Motorcycle Tour

KL Moto Adventure invites you to participate in an amazing motorcycle adventure in the legendary Atacama Desert, the driest on the planet. Discover why the Dakar, the world’s most prestigious rally, chose the Atacama for its races in 2009, 2010 and 2011. With 24 years of experience in adventure operations in South America, we’ve put together an awesome itinerary that will provide you with an unparalleled motorcycle experience. We’ll ride from Santiago, Chile’s cosmopolitan capital, through the historic port of Valparaiso, declared a patrimony of humanity by UNESCO, along the scenic Pacific coast, and into the spectacular Atacama Desert. With stunning ocean, desert, and high mountain scenery, our route offers continuous and dramatic natural contrasts. We’ll ride from sea level up to 5,800m in the Andean altiplano, from which point we’ll enjoy privileged views of the Ojos del Salado, at 6,893m (22,614 feet) the highest active volcano in the world.

Providing enormous challenges due to its unique geography and extreme weather, riding the Atacama successfully requires top-notch logistical support and the expertise of seasoned professional riders. KL’s vast experience in high mountain conditions complements my own forty year passion for motorcycle riding and the knowledge I’ve gained organizing international motorcycle events. Together we offer the skills needed for a magical—and safe—motorcycle experience.

KL’s environmental commitment leads us to adopt Eco Rider’s guidelines for respecting and preserving our natural heritage. We use dry mats for any necessary mechanical repairs, we have special cans for oil and fuel disposal, we use spark arresters for noise control, we carry out all our refuse, and we provide wet bags for human waste. We only ride on pre-impacted roads and trails. We do not cross-country virgin desert. We’ll trek into any outstanding scenic places not accessible by pre-existing roads and trails. 

Our inspiration comes from the Incas, the first humans known to have crossed this forbidding desert.  Their path—the famous ‘Camino del Inca’—reveals secrets on how to meet successfully the tests provided by this super challenge of nature, overcoming extreme temperatures, bone dry air, and elevation.

Join us for the ride of your life!

Sebastian Etcheverry

Director of KL Moto Adventure

AN EXTRAORDINARY 2,600 KILOMETER MOTORCYCLE ODYSSEY

Tour Description

This tour provides an exceptional opportunity to discover a unique and magical corner of the world, ride through dramatic landscapes of constant contrasts and astonishing beauty, and experience the excitement of participating as a spectator in the Dakar 2011 rally!

Our itinerary takes in the historic port of Valparaiso, the stunning Pacific coast, the majestic Andes Mountains, the immensity of the Atacama Desert and its vast salt lakes, picturesque San Pedro with its fascinating desert surroundings, including the impressive geysers of El Tatio, and Chuquicamata, the world’s biggest open-pit copper mine.

The desert is an unforgiving place and we provide the first-class organization and expertise that it demands—after all you’ll be cruising through landscapes 1,000m higher than Mont Blanc, the Alp’s highest peak! And then there are the stars…The clearest skies in the world provide a spectacle of the heavens that is awe-inspiring and unforgettable. Coast, mountain, desert—these are the extraordinary features of a thrilling and incomparable motorcycle tour.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1. Santiago. Arrival in Santiago where a KL representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Following a rest, we’ll meet in the afternoon to introduce the group and the technical and back-up teams, and to review material, motorcycles, and personal gear. In the evening we’ll all get to know each other a little better during a welcome dinner.

Accommodation - Hotel

Day 2.  Santiago - Valaparaiso. After breakfast, we’ll load our designated vehicles with the equipment and baggage. We set out for Valparaiso, a short but attractive journey through rolling countryside, past orchards and quaint towns. Arriving in Valparaiso we’ll settle into our Boutique Hotel, located in a beautifully restored heritage house. This historic port, known as the Perla del Pacifico (Pearl of the Pacific) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003. With its steep hills and labyrinth streets, antique funiculars, and spectacular harbour, Valparaiso is one of Latin America’s most distinctive cities. We’ll leave our bikes at the hotel and take a City Tour to visit the principal points of interest.  In the evening we’ll have dinner at an emblematic local restaurant. We’ll have a drink, relax, and have a briefing session in which we’ll be informed of our route, speeds, and necessary precautions.

