Name: Road Cycling Chile: The Lakes and Volcanoes Route
Brand: SpiceRoads
SKU: CHL-LVD

Trip Profile

We ride a total of 629 km over 8 cycling days, averaging around 79 km and 1,064 metres of climbing per day travelling south from Pucon to Puerto Varas through Chile's Lakes and Volcano District. The week opens with two days based in Pucon before the tour's toughest test, an Andean climb to the Argentine border with 101 km and 1,609 metres of climbing beneath three volcanoes. From there we follow the Seven Lake Route south before a final climb delivers us to the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve for a rest day in the rainforest. The second half shifts to Lake Ranco, home to the tour's longest ride, then the German Settlers Route and the shore of Lake Llanquihue, finishing at Petrohue Falls. The trip is fully supported, and your guide's expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This tour suits riders with a solid base of road fitness who are comfortable spending four to six hours in the saddle on consecutive days. Daily distances average 79 km, with the heaviest day bringing 101 km and 1,609 metres of climbing on a sustained Andean ascent, supported by a van that can shorten the toughest stretch. Plan to ride two to three times a week in the two months before departure, building at least one longer ride with hill climbing as the trip nears. Previous experience with multi-day tours or sustained climbs will help, though the rolling week means an off day will not derail your trip. Best for riders who want a genuine test on a couple of days, with easier riding built into the rest of the week.

Biking Conditions: This tour is ridden almost entirely on paved roads, with one brief gravel section near Lake Caburgua on Day 2 that quickly loops back onto pavement. Surfaces through the Lakes District are generally well maintained, and the route favours quiet back roads and scenic regional highways over busy national routes. While much of the route is on quiet countryside roads with minimal traffic, we will be regularly sharing the roads with other vehicles, including cars, motorbikes, and buses, particularly on the approach into towns. On Days 3, 7, and 9 we use van transfers to bypass congested or unsafe stretches of highway. We generally ride rain or shine, but we can adjust the planned route based on the guide's discretion or your comfort. It's all part of the adventure! Throughout the ride, the support vehicle is always nearby to offer refuge to any weary cyclists.

Accommodations: We stay in a mix of boutique town hotels, a lakeside guesthouse, and one architecturally striking rainforest lodge, averaging 3.5-star across ten nights. The three nights in Pucon are at a well-located superior-category hotel within walking distance of the lake and town centre. In Panguipulli we move to a 4-star lakeside property, and the highlight of the trip follows at Huilo Huilo, where two nights are spent in hotels built entirely from native wood and stone, with rooms looking into the rainforest. The Lake Ranco stretch brings a comfortable 3-star hotel with views over the hills and lake, and the tour closes with two nights at a 4-star hotel in Puerto Varas. Rooms include private bathrooms, heating, Wi-Fi, and breakfast, with on-site restaurants at most properties. Please be aware that some older or more characterful properties may show signs of wear and the service pace can be more relaxed than you might be used to.

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. We provide high-quality Specialized Diverge E5 road/gravel bikes or similar, with e-road and e-hybrid options also available through the Specialized Turbo Creo SL and Vado series. If you bring your own bike, we recommend a road bike, though a gravel bike will also work. Whichever bike you choose, please ensure it is in excellent mechanical order before arrival. If you ship your bike in a hard case, note that transporting it onward from Pucón at the end of the tour carries an additional cost.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Passports and Visas

Travellers from Australia, the United Kingdom, the US, Canada and the EU do not need a visa to enter Chile for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. Upon arrival, you will be issued a tourist entry permit (Tarjeta de Turismo) — keep this document safe, as you will need to present it when leaving the country. Citizens of certain countries may require prior authorisation or a visa; check with your nearest Chilean consulate well in advance of travel. You can verify your requirements here.

Health

Recommended vaccinations include typhoid, hepatitis A, tetanus and polio. Rabies vaccination may also be considered for travellers planning extended time in rural areas or engaging in outdoor activities with potential animal contact. See here for the CDC's full recommendations. Please speak to your doctor or physician for the most up-to-date advice for your individual needs.

