Expedition Atacama by motorcycle 2027
Expedition Atacama: guided motorcycle expedition, Mar 20 to Apr 2, 2027, departing from Florianópolis on your own big trail motorcycle, organised by the Adventure Dream agency.
14 days departing from Florianópolis, crossing Argentina and Chile on your big trail, with a support vehicle and hotels already booked
- Dates: Mar 20 to Apr 2, 2027 (14 days)
- Departure: Florianópolis, arrival: Florianópolis
- Distance: 7,134 km, 594 km per day on average
- Countries: Brasil, Argentina, Chile
- Group: up to 10 motorcycles
- Status: Sold out
Get ready for one of the most intense and transformative journeys on two wheels in South America. Expedition Atacama is an epic crossing that connects Brazil to the heart of the Andes, crossing Argentina and Chile until reaching the most arid desert on the planet: the legendary Atacama Desert. The trip covers approximately 7,200 kilometers across Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The route departs from the coast of Santa Catarina, crosses the border at São Borja, traverses the coast of the Argentine Paraná and climbs the northwest to Salta. From there comes the first great climb: Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cuesta de Lipán and Paso de Jama, at 4,275 meters, up to San Pedro de Atacama. There are three nights spent in the desert, with two full days without adding km to the clock. Afterwards, the expedition descends to sea level in Antofagasta, stops at the Hand of the Desert along Ruta 5, follows the coast to Copiapó and returns to Argentina via Paso San Francisco, at 4,726 meters, one of the highest roads in the world. The return path passes through La Rioja, Córdoba and Santa Fé until closing the circle in São Borja. Fourteen days. Three countries. Four border crossings. A closed route, support vehicle and people who have traveled this path before.
Day by day itinerary
- Day 1: Florianópolis to Santo Angelo (718 km)
- Day 2: Santo Angelo to Resistencia (576 km)
- Day 3: Resistencia to Santiago del Estero (611 km)
- Day 4: Santiago del Estero to Salta (531 km)
- Day 5: Salta to San Pedro de Atacama (595 km)
- Day 6: San Pedro de Atacama to San Pedro de Atacama. Tour day
- Day 7: San Pedro de Atacama to San Pedro de Atacama. Tour day (optional)
- Day 8: San Pedro de Atacama to Antofagasta (312 km)
- Day 9: Antofagasta to Copiapó (610 km)
- Day 10: Copiapó to Aimogasta (641 km)
- Day 11: Aimogasta to Villa Carlos Paz (531 km)
- Day 12: Villa Carlos Paz to Santa Fé (476 km)
- Day 13: Santa Fé to São Borja (641 km). Tour day
- Day 14: São Borja to Florianópolis (892 km)
What is included
- Hotel Stays
- Breakfast
- Specialized Guide
- Support vehicle and Marcelo with the group from start to finish
- Official Kit
Not included
- Fuel
- Meals
- Personal Expenses
- Insurance
- Optional tours
Prices per package (in Brazilian reais)
| Package | 1st batch | 2nd batch | 3rd batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo rider · Own bike · Shared room | R$11,900 | R$13,500 (current batch) | R$14,900 |
| Solo rider · Own bike · Individual room | R$12,900 | R$14,600 (current batch) | R$16,200 |
| Rider + Pillion · Own bike · Couple room | R$14,800 | R$16,700 (current batch) | R$18,500 |
Batch validity: 1st lot until 10/31/2026 or the first 6 bikes · 2nd lot until 11/20/2026 or until the 8th bike · 3rd lot until 10 bikes are filled or until the date of the trip. The price increases with each lot and never goes down.
Payment: 10% deposit upon registration. Balance in interest-free installments until the date of the trip via PIX, bank slip or card. The balance can also be split in up to 12 installments on a credit card, with operator fees (consult the team). 5% discount for full payment via PIX. You have 7 days after signing the contract to cancel and receive everything back.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to go?
Yes. It is 14 days, 12 of them on the road, with an average of nearly 594 km per day and the Andes crossing above 4,000 meters. This is not the trip for your first long-distance experience. You do not need to have ridden outside Brazil before: the group crosses borders together and no one is left behind.
What is included?
Thirteen hotel nights with breakfast, the support vehicle with the group from start to finish, Marcelo guiding the expedition at all stages and the official kit. Fuel, meals, insurance, optional tours in San Pedro and personal expenses are not included.
Can I bring a pillion?