Distance 120 km / Time 1.5 hours / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 3. Valparaiso - La Serena. After breakfast we’ll begin our journey, first crossing Viña del Mar, Valparaiso’s sister city. Known as the Ciudad Jardín (Garden City), Viña is famous for its attractive palm-lined boulevards and beautiful parks. We’ll continue north along spectacular coastline passing through the attractive resort towns of Quinteros, Maitencillo, Zapallar, Papudo, and Quinquimo. We’ll stop for lunch in Los Vilos, a seaside town midway between Santiago and La Serena. We continue north along the coast, arriving at our destination of La Serena, Chile’s second oldest city, renowned for its golden beaches and colonial architecture. We’ll settle into our hotel and as this is our last day of civilization for awhile, those feeling lucky can visit the Casino!

Distance 432km / Time 8 hrs / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 4. La Serena - Bahía Inglesa. As this is a long day we’ll make an early start. We head north along scenic coastline where we’ll break for lunch. We’ll ride on to Copiapó, a busy, business centre nestled in a narrow valley on the north bank of the Copiapó River. We arrive to the beautiful resort town of Bahía Inglesa (English Bay), whose name dates from early colonial times when English privateers dropped anchor here. With its white shell beaches and crystal-clear, turquoise waters, Bahía Inglesa is a favourite destination among Chilean holiday-makers. After settling in at our KL camping site, we’ll go out for dinner and have a briefing on the Dakar 2010.

Distance 370 km / Time 8 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 5. Dakar-Watching. We set out for the Camino de los Japoneses (Japanese Road) with the objective of watching the Dakar motorcycle, car, and truck cavalcade pass. We’ll have lunch on the site, soaking in all the excitement of this amazing event. We’ll return to Bahía Inglesa, a ride of approximately six hours. Dinner and overnight in Bahía Inglesa. 

Distance 120 km / Time 7 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 6. Bahía Inglesa - Laguna Santa Rosa. Today we travel to Copiapó, a busy regional centre, renowned as the site of the departure point of South America’s first railroad. (The line ran from Copiapó to Caldera and was completed in 1852.) We’ll continue on, gaining elevation to our destination at Laguna Santa Rosa, located in the stunning high-altitude Nevado Tres Cruces National Park. This park is famous for its spectacular wildlife, including three varieties of flamingoes, and herds of vicuña and guanaco. Its beautiful lagunas are home to a wide variety of waterfowl, including giant and horned coots and Andean geese and gulls. The striking Laguna Santa Rosa is located on the southern edge of the Maricunga salt lake, the most southern salar in Chile, and is ringed by imposing snowy mountains including the impressive Tres Cruces (6,753m). We’ll set up camp at 3,300m with the objective of gradually acclimatizing ourselves to the elevation gain. In the evening we’ll enjoy some activities around a bonfire. 

Distance 223 km / Time 6 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 7. Laguna Santa Rosa - Laguna Verde. We’ll travel to Laguna Verde at moderate speed, continuing to gain elevation. Located at an altitude of 4,325m, this spectacular lake of turquoise waters is set on a high plateau, around which stand the greatest concentration of the tallest peaks of the Andes. These include Incahuasi (6,615m) and the Ojos del Salado (6,893m), the world’s highest volcano. We’ll reach our camping site located at an elevation of 4000m. This afternoon we’ll take a short hike to enjoy the views and assist our acclimatization. Dinner and activities.

Distance 140 km / Time 3 hours / Accomodation - Camping

Day 8. Laguna Verde - Ojos del Salado - Laguna Verde. Due to extremely high elevation, this is our most challenging day, both for the group and for the motorcycles. Those members of the group which have made a successful acclimatization will ride up to the Atacama Refuge (5,100m) and to the Tejos Refuge (5,780m). Here we will have magnificent views of the majestic Ojos del Salado and the beautiful Laguna Verde. Return to camp for dinner and activities.

Distance  68 km / 3 Hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 9. Laguna Verde - Dakar-Watching - Pan de Azucar National Park. Today we’ll rendezvous with the Dakar 2010 cavalcade. We’ll ride to the San Francisco Pass border crossing where we’ll bid farewell to the rally’s motorcycles, cars, and trucks, watching them cross back into Argentina. Then in a dramatic change of landscape, we’ll descend into the desert and head north towards the Pan de Azucar National Park. This park is famous for its stunning coastline and rich and varied marine life, including Humboldt penguins, sea otters, sea lions, as well as a wide variety of marine birds which include pelicans and cormorants. Inland are a large number of cacti and succulent species, and guanacos and foxes are common sights. With luck we’ll reach our base camp in time to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Activities and dinner.