Weather

Chile's climate varies dramatically from north to south. In the Atacama Desert region, days are intensely dry and sunny with temperatures that can swing sharply between day and night. Central Chile enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild winters. The Lake District and Patagonia are best visited in the southern hemisphere summer (November to March), when days are long and temperatures more moderate — though in Patagonia especially, rain, wind and rapid weather changes are a constant companion at any time of year. Layering is essential, and a good waterproof jacket is non-negotiable regardless of the season or region.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature fresh Chilean ingredients — hearty stews, grilled meats, seafood and produce from the valleys and coast. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for. Please let us know at the time of booking. In more remote areas, particularly along the Carretera Austral, options may be limited, but we always do our best to accommodate your needs.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Water, refreshments and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and other beverages during meals are NOT included. Chile produces some outstanding wines, and local beer is widely available — neither is included in the tour price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we cannot match you up, we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend keeping a small amount of US Dollars or Chilean Pesos on hand for incidental expenses. ATMs are readily available in larger towns and cities but can be scarce in more remote areas — particularly along the Carretera Austral — so it is wise to carry some cash when heading into the countryside. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; the amount is entirely at your discretion and should reflect the quality of service received.

Money

The Chilean Peso (CLP) is the official currency, denoted by the symbol $. Banknotes come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 pesos. The most practical approach for most travellers is to exchange some money on arrival at the airport and use ATMs to top up as needed in larger towns. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants in cities, but cash is king in rural areas. If exchanging foreign currency, ensure your banknotes are in good condition, as damaged bills may not be accepted.

Be Aware

Chile is one of the safest countries in Latin America, but standard precautions apply — particularly in larger cities such as Santiago, where petty theft, pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur in crowded areas and transport hubs. Avoid displaying valuables such as expensive jewellery or large amounts of cash. In remote areas, be aware that emergency services and medical facilities may be far away; our guides are trained in first aid and carry communication equipment for safety.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

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Trip Profile

Day 1: Meet in Pucón

We meet in Pucon after taking a public shuttle from Temuco Airport (ZCO), a drive of around 1.5 hours into the heart of Chile's volcanic south. Pucon sits on the shore of Lake Villarrica, with the active Villarrica Volcano rising directly behind the town and visible from almost anywhere you stand. At 3pm we gather at the hotel for the trip briefing, covering the route, logistics, and everything you need to know before tomorrow's first ride. Bikes are fitted and checked straight after, so there are no surprises once we're on the road. In the evening we walk together to a restaurant in town for the welcome dinner, the first chance for the group to sit down over food and a glass of Chilean wine. If you arrive early, the lakefront promenade is an easy walk from the hotel, with clear views across the water to the volcano. Please let us know if you need assistance with airport transfers or pre-tour hotel bookings.

Casa Solaria

Dinner

Day 2: Pucon → Huife Hot Springs

We set off from the hotel through farmland and forest toward Lake Caburgua, a naturally spring-fed lake known for its turquoise colour. Villarrica Volcano commands the skyline through the morning, and on clear days you can spot smoke rising from the active crater. A short gravel stretch near the lake loops us back onto pavement, and rolling hills carry us through the final section to Huife Hot Springs, a thermal complex set beside a river deep in the Andean forest. Lunch is served here, with time afterward to soak in the mineral-rich pools before the van returns the group to Pucon in the late afternoon. The evening is yours to explore Pucon's restaurants, craft beer bars, and lakeside spots, all within walking distance of the hotel.

Casa Solaria

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 54km

+819m

-522m

Day 3: Pucon → Curarrehue

We begin with a short shuttle to a lookout above Pucon with one of the clearest views of Villarrica Volcano on the tour. The first 40 km roll out flat and gently undulating, warming the legs before the road enters Villarrica National Park for the day's main challenge, an 18 km climb on the international road to Argentina, flanked by the volcanoes Villarrica, Quetrupillan, and Lanin. At the Chilean customs post marking the top of the climb, Lanin, the tallest peak in the Lakes and Volcano District at 3,747 metres above sea level, dominates the view toward Argentina. From here we descend to Curarrehue, where a traditional Chilean barbecue lunch is served alongside a Mapuche food and culture demonstration. The return to Pucon is by van, leaving the evening free to explore town at your own pace.

Casa Solaria

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 101km

+1609m

-1599m

Day 4: Pucon → Panguipulli

Leaving Pucon, we climb the Segunda Faja road before joining the Seven Lake Route, a string of glacial lakes linked by winding highways that rank among Chile's most celebrated cycling roads. The morning takes in views of Lakes Villarrica, Calafquen, and Pullingue, with a shuttle of around 30 minutes used to bypass a congested stretch of highway near Lican Ray. From Lican Ray beach we continue south through the lakeside town of Conaripe, our lunch stop, before a ridgeline north of Panguipulli opens a view of five volcanoes at once. The descent brings us into Panguipulli, whose name means land of lions in Mapudungun, the Mapuche language, on the shore of its namesake lake. Dinner tonight is together at the hotel, a chance to compare notes on the day over a glass of Chilean wine.

