Date: From 26th Jul 09 – 6th Dec 09
Location: Start Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ends Quito, Ecuador. Includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.
Description:
Distance: 12,000km
Riding Days: 110 days
Resting Days: 24 days
The expedition will explore the diversity of South America by bicycle. It has been designed to follow the most favorable patterns of wind, heat and precipitation however part of the experience is to experience the full diversity of the continent. A tour of this magnitude includes days of heat, cold, rain, winds, altitude, serious hills, long distances and certainly great personal satisfaction. The expedition is run by Tour d’Afrique Ltd. www.tourdafrique.com
The Route: On July 26th, 2009, cyclists participating in the inaugural Vuelta Sudamericana departed Rio de Janeiro. The journey began by traveling the Costa Verde, a series of beaches and islands along the southern Brazilian coast. Turning inland, we head for Iguazu Falls. This system of 275 waterfalls marks the borders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. From the falls, the route meanders through the agricultural lands of Las Pampas until we arrive in Colonia.
We will sail from Colonia to Buenos Aires. This next section crosses Argentina leading us to the Andes and our first true mountain stages. After circumnavigating the 6,960 m peak of Mt. Aconcagua, we descend into Santiago, Chile.
At this point, the tour turns north, following the Pacific coast. In northern Chile, the route crosses the Andes a second time, as we enter the Atacama Desert, famous for its vast white salt plains. This high altitude desert crosses into Bolivia where we head to La Paz. This marks the beginning of the most challenging section of the expedition. From La Paz to Lima, cyclists will traverse mountain passes at 4,200m where we will encounter steep roads, thin air and extreme temperatures, while at the same time experiencing the unique cultures on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the magnificence of Machu Picchu and the enduring mysteries of the famed Nazca lines.
Returning to the Peruvian coast, we pass through Lima, where the Andes appear to rise from the ocean. From northern Peru, we enter Ecuador and cross the Cordillera Blanca to dip into the Amazon basin before we roll into Quito for the grand finale of this incredible expedition. After cycling over four months and 12,000 km, through seven countries, on Dec 6th, we will ride into Quito amidst the celebrations and excitement of Fiestas de Quito.
Contact: Shanny Hill, +1 416 364 8255
*interviews can also be arranged with the Tour Founder Henry Gold who is currently enroute cycling the tour.
Links:
Main Tour Webpage – http://www.tourdafrique.com/epictours/vueltasudamericana
The Route – http://www.tourdafrique.com/epictours/vueltasudamericana/the-route
Current Photos – http://www.tourdafrique.com/epictours/vueltasudamericana/photos
Ongoing Blog – http://www.tourdafrique.com/epictours/vueltasudamericana/blog