The Patagonia experience according to our guide

Our First Guide will talk about his experience in Patagonia.

Gionata Nencini has been working in the field of Motorbike Tourism since 2009 and plays the role of Tour Coordinator and First Guide for the Moto Tours in South America, Europe, Australia and South East Asia. He is known for having left Italy with a Honda Transalp in 1987 aged 21 and having toured the entire world. He has accomplished this extraordinary achievement in 8 years, and crossed 270000 Km, 43 countries and 4 continents.

[quote align=”left” color=”#999999″]I have travelled the world, visited thousands of fascinating and unforgettable places, but Patagonia… has something that, even if I have to go there at least 10 times a year for work, still fascinates me.[/quote]

The Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Tour is an adventure for any bike traveller: when you cross it you feel an amazing sensation because you are making a dream come true: finally you are in one of the most renowned places ever. However, the route is not easy, it is full of obstacles: the weather is unpredictable, the winds are strong, you may find yourself in remote places in the middle of nowhere, sometimes it is cold, sometimes you are tired. Obviously Patagonia is full of unforgettable moments and incredible feelings. Seeing wonderful places, meeting new people, always friendly, having a very good meal, tasting some coffee in the steppe or having lunch in front of the Eighth Wonder of the World, is priceless.

If I had to describe Patagonia in a few words, I would say it is unpredictable and provocative. It is a challenge. It beacons at you with its intense and daily changing landscapes. Dirty roads, gravel, stones, glaciers, waterfalls, thriving greenery and beyond the Andes the Argentina steppe: arid and neverending. You can keep on looking forever but all you will see is dirty road, guanacos, nandùs and foxes…

Driving a motorbike in Patagonia is not just about taking your motorbike and blasting it. It is a complete experience. Honestly, I think it is challenging, not easy. Patagonia is not like any itinerary and this is why people like it. It requires a lot of attention, concentration. The dirt road is very dusty and the guanacos often cross the road when you don’t expect it. The wind is also another factor to take into consideration. In some narrow segments unexpected vehicles may get through. For all these reasons riding a motorbike in Patagonia is something to be taken seriously.

We had groups of expert bikers on one side, and complete beginners on the other. In both cases, everyone agrees on the fact that the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Tour is a good final exam to take. Once the driving test is over in Patagonia, the bike drivers will be able to face any dirt road in the world. Perhaps this is due to the fact we ride through water puddles for kms or because of the strong winds in the Andean passages, with its winding and bendy roads. These are all new things a bike traveller chooses to face and experience in the first place by crossing some of the most beautiful roads and areas.

For instance, the well-known lunar dirt roads look exactly as they are in the photos, full of obstacles and featuring unpredictable natural features, plus they are in the middle of nowhere. In these desolated steppe areas there is nothing else than ground and drought for days. This sensation is intensified by the strong winds, which challenges you when riding over 90 km/h.

The interesting part of the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego is being able to combine two of the most beautiful landscapes to ride: Chile and Argentina, and obviously the roads we cross are almost exclusively the well known Ruta 40 and Carretera Austral.

We could say the suggested itinerary is a real zigzag through Chile and Argentina, where each bike traveller gets to taste the best food, the best wines, the best raods, and the best hotels of both countries. In some places we organize rides in the Argentinan steppe together with a real Gaucho, who will prepare Veal on the stick the night before.

What can we say about the first time a biker reached the End of the World by motorbike? It is very rewarding to travel for 14 days and reach your destination. This moment gives a great feeling of conquest, of success, of satisfaction, because the 3980 kms we went through weren’t easy. Eventually you realize everyone had to believe it and drive to reach that place on a motorbike.