Distance 447 km / Time 6 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 10. Pan de Azucar National Park - Antofagasta. Today, we’ll travel north along the rugged coast, stopping for lunch in Cifuncho, a small fishing village. We’ll continue on to our destination, Antofagasta, Chile’s second largest city, and a hub of the country’s mining industry. Most of the minerals from the Atacama Desert are taken out through this port, including the ore from Chuquicamata, the world’s largest open-pit copper mine. Reaching our hotel we’ll check in.  Activities and dinner. 

Distance 399 km/ Time 7 Hours / Accommodation – Hotel

Day 11. Antofagasta - San Pedro de Atacama. From Antofagasta we’ll travel through La Negra, the industrial sector of this port-city, where towards the north we’ll see the plants which process the lithium and potassium mined from the Atacama. We’ll then head south-east, crossing the magnificent Atacama salar, Chile’s largest salt lake, dotted with pink flamingos and surrounded by lofty volcanoes. We’ll arrive in San Pedro de Atacama, at an altitude of 2,348m, originally an oasis for native peoples, and currently a booming tourist centre. We’ll settle into our hotel and have dinner. 

Distance 399 km / Time 7 hours 7 / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 12. El Tatio - Puritama Hotspring - Moon Valley. We’ll set out in the pre-dawn on an organized tour to the spectacular El Tatio geysers. Located at 4,300m, this is the world’s highest geyser field. The smoking geysers (caused by the evaporation of the boiling geothermal water in the cold air), and sunrise illuminating the surrounding mountaintops, recreates a scene from the dawn of time—an unforgettable experience. We’ll make a stop at the Puritama hotsprings to relax in the natural thermal water. We’ll end the day with a sunset trip to the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon). Standing on an enormous sand-dune, we’ll see the sun sink below the horizon and watch as the entire moon-like landscape—the distant volcanoes and the peaks of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Range)—is bathed in intense gold, orange, pink, and purple light. Spectacular! Dinner and activities. 

Day 13. San Pedro - Santiago. On this, our last motorcycle day, we’ll ride 100 km to Calama (2,250m), a rough-and-tumble mining city. We’ll ride on to the Chuquicamata Mine (popularly known as Chuqui), which has built Chile’s reputation as the world’s largest copper supplier. We’ll tour the mine and marvel at its gargantuan dimensions. We’ll ride to the airport where we’ll leave our bikes and catch the afternoon flight to Santiago. Transfer to hotel and group dinner.

Distance 100 km / Time 1 hour / Accomodation - Hotel

Day 14. Santiago. Free Day. In the evening we’ll have our farewell group dinner in which each participant will receive a momento of this unforgettable motorcycle odyssey! And the Atacama Moto Adventure Tour comes to an end!

Total distance travelled – 2,618 km

Tour Details

Duration	14 days
Difficulty	On / Off Road, good riding ability
Departures	KLMOTO-001 January 8th - January 21st, 2011
Moto Tour Fee	€ 10,000 per person
Hotel Single Supplement	€ 2,500
Reservation cost	€ 3,500
Balance due	90 days prior to departure
Space availabe	12 moto riders

  Services included

• Professional, bilingual Motorcycle Guide.
• Yamaha 660 XT 2010 Motorcycle.
• Ratio – Guides and Assistants to Clients:1 to 2.
• All local organization and supervision by KL Moto Adventure staff.
• Private transportation airport pick-up and drop-off.
• Flight from Calama to Santiago.
• Santiago Airport assistance.
• Two nights double occupancy in a five-star hotel with breakfast in Santiago.
• Six nights double occupancy in a hotel with half pension during the tour.
• All meals during the Moto Adventure expedition.
• Full base camp set up, including dining tent, chairs, and tables.
• High quality expedition gear: The North Face, Mountain Hardware, and Marmot tents, isolate sleeping mats, high-altitude camp stoves and fuel.
• Camel back and daily picnic.
• First aid kit, hyperbaric chamber, oxygen bottles, oximeter, including O2 at our high-altitude camps.
• A GPS and VHF 2 radio communication for every motorcycle.
• Satellite phone throughout with payment on a per minute basis.
• Technical Assistance Team providing mechanical back-up, tools, and spare parts.

Services not included

• All personal motorcycle equipment and gear.
• Any costs involved in an early or late departure.
• Meals in Santiago, except welcome and farewell dinner.
• All drinks (beer, wine, and alcoholic beverages) during the trip.
• Cancellation, accident, and rescue insurance.
• Cash for extra expenses.
• Gratuities.
• Any other service not included above.

