3 Reasons to Cross the Andes by Bike with Cruce Andino

For anyone who loves cycling, crossing Andes by bike is a classic adventure. Do you know how many places you can cycle through the Andes between Chile and Argentina? Forty-three! That’s a huge number!

But there’s only one crossing that offers the experience of navigating across the Andes via three lakes — connected by four land legs that you traverse on your bike. That’s the Cruce Andino Bike and Boat service that departs from Puerto Varas in Chile or Bariloche in Argentina.

The Andes crossing between Puerto Varas and Bariloche is the kind of adventure depicted in books or movies. But you can actually do it yourself! Here are three reasons why you should travel the route at least once in your life:

1. Sail Across 3 Lakes

This is the only way through the Andes that allows you to sail across three lakes: Todos los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi.

2. Explore Pristine Nature

The Cruce Andino route features some of South America’s most treasured nature areas — Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park in Chile and Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina. National parks always add that special something to any journey. In this case, wild, unspoiled bike trails surrounded by snowcapped peaks, deep-blue lakes, glacier-fed waterfalls and lush Patagonian forest.

3. Discover Patagonia’s Best Cities

Set along Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas (Chile) it renowned for its German-influenced architecture, gastronomy and spectacular views of the nearby Andes. On the other side of the mountains, Bariloche (Argentina) is surrounded by forest and grassland, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. And famous for its craft beer and chocolate.