Self-Launched Andes Crossing by Mountain Bike: Malargüe to Curicó
9 days · Argentina & Chile (Andes Crossing)
MTB Tours charges £1,550
No-markup version: ~£535 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of MTB Tours' 9-day guided Andes crossing, riding high gravel passes from Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina) over the Andes into Curicó (Chile) under your own steam. You'll replicate the operator's core route — Portezuelo del Carqueque, the Castillos de Pincheira, the 2,800m high pass, the Peteroa Volcano plateaus and the Río Teno descent — but book your own bike, campsites, hostels and border-crossing transport instead of paying for a guided group with support vans. The appeal is the same: big scenery, low technical difficulty but punchy climbs, and an authentic Argentine asado in a mountain hamlet. The main trade-off is that you need solid self-navigation and self-sufficiency skills (and you must follow current border rules, since the Paso Vergara/Paso Pehuenche conditions can close — check with Argentine and Chilean immigration before you commit). Costs are estimated per person in GBP and are approximate. Practical notes: - Best season: December–March (Austral summer). The high passes are only open a few months a year. - Bikes: the route is rough mountain gravel, not maintained gravel road, so a decent MTB with wide tyres and low gearing is far more comfortable than a gravel bike. You can hire MTBs in Malargüe or San Rafael; sea freight/air freight of your own bike is possible but costly. - Navigation: download offline maps (Komoot/RideWithGPS/Wikiloc) and carry a paper map and a charged GPS device. Mobile signal disappears fast above the valley. - Border: you must formally exit Argentina and enter Chile at the official border control on the route. Do not attempt to cross outside an open control point. Confirm the Paso status with Argentine gendarmerie/immigration and Chilean authorities a few days before departure — winter rain and spring snow regularly close high passes. - Water and food: carry several litres, a filter/treatment, and full supplies for the mountain days. The high country has very few shops. - Fitness: this is an advanced route — around 50km/day with roughly 1,000m of climbing, plus altitude and wind. Plan to ride regularly in the months before. - Insurance that covers high-altitude mountain biking and evacuation is strongly recommended. - Wild camping is possible on some sections but use established campsites and local landowner permission where required. Leave no trace. - The loop route can also be reversed or trimmed; the 9-day structure below mirrors the original itinerary's pacing.
Day-by-day
Arrive Malargüe — bike fit and route briefing
Malargüe, Mendoza, Argentina
Fly or bus into San Rafael (Aerolíneas Argentinas has daily flights from Buenos Aires, roughly £60-90 one way) and take the 2.5-hour local bus or shared transfer south to Malargüe (~£8-12). Settle into a hostel or guesthouse, then spend the afternoon collecting or hiring your MTB from a local bike shop and fitting it. If renting, expect roughly £20-30/day for a decent mountain bike, or around £150-200 for the week. Stock up on food, gas canisters and spares (tubes, brake pads, chain links). In the evening, walk the plaza and visit one of Malargüe's small museums (the Malacological Museum and the Museo Regional are cheap or free) before a big pasta dinner.
🚌Flight Buenos Aires–San Rafael (approx. £60-90) plus local bus San Rafael–Malargüe (approx. £8-12)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Malargüe, shared dorm or double (approx. £12-18/night)
- →Hire/fit MTB and buy spares
- →Stroll Malargüe town plaza
- →Visit a local museum
- →Resupply groceries and gas
Malargüe to Portezuelo del Carqueque — first riding stage
Castillos de Pincheira area, Mendoza
Leave the central square early on the gravel and track west toward Portezuelo del Carqueque, with the Castillos de Pincheira rock formations and Cerro Torrecillas framing the ride. Self-navigate using your offline map; the climbs are steady rather than technical. Carry a packed lunch and plenty of water. Camp at a designated campsite or a local estancia/puesto that offers camping (ask in Malargüe for permissions and expect around £5-8 per person). Cook your own dinner under the stars.
🚌On-bike, self-navigated gravel and mountain roads
🛏Own tent at campsite or estancia near the Carqueque area (approx. £5-8)
- →Ride Malargüe to Portezuelo del Carqueque
- →View Castillos de Pincheira and Cerro Torrecillas
- →Camp wild or at a local estancia
High Andes pass to Río Grande — asado country
Río Grande, near Peteroa/Planchón
Today is the big push: climb to a roughly 2,800m pass with Mt. Campanario and Mt. Planchón in view, riding mostly gravel with some sandy patches. Pace yourself, eat often and watch for afternoon winds. Descend toward the Río Grande valley and camp near a local 'puesto' hamlet. If you've arranged it in advance (ask at local tourist offices or through your Malargüe host), you can join a traditional Argentine asado barbecue with the herders — one of the most memorable meals on the route. Otherwise cook your own hearty dinner.