Yes. The couple price is per motorcycle and covers two people in the same room. The price for each lot is in the table on this page. There are three nights in San Pedro de Atacama, with two days off the bike to rest and explore the region. The support vehicle carries one small bag per motorcycle for the heaviest luggage, which greatly relieves the couple's bike.
What motorcycle do I need to have?
A big trail. It is a long journey, crossing the Andes, and the bike needs to handle the road, altitude and load. Those who live far away or do not want to ride to Florianópolis can rent a BMW with pickup there, subject to availability. Rental models and prices are on this page.
How many km do we ride per day?
It is 14 days, 12 on the road and 2 free in San Pedro de Atacama, averaging about 594 km per day. The first and last days are highway displacements, so they are the longest. In the middle of the trip, the stages are shorter with more scenery.
Is there any dirt road?
Very little. There is a small stretch of about 20 km of gravel (ripio). The rest of the route is asphalt.
How is the altitude?
The route crosses the Andes via Paso de Jama on the way there and via Paso San Francisco on the way back, with long stretches above 4,000 meters. The ascent is done in stages and the group sleeps three nights in San Pedro. It helps to drink plenty of water, eat light and avoid alcohol during the first days at altitude. The bike also loses some power up there.
Where do we sleep?
Santo Ângelo, Resistencia, Santiago del Estero, Salta, San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights), Antofagasta, Copiapó, Aimogasta, Villa Carlos Paz, Santa Fé and São Borja, in hotels with breakfast. Marcelo will confirm the hotel names directly with you.
Do I need insurance and Carta Verde?
Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory and is the responsibility of each participant: check if the policy covers motorcycle accidents with medical evacuation, as many common insurances exclude motorcycles. Carta Verde, the mandatory vehicle insurance for Mercosul, is also not included for Atacama, each participant must arrange their own.
What documents do I need to bring?
Category A driver's license, physical ID card issued less than 10 years ago or passport, printed motorcycle documents, Carta Verde and, if the bike is financed or belongs to someone else, a notarized authorization. Bring everything printed.
I am going alone. Who do I share a room with?
You choose between a shared room with another solo rider or an individual room, and the price for each is in the table on this page. If you choose the shared room and no roommate appears, Adventure Dream pays the difference for the individual room.
How does payment work?
10% deposit upon signing the contract. The balance can be paid in interest-free installments until the trip date via PIX, bank slip or card. If you prefer to split it on your credit card, it can be done in up to 12 installments, with operator fees, just talk to the team. Paying in full via PIX gives a 5% discount.
What if the bike breaks down?
The support vehicle and Marcelo are with the group at all times. The car carries basic items for quick repairs, including tire repair. You should bring tools specific to your bike. We resolve any unforeseen events together.
What if I need to cancel?
In the first 7 days after signing, you can withdraw and receive everything back, without penalty. This is the right of withdrawal under the Consumer Defense Code and applies because the contract is made remotely. After 7 days, the contract table applies: up to 90 days before the trip you receive 70% of what you already paid, from 89 to 60 days 50%, from 59 to 30 days 30%, and less than 30 days there is no refund. If you prefer credit for another expedition instead of cash, the percentage is better: 85% up to 90 days, 70% from 89 to 60 days and 50% from 59 to 30 days, valid for 24 months. Less than 30 days before departure, there is no refund or credit, as hotels, bikes and reservations are already paid. You can also transfer your spot to another person up to 30 days before departure, paying only the lot difference, if any, provided they meet the licensing and experience requirements. The full table comes in the contract, before any payment. It is worth taking out trip cancellation insurance: it covers what the contract does not refund in case of illness, accident or other reasons provided for in the policy.
What is there to do in San Pedro?
There are two free days. Tours in the region are by van, booked separately, and those who prefer can just rest.
When do you confirm the trip will happen?
Departure is confirmed in writing by 12/15/2026, when we reach the minimum of 6 bikes. If the group is not filled by then, you choose between receiving 100% of what you paid back, with no deductions, or applying the full amount to another Adventure Dream expedition. Therefore, do not incur travel costs to Florianópolis, extra accommodation or tickets before confirmation.
How is the weather?
The route crosses very different climates in two weeks. In northern Argentina the heat is strong during the day. In San Pedro and at high altitude passes, the day can be hot and the night can drop near zero, with wind. Bring equipment that allows you to add and remove layers, and use plenty of sun protection: above 4,000 meters the sun is harsh even in the cold.
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