HIGH FRONTIERS EXPLORER

*An 18-Day Motorcycle Expedition Across Chile, Bolivia & Argentina*

Where Salt Flats Meet Sky: Conquer the Andes’ Most Legendary Routes

TOUR OVERVIEW

Total distance 4200km / 3 Countries 

This is not a tour—it’s a rite of passage. Designed for riders who crave raw, unscripted adventure, High Frontiers Explorer traverses the Andes’ most extreme landscapes: the Atacama Desert’s Martian vistas, Bolivia’s endless salt flats, and Argentina’s Quebrada de Humahuaca—a UNESCO World Heritage canyon painted in surreal hues. With a 50/50 split of gravel and asphalt, this expedition demands skill but rewards with unmatched bragging rights and vistas few travelers ever witness.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Not for Beginners)
Motorcycles: Mid to Large ADV Class (BMW R 1250 GS, BMW GS850 / 750, Honda Africa Twin)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Salar de Uyuni: Ride the world’s largest salt flat—a 10,000 km² mirror reflecting Andean peaks.
• Paso San Francisco: Conquer one of Earth’s highest paved passes (4,748m) between Argentina and Chile.
• Quebrada de Humahuaca: Navigate a canyon where mountains blush in 14 mineral shades.
• Atacama Desert: Traverse the driest place on Earth, where NASA tests Mars rovers.
• Cultural Crossroads: Sleep in adobe villages, share mate with gauchos, and explore Bolivia’s train cemetery.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Phase 1: Desert Initiation – Chile’s Atacama

Day 1: Arrival in Antofagasta, Chile

• Settle into a coastal hotel overlooking the Pacific. Evening briefing over pastel de choclo (corn pie) and Chilean Carménère.

Day 2: Antofagasta → San Pedro de Atacama (506 km · 100% Asphalt)

• Climb from sea level to 2,400m through Moon Valley’s jagged ravines. Overnight in San Pedro, a desert oasis of stargazers and explorers.

Day 3: San Pedro de Atacama – Free Day

• Optional: Sunrise at El Tatio Geysers (4,320m), hike Valle de la Luna, or soak in Puritama Hot Springs.

Phase 2: Bolivia’s Altiplano – Salt & Solitude

Day 4: San Pedro → Ollagüe (250 km · Mixed Terrain)

• Cross the Chile-Bolivia border via the Andean altiplano. Sleep in Ollagüe, a ghost town haunted by volcanic whispers.

Day 5: Ollagüe → Uyuni (300 km · Gravel/Asphalt Mix)

• Descend to the Salar de Uyuni, where horizon lines dissolve into salt-crusted infinity.

Day 6: Uyuni – Free Day

• Explore the salt flat’s Isla Incahuasi (cactus island), or photograph the rusted locomotives of the Train Cemetery.

Phase 3: Argentina’s Northwest – Canyons & Culture

Day 7: Uyuni → La Quiaca (390 km · Sealed Roads)

• Enter Argentina via the Villazón border, trading salt for the Quebrada’s kaleidoscopic cliffs.

Day 8: La Quiaca → Susques (326 km · 100% Gravel)

• Navigate Cusi Cusi’s Martian rock formations—a gravel playground flanked by llama herds.

Day 9: Susques → Tilcara (160 km · Asphalt)

• Ride the Quebrada de Humahuaca, passing Purmamarca’s Hill of Seven Colors.

Day 10: Tilcara → Cachi (330 km · 80% Gravel)

• Ford rivers and climb into the Calchaquí Valleys, where colonial adobe meets pre-Inca ruins.

Day 11: Cachi → Salta (157 km · Mixed)

• Descend through cloud forest into Salta, Argentina’s colonial gem. Evening peña folk music.

Phase 4: Puna & Return – Andes’ Final Act

Day 12: Salta – Free Day

• Visit the MAAM Museum (home to Inca mummies) or sip torrontés wine in vine-covered plazas.

Day 13: Salta → Cafayate (200 km · Asphalt)

• Cruise the Red Rock Canyon Route, where wind-sculpted cliffs glow at sunset.

Day 14: Cafayate → San Antonio de los Cobres (301 km · 80% Asphalt)

• Climb back to 3,775m, passing Tastil Ruins—a pre-Inca city lost to time.

Day 15: San Antonio → Antofagasta de la Sierra (324 km · 100% Gravel)

• Traverse the Puna de Atacama, a high desert where vicuñas outnumber people.

Day 16: Antofagasta de la Sierra → Fiambalá (459 km · Asphalt)

• Descend to Fiambalá’s thermal baths—soak muscles aching from 10,000 km² of gravel.

Day 17: Fiambalá → Copiapó, Chile (482 km · Mixed)

• Cross Paso San Francisco (4,748m), where Chile’s Atacama welcomes you back with Martian silence.

Day 18: Flight to Santiago

• Bike handover; depart with bragging rights and a camera full of unreal vistas.

INCLUDED SERVICES

• Premium Motorcycles: Mid-large ADV bikes equipped for altitude and gravel.
• Expert Guides: Bilingual lead rider + mechanic-driven support vehicle.
• Lodging: 3-star hotels and boutique stays (e.g., San Pedro’s desert lodges, Salta’s colonial mansions).
• Logistics: Border paperwork, luggage transport, GPS navigation.
• Meals: Daily breakfast, riding-day lunches, 6 curated dinners (Argentine asado, Bolivian saice).

RIDER REQUIREMENTS

This is a high-stakes expedition. You must:
✔ Master Gravel: Confidently handle loose surfaces, sand, and corrugated roads at altitude.
✔ Endure Distance: 300–500 km days in extreme environments (heat, cold, UV radiation).
✔ Respect Altitude: Routes exceed 4,900m—acclimatization is critical.
✔ Ride Self-Reliantly: Support vehicles assist, but you control the bike.

Not for You? Explore our ECUADOR Tours. (both beginner-friendly).

MOTORCYCLE & PRICING: 

HY CHOOSE HIGH FRONTIERS?

• 3 Countries, 1 Expedition: Cross Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, experience Paso San Francisco’s lunar divide.
• Geological Wonders: From salt flats to volcanic cones, this is Earth’s most dramatic classroom.
• Cultural Depth: Share coca tea with Aymara herders, explore adobe villages, and taste empanadas salteñas.

FINAL NOTE

This tour is for riders who see borders as invitations, gravel as therapy, and altitude as a drug. If you’re ready to swap comfort for the Andes’ untamed soul, High Frontiers Explorer awaits.

The mountains don’t care if you’re ready. We do. Are you?

📞 CONTACT & BOOKINGS

📍 JC Motorcycle Adventures
🌐 www.JCmotorcycleAdventures.com
📧 [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: +593 98 662 8303
📸 Instagram / Facebook: @jcmotorcycleadventures