Important

• All itineraries are subject to change due to changes in the weather, road conditions, and the guide’s criteria.
• Any departure dates can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 10 persons.
• The itinerary is subject to change depending on the final Dakar 2011 route, and will be confirmed in late October, 2010.

Day 1 : Arrival to Santiago Airport. With its modern facilities and efficient immigration and customs services, the Santiago Airport looks like any in the developed world. US citizens need to pay airport tax. (We recommend that you check beforehand with your travel agent and/or local Chilean Consulate to see if you require a visa.) After passing through Customs, please take the right hand exit and you will find a KL Moto Adventure representative waiting for you. Following a 25 minute ride, we’ll reach your hotel where you’ll check in and have time to rest. In the afternoon we’ll do a gear check. In the event that you are missing something, we’ll help you find it locally. We’ll then transfer you to the motorcycle park where we’ll do the personal set up adjustment, and introduce the technical and back-up teams. We’ll top off the day with a welcome dinner.

Accommodation - Hotel

Day 2 : The KL Moto Adventures team will pick up the group and their luggage at the hotel at 8.00 am. Please pack according to the instructions given in yesterday’s briefing. Your duffel bag will be stowed in one of the support vehicles, and will be available to you throughout the trip. We’ll transfer you to the motorcycle park and we’ll set out towards Valparaiso. Our trip takes us along a very good, modern highway, crossing the city of Santiago from east to west. It’s a two-hour drive, which includes one snack stop. We arrive in Valparaiso around midday and will have a light lunch. We’ll check into our hotel, and in the afternoon we’ll board a bus for our City Tour of Valparaiso. At 7:00 pm we’ll fill out a moto report, review the day and have a briefing. Dinner at 8:30 pm.

Distance 120 km / Time 1.5 hours / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 3 : Breakfast is at 6:45 am. We’ll start riding at 8:00 am, heading north along the Pacific coast, on a good, paved road. We travel through Viña del Mar, Concon, Ritoque, Maitencillo, Cachagua, and Zapallar. We’ll stop for lunch at Los Vilos, the midway point of today’s journey. After lunch we still need to cover 250 km to reach La Serena, where we’ll arrive around 5:00 pm. We’ll be in La Serena at the height of the summer holiday season so the city will be crowded. We’ll check into our hotel. Following a rest, we’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, and have a briefing on tomorrow. At 7:30 pm you’ll be picked up for dinner. La Serena offers multiple nightlife and entertainment opportunities, the most popular of which are the Casino, Discotheque, and the Barrio Inglés, the beautifully restored, 19th-century English Quarter. 

Distance 432km / Time 8 hrs / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 4 : Breakfast is at 6:45 am. We start riding at 8:00 am and travel north up Highway 5, the national highway, from La Serena to Bahia Inglesa. Today is an easy day, but a long one. We’ll cover close to 400 km. Temperatures are generally warm, with some morning fog along the coast, which usually clears by mid morning. Our first stop will be along the coast for lunch around 1:00 pm. We still need to ride two more hours to reach our destination. At Bahia Inglesa, we’ll settle into our tents at the camping ground. Following a rest, we’ll fill out the moto report, review the day and have a briefing on tomorrow, and then have dinner at Domo’s, a well-known local restaurant.

Distance 370 km / Time 8 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 5 : Breakfast is at 7:00 am. We start riding at 8:00 am and travel up Highway 5, the national highway. Today we’ll rendezvous with the Dakar during their second event in Chile. We drive south-east past Copiapo towards the “Camino Los Japoneses” (Japanese Road) and reach our lookout spot where we’ll enjoy all the drama and excitement of watching the Dakar cavalcade pass by. We’ll have a buffet and barbecue for our midday meal and then take in the Dakar from different angles, moving around to several lookout points. In the afternoon we’ll return to our base in Bahia Inglesa where we’ll fill out our moto report, review the day, have a briefing on tomorrow, and go out for dinner.

Distance 120 km / Time 7 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 6 :Breakfast is at 8:00. We start riding at 10:00 am on Highway 5, heading south-east towards Copiapó. We follow the Coiposa Mine road till we reach Laguna Santa Rosa, our base at 3.300m. To help us acclimatize, we’ll take a gentle hike along the lake. We’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, and have a briefing on tomorrow, followed by dinner. 

