are mountain bikes used for this trip? What cycling skill level do you need for this tour? What is the terrain like on this trip?
Tour Details
Transport
- MTB ToursOperator•Written May 2024
  The Andes cross is done mainly on gravel roads. There not single tracks and there are 40km to do on asphalt road in the end of the tour. Mountain bikes are the best bikes for this ride. The Andes cross is not a technical ride, you need to have an intermediate technical skills level, but you need to be reasonable fit as we do an average of 50km per day with a 1000mts elevation gain. You can bring your mtb or rent one from us.
H
Helen
Asked on January 29th, 2024
Can i join the group on day 2 (Saturday) and catch the group up on my own
Tour Details
Travel Support
- MTB ToursOperator•Written February 2024
  Yes you can arrive on Feb 10th either to Malargüe or to San Rafael (Mendoza province). If you get to San Rafael, we can arrange a shuttle to Malargüe, where the tour starts.
- H
  Helen
  Traveler•Written February 2024
  I am very interested in coming on tour, but will arrive on Saturday, and can join you if possible. How do I arrange this?
- MTB ToursOperator•Written February 2024
  What time can you arrive in Buenos Aires on Feb 10? If you arrive on Feb 10th San Rafael (Mendoza province) we can arrange a shuttle to Malargüe, where the tour starts. Aerolineas Argentinas has two flights leaving from Buenos Aires to San Rafael. Please check Aerolineas Argentinas. There's one flight leaving 2.50 pm and landing 4.40pm at San Rafael, not many tickets left but there are some available. Please let me know: 1- Do you consider yourself well fit? 2- How many days and miles you cover? 3- Will you bring your bike? or need to rent?
M
Matt
Asked on January 18th, 2024
Can I join the tour on Saturday?
Flights / Transfers
Tour Details
- MTB ToursOperator•Written January 2024
  Yes you can join us on Saturday, depending on flight connections. We have two flights to San Rafael: AR1434 at 12.40 landing at 2.30pm and AR1900 at 2.50pm landing at 4.40pm. Do you need to rent a mtb? What's your bike size?
V
Vicky
Asked on January 5th, 2024
He had a few questions however and was wondering if you could answer him. Firstly, he would like to know how many people are booked on this date so far and so if you will be guaranteed to run the trip? Secondly, he and his friend would like seperate accommodation so single tents and single hotels rooms and was wondering if you could let them know how much this would be. They will also be renting the bikes from you. Lastly, he was enquiring about the distance and how long will be spent in the van on the first day travelling from Buenos Aires until the first stop?
Accommodation
Group size
Transport
- MTB ToursOperator•Written January 2024
  1- The tour is confirmed and guaranteed. There are 25 people booked in from 5 different countries counting Argentina, USA, Uruguay, Poland and Brazil. 2- We can provide single accomodation. The price for a single tent along the tour is 130u$. The price for single rooming in the two hotels nights of the trip is 95u$. 3- I will need to know their bike sizes (in inches) to be sure we have the two mountain bikes for them. 4- The drive from Buenos Aires to Malargüe is 15hs and the distance is 1160km. I would advice them to fly to the nearest city to Malargüe which is San Rafael. The drive will drop then to 180km and 2 and a half hours. 5- Something important to say: We've learned that due to heavy rains in winter and heavy snow in springtime, Chile decided not to open Paso Vergara. So the Andes trip will start in the same city of Malargüe, will end in the same city of Curico (Chile), but we'll be using Paso Pehuenche instead of Paso Vergara.

Good to know

Tour ID: 184729

The practical details for your trip across Argentina and Chile: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

Pay in installments
Spread the cost in interest-free biweekly installments of $539.
Deposit only
Book now with just a 20% deposit. The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure.
2 local currencies
You’ll encounter Argentine Peso in Argentina, Chilean Peso in Chile.
Plug types I, L
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Argentina and Chile.

Currencies
$
Argentine Peso
Argentina
$
Chilean Peso
Chile
Plugs & adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types I, L. As a traveler from Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for type L.
- Type I
  Only used in Argentina
- Type L
  Only used in Chile
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Pay now
A 20% deposit
Balance due
60 days before departure
Installments
Interest-free, every two weeks
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a 20% deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure, charged automatically to your card, or you can split it into interest-free biweekly installments of $539 at checkout. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before January 6th, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
Accepted for MTB Tours tours
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TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.
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Your money is protected. TourRadar is an authorized agent of MTB Tours, and we handle payments so you don’t have to. Payment is securely transferred to the operator based on your departure date.
Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
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From

US $1,690 per person

+ $330 additional upfront costs

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only 20% today. The rest is due 60 days before departure. Learn more

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Video from MTB Tours

The Andes cross

The Andes cross – Vergara Pass

Explore our featured adventures

Itinerary

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Dates & Prices

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Pay in installments

Deposit only

2 local currencies

Plug types I, L

Currencies

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for MTB Tours tours

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Accessibility

People also viewed

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