Argentina–Chile motorcycle road trip: keep an eye on the altimeter in the Andes

On this Argentina–Chile motorcycle road trip, the altimeter quickly becomes a travelling companion. Over 13 days and 2,400 kilometres, we take you from one Andean valley to the next, between Argentina and Chile, with Ismael leading the way on Royal Enfields.

1,152 m: Salta and the Quebrada de Humahuaca

The motorcycles set off from Salta. Very quickly, the Quebrada de Humahuaca sets the tone: bends flow between red, ochre and violet mountains. The day has barely begun and the smile is already there beneath the helmet.

2,780 m: Iruya, in the heart of the Andes

The track climbs, twists and clings to the mountainside until it reaches Iruya, a village set among the Andes. At dawn, condors ride the currents overhead. It is a spectacular way to get back on the road and feel that you are now riding at altitude.

Above 4,000 m: Ruta 40 and the Puna

On Ruta 40, you stand on the foot pegs and ride the long tracks of the Puna. The horizon seems endless. Ismael eventually cuts the engine beside a pink lagoon: this is where we stop for lunch.

4,200 m: Paso de Jama, gateway to Chile

Once across the cordillera, the wheels roll into Chile. The Atacama Desert then unfolds its lunar tracks between volcanoes, all the way to the El Tatio geysers rising in the morning light. Every kilometre confirms the travelling nature of this Andean crossing: the landscapes change, and so does the altitude.

4,972 m: Abra del Acay, the high point

Abra del Acay is the highest point of this section of Ruta 40. The motorcycle climbs hairpin after hairpin, the track narrows and the Andes fill your visor. Once at the top, we switch off the engines: this is a pass to savour as much as to ride.

This motorcycle journey between Argentina and Chile is a succession of altitude markers, from Salta to the high plateaus and on to the Atacama Desert. With Ismael, we invite you to take the handlebars, watch the altimeter and experience the Andes at the pace of the road.