Distance 223 km / Time 6 hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 7 :Breakfast is at 8:00. We set out at 10:00 am towards Laguna Verde, our next base camp. This is a demanding day trip because our camp is located at an altitude of 4,350m. At the camp, we’ll enjoy bathing in the natural hot springs. In order to continue our acclimatization, we’ll take a short hike along this spectacular emerald-coloured lake. We must drink of plenty water to help with the acclimatization process. We’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, have a briefing on tomorrow and finally, firm up plans for tomorrow’s challenging moto ascent to Atacama Refuge (5,100m) and Tejos Refuge (5,780m). Dinner and rest.

Distance 140 km / Time 3 hours / Accomodation - Camping

Day 8 :Breakfast is at 8:00 am. We set out towards the Atacama Refuge. The route takes us through sandy terrain. We’ll continue to gain altitude till we reach the Ojos del Salado abc (advance base camp), at an altitude of 5,100m. This will take approximately 1.15 hours.  We need to ride slowly as the bikes will be lacking in power because of low oxygen. For those capable of going higher, we’ll continue to the Tejos Refuge (5,700m). The road is normally in fair condition, but we must ride with extreme care. The entire round trip will take approximately four hours. When we get back to our base camp at Laguna Verde, a barbecue will await us for dinner. Afterwards, we’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, and have a briefing on tomorrow.

Distance  68 km / 3 Hours / Accommodation - Camping

Day 9 :Breakfast is at 7:00 am. We drive west to Laguna Verde with the objective of watching the Dakar caravan as it passes through the San Francisco Pass border crossing, a distance of 107 km. We’ll have time to enjoy the spectacular sight of the full cavalcade of vehicles crossing back into Argentina. Later, we descend into the desert, traveling 224 km to Chañaral, where we’ll reach Highway 5, turning north for 33 km and then north-west a further 54 km to reach Pan de Azucar National Park. Before dinner we’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, and brief tomorrow. 

Distance 447 km / Time 6 hours / Accommodation - Camping
 
Day 10 :Breakfast is at 8:00 am, we drive 120 km to reach Cifuncho, a small fishing village where we’ll have lunch. We’ll then take Highway 5, stopping at a gas station at Aguas Verdes. This is a typical desert highway, with very long, straight roads. We should reach Antofagasta by 7 pm. Before dinner we’ll fill out the moto report, review the day, and brief tomorrow. 

Distance 399 km/ Time 7 Hours / Accommodation – Hotel

Day 11 :Breakfast is at 6:45 am. We start riding north-east to Baquedano, an old sulphur-mining town,  where we take the road towards El Litio. This road is not paved but it is very wide and surfaced with hardened salt. We will cross the Atacama salar through the Los Flamencos National Reserve towards Toconao, a traditional Andean village built of volcanic stone and famous for its 18th century church with a separate bell-tower.  We’ll travel on to our destination, San Pedro de Atacama on a good, paved road. Before dinner we’ll fill out our moto report, review our day, and brief tomorrow.  Overnight at our hotel.

Distance 399 km / Time 7 hours 7 / Accommodation - Hotel

Day 12 :Today we will be picked up in the very early morning and transferred to the El Tatio Geysers (4,300m), arriving in time to see the sunrise. On our return, we’ll stop at Puritama Hotspings for lunch and a relaxing bath in the thermal waters. We’ll reach the Valley of the Moon in time for sunset.  Returning to town, we’ll fill in our moto report, review the day, and brief tomorrow. We’ll go out for a great meal and return to our hotel to rest.

Day 13 : We have breakfast at 8:30 am and then ride to Calama (2,250m), a distance of 100 km, crossing the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Range), along a paved road with spectacular altiplanic scenery. A short, 16 km ride north-east from Calama we’ll reach the Chuquicamata Mine, where we’ll be taken on a special guided tour. We then ride to the Calama Airport where we’ll drop off our bikes. We return to Santiago on the afternoon flight. At Santiago Airport a KL Moto Adventure representative will meet us and transfer us to our hotel. Following a rest we’ll have a group dinner.

Distance 100 km / Time 1 hour / Accomodation - Hotel

Day 14 :Today is a free day for shopping, relaxing, and seeing the sights. We’ll meet in the evening for our farewell group dinner, to reminisce, swap memories, and exchange pictures. And the Atacama Moto Adventure Tour comes to an end!

Total distance travelled – 2,618 km.