What d’ya think folks?

Got work stuff coming up in Soutch Amercia, Sao Paulo one week, head to Santiago on the Friday, then I’ve got a long weekend to myself before a few days of work then home again.

So, 3 whole days of fun – what to do? Seems to be rather a lot of good biking, so might take a bike with me? Any other absolute must dos?

(but i suspect not in Sao Paulo, company security is giving me a heck of lot of security guidance!).

Would dearly appreciate any insights.

I went in July with work, there are 2 hills pretty much in the city centre, we were staying near to them so went up for a walk at the weekend – it was full of people on bikes (nice bikes too). It seems people ride up the road and then ride the tracks down, some trail centre type way marked stuff too. Some looked fairly technical.

Then noticed this shop one day http://www.macris.cl/ which is near the hills and looks to have a load of good stuff in – the might be able to point you in the right direction.

We were there in ski season and there were companies who would drive you up tot eh mountains (not far maybe an hour) and collect you at the end of the day, maybe thats possible with bikes too?

I’m off again at the start of November for a couple of weeks but going into the field so won’t have time for biking.

Thats great Lucas, thanks. Good to hear there is a biking scene! Also thanks for the link to the bike shop, does indeed look ‘well proper’.

I guess it will be the end-ish of the ski season at the moment? Time zones and hemisphere changes do my head in.

Smashing!

Anything else you strongly recommend I see/do whilst there?

I spent three months travelling in S. America and Santiago was my least favourite place. If you have some time I’d take the bus over to Mendoza.

Or get the bus to Valparaiso which is also fun.

Cool, many thanks guys.

My son now lives in Santiago, has done for the last two years.

Valparaiso is his favourite place, Santiago is just for work.

Plan on going out soon to spend some time there.

We got a bus up to Banos Morales, staying at the Refugio Aleman for a couple of days for a bit of hiking and to experience the scale (Marmolejo a local peak is 4000m higher!) and aridity of the High Andes. Pretty basic or at least it was in 2003.

There’s a big XC scene in Arg/Chile and a growing Enduro scene especially since the EWS races the south. Pucon is the real centre for great riding. I would email someone like this: http://bikepucon.com/ It’s 6-7 hours drive there though!

I rode in the south a few years ago, and it seems to have come on a lot recently. I don’t know much about the riding near to Santiago, but it’s a compact city and very close to some sizeable hills (the Andes…) so there should be some accessible riding. a popular Chilean MTB site is this one. http://montenbaik.com/ I’ve actually just emailed them about some riding at Xmas time, so i’ll post up if i get an answer.

I will be there over Christmas, as i’ll be there with my Mendozan extended family. The post above about Mendoza is spot on, there is some superb riding on the Argentine side, but i don’t know about tours. Also, if you have the option, taking a decent bike is a lot more fun than a hire bike- they tend to be pretty poor, especially if you’d like to go with a guide for a day or two.

Thought I would add a wee update on travels:

Biking – as above, its there, not commercialised, I didn’t take a bike and rentals are poor but the clubs were happy to help. however, renting a city bike and just getting around the city was great fun

Andes – **** me they are big!

Santiago – thought it was a brilliant place, really liked the atmosphere, food, climate, mix of very new and modern and the traditional (markets etc), La Bicicleta Verde bike tours, general ease of riding round the city – but my goodness its a very long way from anywhere.

In general does not feel touristy, which made the whole experience enjoyable and ‘real’.