🚌On-bike gravel and mountain road; expect walking sections on steep loose climbs
🛏Own tent at campsite or puesto (approx. £5-8)
- →Ride to ~2,800m Andes pass
- →View Mt. Campanario and Mt. Planchón
- →Camp near Río Grande
- →Optional local asado at a puesto hamlet
Peteroa Volcano plateaus and glacier camp
Peteroa Volcano area
A demanding day of riding on high plateaus toward the Peteroa Volcano and its surrounding glaciers. This is exposed, high-altitude terrain with changeable weather — start early, carry a warm layer, rain shell and emergency bivvy, and be prepared to turn back if conditions deteriorate. Cross streams only where safe. Camp at a high campsite near the glacier approach; nights get cold, so a proper sleeping bag (rated to around -5°C or lower) is essential — hire one in Malargüe or San Rafael for roughly £10-15/day if you don't have your own.
🚌On-bike plateau riding; some hike-a-bike likely
🛏Own tent at high glacier-area camp (approx. £5-8)
- →Ride high plateaus toward Peteroa Volcano
- →Glacier viewpoints
- →High-altitude camping
Argentina to Chile — border crossing and Río Teno
Río Teno, Chile
Ride to the official Argentina–Chile border control on the route and complete exit and entry formalities (bring passport, proof of onward travel and insurance). Eat lunch at the border control area or just after. Then continue descending into Chile along the Río Teno valley to a campsite near the river. Note that high passes in this region close seasonally and the route can change — confirm the crossing is open before setting out. Carry Chilean pesos in cash for campsites and small purchases.
🚌On-bike crossing through official border control
🛏Own tent at Río Teno campsite (approx. £5-8)
- →Ride across the Andes border into Chile
- →Border formalities
- →Camp by the Río Teno
Final descent through Los Queñes to Curicó
Curicó, Chile
The reward day: mostly downhill and rolling gravel through Los Queñes and the Teno valley, finishing with a stretch of asphalt into Curicó. Check into a budget hotel or hostel, shower, and celebrate with a glass of Chilean wine and a proper dinner in town — no champagne lunch included, but the local wine is cheap and excellent. If the ride runs long, buses from Los Queñes to Curicó run regularly and are cheap.
🚌On-bike to Curicó; local bus option from Los Queñes
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Curicó (approx. £18-28/night)
- →Descend through Los Queñes
- →Arrive Curicó
- →Celebratory dinner and wine
Curicó — rest and return bike gear
Curicó, Chile
A rest day in Curicó: return any hired gear, do laundry, and spend a slow morning in the Mercado Municipal and the town's plazas. Optionally take a local bus or transfer to Santiago de Chile (buses from Curicó to Santiago take around 2.5-3 hours and cost roughly £8-12). Stay overnight in Curicó or head to Santiago depending on your onward plans.
🚌Local bus Curicó–Santiago (approx. £8-12) if continuing
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Curicó or Santiago (approx. £18-28/night)
- →Return hired bike/gear
- →Explore Curicó market and plazas
- →Optional transfer to Santiago
Travel back to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Return to Argentina. The cheapest route is usually a bus from Santiago or Curicó over the Andes to Mendoza and on to Buenos Aires, but this takes 20+ hours; a domestic flight from Santiago to Buenos Aires (or a flight from Santiago to Mendoza plus a bus) is far faster and often only modestly more expensive if booked ahead. Arrive in Buenos Aires and settle into a hostel in Palermo or San Telmo. If time allows, take an evening walk along the waterfront.
🚌Bus or flight Santiago–Buenos Aires (approx. £80-120 flight; bus approx. £60-90 but very long)
🛏Hostel in Buenos Aires, dorm or double (approx. £15-25/night)
- →Travel day
- →Evening walk in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires — depart
Buenos Aires, Argentina
A final morning in Buenos Aires: coffee and medialunas in a café, a wander through San Telmo's Sunday market if it lines up, or a quick visit to the Recoleta Cemetery (free to enter, small optional fee for some areas). Fly home from Ezeiza or Aeroparque. If you flew into Malargüe via San Rafael, remember to factor in any bike-box or bike-bag fees for the return flight.
🚌Airport transfer via local bus or taxi (approx. £5-15); international flight not included
🛏None (departure day)
- →Café breakfast
- →San Telmo market or Recoleta Cemetery
- →Depart Buenos Aires
Self-launched vs. MTB Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | MTB Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£535 | £1,550 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,015 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more MTB Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£535
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Andes Crossing by Mountain Bike: Malargüe to Curicó cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £535 per person for 9 days in Argentina & Chile (Andes Crossing). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with MTB Tours?+
Yes — MTB Tours charges around £1,550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £535 — a saving of roughly £1,015 (65%) per person.
How long is the Argentina & Chile (Andes Crossing) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Argentina & Chile (Andes Crossing).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Argentina & Chile (Andes Crossing), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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