(Above, a clip from Tierra del Fuego during some route research, where it's difficult to even stand still in such wind.)
"How windy is it in Patagonia?" - "What's it like riding a motorcycle in Tierra del Fuego?" - "Can I handle the riding terrain?"
We're getting these questions almost every day now, and that's exactly why RIDE Adventures exists: To consult with you about your ideal motorcycle riding vacation AND make your reservations for you!
Some riders can handle the wind in Patagonia, and others cannot. The best thing you can do to determine this ahead of time is to CONTACT US and start a discussion about whether or not Patagonia is right for you.
"How windy is it in Patagonia?" On certain sections of your journey through the Andes Mountains in southern Chile and Argentina, the Argentine side can be extremely windy. By about 9:30 a.m., the sun has heated the surface of the "pampas" of Argentina, and cold Andean winds come rushing down the eastern side and across Ruta 40 in an incredible hurry. It's not uncommon for a steady 50+ mph west wind to then continue through to the early evening, and because these portions of the trip are so wide open, just taking off your helmet or gloves for a rest break might mean you'll never see them again. (They could get ripped away by the winds, with few fences or anything to stop them for blowing across the country.)
Again, it's best to consult with us about whether or not such riding conditions are something you can handle. Generally speaking, riders with a solid history of off-pavement riding will make it through the Patagonia wind safely if they keep a moderate speed. Then again, that's an overlooked truth about all motorcycle riding: If you just swallow your pride and slow down a bit, you can make it through just about anything!
Slowing down might not be an option for Dakar Rally riders, but are you getting paid to ride so fast?
Eric Lange on September 26, 2012
Since riding his KTM 950 Adventure down to South America in 2008 and launching RIDE Adventures in 2010, Eric now resides in Oregon for most of each year. Riding is still a regular part of his work though, in that guiding tours is a passion he'll always have, and researching new routes and regions allows RIDE Adventures to continue growing and providing reliable travel services to adventure minded riders and travelers from around the world.
