The best tour for an adventure rider becomes the tour of a lifetime! Will you miss it?

We are proud to present our “IN THE QUEST FOR THE 2012 GS TROPHY TRAILS TOUR”.

With all our background, for we were born in Patagonia and all the input of our most demanding customers we got together again all the scouting and the experience the organizing team led by Tomm Wolf put on play when they designed the 2012 version of the already mythical GS Trophy taking place in Chile and Argentina. 

The media release welcomed all with this amazing description: “The BMW Motorrad GS Trophy is honored to be traveling through the fantastic landscapes and welcoming Chilean and Argentinian communities in Patagonia. World famous for its staggering, mountainous beauty, this is a region that is both peaceful and by turns earth-shatteringly violent. The violence is neither political or religious, in fact not at all man-made, it is from the earth. That which has created such serene and often majestic beauty does from time to time deign to rearrange it – for Patagonia sits adjacent to the Nazca tectonic plate and so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have done much to sculpt this landscape. Even as recently as 2011 significant eruptions have forced change on these lands. Such regions also create some of the world’s most fascinating fauna and flora and so the GS Trophy riders will be experiencing some once in a lifetime acquaintance during their adventure. This is a region that boasts vast tracts of Araucaria trees – also known as the monkey puzzle tree given their unique branch and leaf formations. In the skies the riders might see the occasional Andean condor, while on the slopes of the Andes they will see guanaco, vicuña and their domesticated relatives the llama and alpacas – treasured for their luxuriant fleeces.” 

Trying to find the 2012 GS Trophy trails in Patagonia, we will indeed ride one of the top 10 international destinations for every adventure rider. With the Andes Mountain Range as its axis and more than one million sq km (400.000 sq miles) to ride through different types of climates and all levels of terrain difficulty you can imagine.

 R40Moto: We have more than 15 years of experience as BMW Motorrad Travel Partner. Our BMW ITA Certified Tour Guides and Instructors, and highly motivated and trained team will deliver a unique and exciting —though safe— motorcycle tour.

We are passionate about traveling on a motorcycle, which is why we are continuously looking for the best route alternatives, the most exclusive and luxurious accommodations, and the tastiest and most original local cuisine spots to amaze and thrill even the most experienced riders on the planet.

Ruta 40 Moto Touring S.A. is an Argentine rental, travel and training company founded in 2017 but continuing the legacy of Rentamoto, which was founded in 2008.

The offices are located in the City of Mendoza. 

Sud America Moto Touring SpA. is a Chilean motorcycle rental and travel company founded in 2018, owned by the same partners of R40 Moto.

The offices are located in Providencia, Santiago de Chile.

Team

Crhistian Austin: ITA Tourguide // R40Moto Owner

His favorite motorcycle is the BMW R1250GS Adv HP. Born in Patagonia, he studied Political Science. He was a rugby player, climber and amateur skier in the Patagonian Andes. He always tried to be in contact with nature. The dream of traveling by motorcycle and offering first class international active tourism services drove him to start R40Moto.

Sergio Cialone: Enduro Instructor // R40Moto Owner. 

One of the drivers and mechanics in the support vehicle. He has been a BMW Motorrad Instructor for the BMW Dealership in Mendoza for several years. As a former enduro rider, he rides a KTM 690 Rally Dakar Replica. Born in Mendoza, he is an expert in both Malbec wines and classic vehicles, being a collector of vintage cars and motorcycles. He loves his BMW R60/2 and his IIWW Willys Jeeps. 

Jaime Saiz: IIA Instructor // GS Trophy Marshal

His first GS Trophy was in 2010 as a member of the Spain Team. He became an Instructor to be Marshal at the following GS Trophy editions. Since 2018 he has supported Enduropark Andalusia with his Spanish temper.

We get to Temuco flying from Santiago Airport. A 30-minute commute from the local Airport will get us to the accommodation site, a superb Patagonian style Lodge. We'll have enough time to prepare our motorcycles and set up all the luggage according to the tour. 

A welcome dinner and the general briefing for the tour leave us at the end of the day. 

This is the first riding day. We'll cross the border to Argentina at the Icalma Pass, were the centenary Araucaria trees coronate the astonishing landscapes. 

The gravel part is 56 miles long. 

 Second riding day. Almost 100% of gravel roads over the Route 23 in the Neuquen Province of Argentina. Some "detours" are just prepared to spice up the tour that rides in the steppic part of the Andes range. The accommodation will be in an Anglers & Fly-Fishers Luxury Lodge, by the Malleo River which seems to descend directly from the Lanin Volcano. 

Riding day 3. More steppe but some forests and Andean lakes. More surprises to come and a glimpse of San Carlos de Bariloche, the main city in this sector. 

Again, the lodging will be near the Patagonia waters, the place used to be a cattle ranch, nowadays 100% focused on high end tourism and experiences. The 83 miles of gravel roads will deserve all the concentration we can get. 

This fifth day will cross us again to Chile trough the Hua-Hum pass or the Carirriñe Pass if its open. Deep into the Chilean rainforest we'll spend the night in the amazing Huilo-Huilo reserve where one of the most interesting hotels in the world is located. The Nothofagus Hotel, constructed around, above and into the giant trees. 

Almost 100 miles of gravel will remember us why we are doing this special tour!

This apparently short day will give us the opportunity to "get lost" into small dirt trails   to reach waterfalls, lakes and thermal spots, all the way to Pucón, one of the most important touristic cities in the Chilean side, at the foot of the Villarica Volcano which is active, and we can come close to the top with our bikes!

Last riding day. We'll ride saying goodbye to this part of the Patagonia. More forests, lakes, waterfalls, volcanos and small and exquisite towns while we get to the exact place we started on. 

Ohh!!, yes, there is some gravel too! just 31 miles as farewell!

Departure day. The satisfaction of riding the same places those GS Trophy participants rode on 2012 comes along and our memories and pictures starts to settle and get shared!!

We are grateful of not have missed this technical and amazing tour!