The start line of the Bicycle Patagonia Tour is the picturesque city of San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina’s Río Negro province. Here’s how to get there:
By Air
Cheapest flights to Bariloche are from Buenos Aires and tickets typically cost $150–$200 USD. LATAM and Aerolíneas Argentinas both operate direct services to Bariloche from Buenos Aires. Flight duration: 2.5 hours.
We highly recommend using Google Flights to search for cheap flights to Bariloche.
By Bus
The bus ride from Buenos Aires to Bariloche takes ~23 hours and tickets typically cost ~$100 USD. El Valle & Via Bariloche are two of the primary operators servicing the route. More information on taking a bus from Buenos Aires to Bariloche can be found here.
By Train
During the summer, Tren Patagonico operates a train between Viedma and Bariloche. The train runs once (each way) weekly and takes ~22 hours. Tickets can be reserved online but must be purchased in-person. A ticket typically costs ~$150 USD. There is an extra charge for your bicycle (~$50). There is no requirement that your bicycle be boxed; however, packing your bike can provide some peace of mind during your train ride.
Full disclosure: the transmission on my bicycle was damaged during our Tren Patagonico journey to Bariloche. Fortunately, the guys at Bariloche’s Evo Sports came to the rescue 🙂
Traveling with your bicycle
Typically a bicycle will be accepted as an item of checked baggage. There are a number of good videos on YouTube demonstrating how to box a bike for air travel – here’s one of them. Make sure your bike is properly packed. If you’re flying, ensure that the box doesn’t exceed your airline’s weight limit.