RidePatagonia MTB
Ride to the heart of Patagonia
RidePatagonia is a mountain bike tour operator based in Punta Arenas, in Chile's far southern Magallanes region. They specialise in guided MTB rides across Chilean Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, an area they describe as one of the last untouched places in the world. The team has ridden extensively through Chile and South America, and they set out to share those trails with visiting riders. The site does not name the owners or give a founding year, though its copyright notice dates from 2019.
Their core product is a set of four guided day rides, each offered as a half-day or full-day option and running all year round. Rides start from Punta Arenas, Porvenir (Tierra del Fuego), Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park, covering 15 to 46 km on singletrack, ranch tracks and rural roads. Each ride pairs the riding with interpretation of the area's natural and cultural history: the glacial past of the Strait of Magellan, the Selknam people and gold workings of Tierra del Fuego, the Milodón Cave and the early settlers' outposts of Paine. Tours are graded for physical and technical difficulty, and prior mountain bike experience is strongly recommended.
Tours include a local guide, a full suspension mountain bike, helmet, snacks or a boxed lunch, and transfers on most rides. Every group has a guide trained in first aid. They also design tailor-made trips, including multi-day itineraries of three days or more, across Patagonia and as far as central Chile and Argentina.
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Overview
Tour Operator RidePatagonia MTB
Mountain bike the glacial and cultural history of the Strait of Magellan on the trails above Punta Arenas.
Chasing Glaciers is a guided mountain bike day tour through the hills behind Punta Arenas, tracing the glacial and cultural history of the Strait of Magellan. Offered as a half day or full day outing, it combines nature, sport and culture on full suspension bikes.
The ride begins on the edge of the city with a steep climb into the hills, then follows trails and paths through native forest. Along the way the guide explains the natural and cultural history of the Strait, including the glacial and palaeontological story told by the landscape and how it has been transformed over time.
From the high ground, riders look out over the basins that surround Punta Arenas and learn how the city relates to its environment and people. The return is a descent on singletracks used by local riders, with transport provided between the meeting point and the trailhead.
Highlights:
- Trails and paths through the hills above Punta Arenas
- Native forest crossed by trails that tell the area's glacial and palaeontological history
- Guide commentary on the natural and cultural history of the Strait of Magellan
- Views over the basins surrounding the city
- Singletrack descents used by local riders
- Full suspension mountain bikes supplied
Surface and terrain:
Mountain bike trails, forest paths and singletrack in the hills above Punta Arenas. Starts with a steep climb from the city edge and finishes with singletrack descents. Altimetry is listed as 1,000+ metres.
Weather:
They ride all year, with conditions varying by season, and warn that Patagonian weather can turn any trail into hard work. Light and warm layers, a windbreaker and sunscreen (even when cloudy) are advised.
Suitable for:
Riders with mountain bike experience and moderate to good fitness, rated 2 to 4 (of 5) for both physical and technical level. The route is pitched to the rider's level, from dirt roads and wide tracks through to technical singletrack.