In September of 2016 RawHyde undertook the most ambitious adventure in our company’s history. An
epic ride that traveled the vertical length of South America from Colombia to the southernmost
tip of the continent! We named the trip “Expedition 65” because we traveled through 65 degrees
of latitude on the journey. In the process we filmed a 4 part movie chronicling the adventure,
we traveled nearly 11,000 miles in a 70 day period and collectively shared an amazing
experience. Now we’d like to share this fabulous journey with you!
Join us in December and follow in our “tracks” as we retrace the most “adventurous” part of the
Expedition 65 journey! The itinerary is below, and represents the bucket list of “must do’s” in
South America, from the Atacama Desert, to the top of the Andes, Machu Pichu to the Solar de
Uyuni and the infamour Ruta 40 of Argentina. If you can join us on this trip you’ll also receive
a complementary copy of both the movie and our full color coffee table book!
Of all the things that RawHyde has done in the last 15 years this was by far the most
interesting, challenging and fun adventures – We hope you can join us for the Expedition 65
experience!
RawHyde’s E-65 Experience is a 2400 mile ride through some of the most incredible and unique
terrains that we discovered on our journey. The Peruvian, Bolivian and Argentine section of the
Andes mountains form the centerpiece of this adventure and offer some of the most amazing riding
in
the world.
We have an awesome itinerary to share with you from the UNESCO world heritage city of Cusco, Peru
to
the floating villages of the Ururu people on Lake Titicaca and the incredible Paso Abra del Acay
situated at 16,3000 in the Argentine Andes.. Along the way you’ll ride the famous “Altiplano”
and
cross the mind bending Salt Flats of Uyunia, Bolivia…. And you’ll have a chance to conquer the
infamous “Death Road” of Bolvia . All this on one incredible trip that hits most of the
highlights
that South America has to offer!
Itinerary
Day 1
After a flight from the USA you’ll arrive in Arica , Chile and take a taxi to our hotel. Arica is
a small town so it’s a short trip to the hotel where you’ll meet your fellow riders and take
delivery of your motorcycle which will have been delivered from Santiago that morning
Day 2 - Arica to Arequipa
Today we’ll cross the Chilean border near Arica and move into Peru. Our destination tonite is
Arequipa, Peru! Our plan will be to ride some of the tracks and routes from the Dakar Rally as
we move north. Arequipa, otherwise known as the “white city” is a Spanish colonial city
established in 1540. Its called the White City because most of the old town is built of the
local “white” volcanic stone. Arequipa is nestled at the base of three volcanoes which were the
source of all the stone used to build the town.”
Day 3 - Arequipa to Cusco
Today our destination is Cusco,Peru which is both a Spanish colonial city, and a World Heritage
venue. Today we’ll see how you do with “altitude” as we’ll make our first high crossing in the
Andes. We’ll crest 15,500 feet as we head into Cusco. Cusco is an amazing city full of history
and the ancient culture of the Incas. Distance to Cusco - 480 km
Day 4 - relax day in Cusco
Cusco is a world heritage site with a great mix of Inca history, architecture and culture woven
into the fabric of daily life.. Walk along alleyways of amazing stonework from the year 1100 –
shop for hand made gifts in a myriad of boutiques … or have a pizza on the square.
Day 5 - Cusco to Machu Pichu and return
Today is a early day as we have to catch the train to Machu Pichu early. It’s a long day, but
Machu Pichu is ranked in the top three places in the world to visit and it’s a “must see”. Known
as the “lost city” of the Incas’s and built in the 1450’s and abandoned one hundred years later
Machu Pichu is awe-inspiring.
Day 6 - Cusco to Puno
we’ll head south today with the goal of getting to Puno on the shores of Lake Titcaca. L. T. is
the highest navigable body of water in the world with steamships plying her waters that were
shipped in pieces from around the world only to be assembled on the shores of the lake. Length
of day - 250 miles
Day 7 - Puno to Copacabana
in the morning we’ll take a brief sightseeing jaunt by boat to see the Uros people of the
floating islands. Its really pretty extraordinary to see homes build on bundles of reeds
floating in the middle of a lake, but that’s exactly how it is. The Uros people moved onto the
lake as the Inca empire expanded 550 years ago and have learned how to adapt to life on the
water. It’s a totally cool experience to see how they live today with a mix of old culture and
new technologies like solar lighting.