Casa Panguipulli

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 81km

+1233m

-1174m

Day 5: Panguipulli → Huilo Huilo

Today continues along the Seven Lake Route, through forested hills and past glacial rivers before the road turns upward for the final approach to the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. The last 18 km is a sustained climb that tests tired legs, but the reserve at the top is unlike anywhere else on the tour, with hotels built entirely from native wood and volcanic stone, set inside the Valdivian temperate rainforest, and rooms that look directly into the tree canopy. Dinner tonight is included at the hotel restaurant. If you're considering a massage or spa treatment during the two nights here, it's worth booking in advance, as slots fill quickly

Huilo Huilo

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 69km

+1285m

-845m

Day 6: Day at leisure in Huilo Huilo

Your guide can arrange a complimentary morning walk of around three hours along the Sendero de los Espiritus, a forest trail where hand-carved wooden figures from Mapuche mythology emerge from the undergrowth, continuing through the Bosque de Jabali to a protected native animal reserve before ending at the Peterman brewery. For more activity, white-water rafting on the Rio Fuy and a treetop canopy circuit through the rainforest can be booked directly with the hotel, with payment on site. The spa offers a full menu of treatments worth booking early in the week, and heated pools are open throughout the day without reservation. Self-guided trails wind through the reserve in several directions for those who prefer to explore at their own pace.

Huilo Huilo

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Lake Ranco

This morning brings a three-hour transfer south, bypassing the main highway to reach the back roads around Lake Ranco, some of the smoothest and quietest pavement on the tour. The riding is classic Lakes District at an easy pace, rolling hills, broad views across the lake, and green pastoral land dotted with farmhouses. We stop in Puerto Nuevo for lunch before finishing the ride at Futrono, set above the fields with a view over Lake Ranco toward the Andes. This will be home base for the next two nights. Dinner tonight is on your own, with the hotel restaurant and a few local options within walking distance.

Hotel Lago Ranco

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 70km

+734m

-668m

Day 8: Futrono → Lake Maihue loop

We ride straight from the hotel into the most demanding day of the tour, an out-and-back to Lake Maihue. The route climbs steadily through dense forest, with rivers running alongside the road and the Andes filling more of the horizon as we gain altitude. Near the top the road levels out before dropping toward Lake Maihue, where small villages line the shore and the pace of rural Chilean life slows noticeably. Lunch in Maqueo is a family-style spread built around the Maqui berry, a native fruit prized across the region for its antioxidant content. From here you can ride the same route back to the hotel, a full 108 km with 1,303 metres of climbing, or board the support van, both are valid choices after a long day. Dinner is at a local restaurant in Futrono.

Hotel Lago Ranco

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 108km

+1303m

-1302m

Day 9: Purranque → Puerto Varas

A 2.5-hour transfer brings us to Purranque, where we start riding south through a landscape shaped by nineteenth-century German immigration, neat farmhouses, tended gardens, and village architecture unlike anywhere else in the Lakes District. The road rolls through the countryside before delivering one of the tour's best moments, the shore of Lake Llanquihue appearing at the end of a straight, with the cone of Osorno Volcano rising on the far side of the water. A buffet lunch at a family-run German restaurant is one of the trip's culinary highlights. We continue through Frutillar, home to a lakeside concert theatre, and on to the town of Llanquihue before a short shuttle delivers us into Puerto Varas for a free evening in

Wyndham Pettra Puerto Varas

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 79km

+889m

-972m

Day 10: Puerto Varas → Petrohue Falls loop

We follow the paved lakeshore road north out of Puerto Varas, with Osorno's cone reflected in the still water of Lake Llanquihue for most of the first half of the ride. The road turns inland toward Ensenada before reaching the day's main stop, the Petrohue Falls, where the turquoise Petrohue River drops over dark basalt rock inside Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. After time at the falls, we transfer back to Puerto Varas for the group's last evening together. Tonight's farewell dinner is at a restaurant on the lake.

Wyndham Pettra Puerto Varas

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 67km

+620m

-534m

Day 11: Fly out — Puerto Varas / Puerto Montt

After breakfast we transfer to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC), a drive of approximately 45 minutes. Please book domestic flights departing between 12:00 and 4:00pm to allow time for the transfer. If you have a few hours before your flight, Puerto Varas's downtown has good craft and artisan shops worth a look, including local wool goods and handicrafts. If you're considering staying on in Chile, the Carretera Austral, one of the world's great road journeys, begins just south of here and opens onto weeks of further riding through fjords and glaciers. The lake crossing between Puerto Montt and Bariloche in Argentina is another popular extension. Please let us know if you need assistance with airport transfers or post-tour hotel bookings, as these are not included in the main price. We are happy to help you organise these final details for your journey home or an extended stay in the south.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.

Nuts & Bolts