After we visit the Uros, we’ll head for Bolivia and our home for the night in Copacabana. We’ll
only be riding for about 90 miles, but the border crossing will take some time so you’ll need
your patience this afternoon.
Day 8 - Puno to La Paz
You’ll start your day today with a lovely ride with constant views of Lake Titicaca, and
eventually we come to the most bizarre ferry boats you’ll ever see. nothing but old hunks of
lumber strapped together and powered by 60 horse outboard motors these rickety barges carry
buses, trucks and of course our motorcycles across a narrow isthmus of turbulent waters. Its
actually a wonderful cross between ingenuity and necessity and makes a great photo. After the
ferry we have a relatively short run into the capital city of La Paz, Bolivia.
Day 9 - La Paz, Bolivia
you’ve read about it for years… You’ve seen it on TV… and today you get to ride Bolivia’s
infamous “Camino de la Muerte” or Highway of death. This road truly has the potential to live up
to its name, although its mostly a one way road now, and there are no trucks or buses anymore.
Precipitous cliffs and the chance to ride through actual waterfalls make this day one you’ll
remember for the rest of your life. Its truly an epic ride
Day 10 - La Paz to Uyuni
The photo for the cover of our new book about Expedition 65 was taken on the Uyuni Salt Flats…
one of the most remarkable places on earth and we’re going to have a great opportunity to
explore and ride this amazing place. We’ll leave La Paz early and head for the west side of the
solar de Uyuni with the goal of reaching an amazing hostal at the edge of the salt.. Hostal Dona
Lupe is a small “hostal” of which the buildings are made of salt. Dona Lupe is a funky family
owned place in the absolute middle of no where – but it’s super cool at the same time.
Day 11 - Uyuni to La quiaca, Argentina
Today when we leave Dona Lupe’s we’ll have a 70 mile ride across the salt to the town of Uyuni.
Its surreal to ride for over an hour in a straight line with nothing in view except the vastness
of the salt flat. Slowly the hills near Uyuni will begin to appear on the horizon and eventually
we’ll hit the pavement near the edge of town and head to a car wash to get the salt off of our
bikes. After Uyuni we’ll have a run to the Argentina where the village of La Quiaca actually
straddles the border between Bolivia and Argentina. Length of day – 450 K.
Day 12 - La Quiaca to Cafayate
As we leave the border this morning we’ll be heading down into a wonderful area of Argentina on
what is known as the “mother road” or Ruta 40. Much like route 66 in the US is known as the
mother road ruta 40 was the first highway that went North/South in Argentina. Much of it is
still unpaved as it was when it was first constructed but it goes through an up and coming wine
region … so the section we’ll ride today is now known as the “Ruta del vino” and our home for
the night will be a lovely winery … and yes we’ll have the chance to sample some of our host’s
delicious wine as we’ll have dinner among the vineyards this evening. Length of day 500km
Day 13 - Cafayate to San Antonio de los Cobres
From Cafayate we head north on Ruta 40 over the infamous Paso Abra el Acay – which at an altitude
of 16,250 feet makes it the highest point on our entire trip. At this altitude you have to rest
for a moment from the effort of simply “getting on your bike”. (not quite☺ ) but from 16,ooo
feet the view is amazing and you truly feel as though you’re on top of the world.
Todays ride is not too long and we’ll arrive at the dusty and gritty mining town of San Antonio
de los Cobres. Length of day - 296km
Day 14 - San Antonio to San Pedro
Our last day on the road takes us once again on Ruta 40 toward Chile and the awesome Paso de
Jama. We’ll have about a 3 hour ride in the dirt and we’ll hit the pavement just below the
Chilean border and we’ll enter Chile at the top of the Andes around 13,400 feet elevation.
The run “down” the Andes to the resort village of San Pedro de Atacama is nothing short of
glorius. An 8000 foot elevation drop makes it seem as though you’re in free fall – and the town
of San Pedro is one of the coolest places we visit on the trip and a perfect “ending point’ for
our amazing adventure.
Day 15 - San Pedro
Today you have choices… You can take a flight back to Santiago and head for home or perhaps
you’ll decide to stay in San pedro for a few days and soak up the Chilean sun and relax. The
choice is yours!
