Where to Mountain Bike in Chile – 3 Fantastic Guided Rides!

Chile wasn’t a country I had given much thought to before visiting. To be fair, I didn’t know much about it beyond its famously long and skinny shape and the fact that it shares Patagonia with Argentina. But after actually experiencing Chile, all I can say is WOW—it has quickly become my favorite country so far (and I’ve visited over 40, so that’s saying something!).

The beauty and geographic diversity of Chile are amazing. From snow-capped mountains and rugged coastlines to serene lakes, raging rivers, volcanoes, and lush forests, it feels like an undiscovered world. Add to that how clean and efficient everything is—a rare find in Latin America—and it’s hard not to fall in love. And let me tell you, the mountain biking? PHENOMENAL. Some of the best I’ve ever done, hands down.

I spent over a month traveling through Chile as part of the staff on the TDA South American Epic, and while there were countless highlights, my favorite memories were the three incredible days I spent mountain biking. Each guided ride was unique, challenging, and so much fun—I’d do them again in a heartbeat. In fact, I’ve even started dreaming about shipping my van down to Chile for an extended mountain biking road trip…

If you’re planning a trip to Chile—or just looking for your next adventure—here are the three amazing guided day rides I did, along with tips for turning Chile into your ultimate mountain biking destination.

Santiago with BikeTur Chile

My first experience mountain biking in Chile was in Santiago with Jean Claude and Pierre from BikeTur Chile. A word about Santiago first, though. I’m not a city person, but I really loved exploring Chile’s capital. It’s quirky, home to some great restaurants, and just has an overall cool vibe. It felt like Europe in South America. I wish I’d had a few more days to wander the streets and look around. We stayed near the Bella Vista and Patronato neighborhoods, which were really fun and hopping.

But about the mountain biking. Santiago has some great riding. I didn’t really know what to expect when we signed up for the Andes Secret Spot tour with BikeTur Chile, but I was REALLY impressed with the trail systems around the city. We only covered a small bit of it during our 6-hour tour, but it was way more established and polished than I thought it would be.

The ‘highlight’ of the Santiago mountain bike scene is El Durazno Bike Park as well as the trails that extend off of that network. The park was started by a local and is supported by big brands like Colombia, RHS, and other outdoor retailers. It’s pedal-accessed (e-bikes allowed) and has a dozen or so purpose-built flow trails. We did a little riding here, but spent most of our time pedaling past the park and up into the hills to a fantastic mountaintop lookout. It was a tough climb, but so worth it for the views. And the descent back down was mint!

We only had one day to ride in Santiago and we spent it in and around El Durazno, but there are lots of other trails and networks around the city. Be sure to check out Parque Chamisero Outlife and Las Varas. There’s also La Parva bike park if you want a lift-access day. It looks fun-ish but I think the scenery and trail quality is better closer to Santiago.

Tips for planning your Santiago mountain bike rides:

Pucón with Novena Experience

Our day of riding in the adventure town of Pucón was quite the experience. The weather was awful – full-on rain, low-hanging clouds, and strong winds – but we decided to do it anyway because when would we get the chance to bike down a volcano again (we actually never even got to see the volcano we were riding on because the weather was so bad 😂).

But it was still a really, really fun day despite the cold, rain, and even snow! William from Novena Experience picked us up at our hotel and we headed up the slopes of the volcano in his truck. Unlike our day in Santiago, this ride was all shuttled. We ended up doing three long descents and each was better than the last. The temps were freezing and we were all drenched from the rain, but somehow we all had a blast. It even snowed on our last descent.

The trails were amazing. They weren’t purpose-built, but they featured a great mix of tech and flow. We thought we’d come away completely covered in mud, but the volcanic soil soaked up all the water and the trails were actually really grippy, and the conditions – dare I say – were pretty ideal. No mud!

William had one last surprise up his sleeve to end the day. We stopped at a friend’s and fellow rider’s house to warm up by his wood-fired stove, drink hot coffee, and enjoy some delicious treats. It was the perfect way to end a rather ridiculous (and fun) day.

Tips for riding with Novena Experience:

Coyhaique with Patagonia Bikers

This was probably my favorite mountain biking experience in Chile. Santiago stood out for its vibrant fields of wildflowers and the sheer unexpected funness of the trails. Pucón was amazing with its DH trails and the novelty of riding down a volcano. But Coyhaique truly had it all—a fleet of top-of-the-line Specialized e-bikes (SO much fun!), an adventurous drive deep into the mountains, breathtaking views, professional guides, and a trail network I’d love to call my home turf.

We booked our day tour with Patagonia Bikers. They picked us up from our hotel and took us to their lodge just outside of town where got our bikes and met the group. Patagonia Bikers specializes in full-service, multi-day mountain biking adventures, where you stay at their stunning “Casa,” enjoy three delicious meals a day, hit the trails daily, and unwind in their relaxing hot tubs each evening. When (not if!) I come back to Chile, I will absolutely be signing up for one of their multi-day tours.

Our ride was amazing. We headed out to Castor Lake with a group of 8 other riders who had come down from Santiago for a 4-day getaway. I’d only ever done one e-bike ride before, so I was a little nervous, but the Specialized Levos were dialed and I adjusted to e-bike mode quite easily (maybe too easily…)

We pedaled up to a beautiful lookout where we could see for miles out over the stunning Chile and Argentina landscape and then spent the next several hours – with a lunch break of amazing sandwiches – pedaling up and bombing down the trails around Castor Lake. It was EPIC. I loved it so much that my brain wheels started turning thinking about how I could convince Patagonia Bikers to let me be a guide for them and spend my summers in Coyhaique…

Tips for booking with Patagonia Bikers:

More options for mountain biking in Chile

I wish I’d had another month (and a million dollars…) to explore even more trails in Chile. But I know I’ll be back. Chile has charmed me in ways other countries have not, so I know my time here isn’t quite over.

I’ve been doing research on other tour companies and options for mountain biking around Chile for when I return and here are a few more resources:

I absolutely fell in love with Chile—not just for the incredible mountain biking (which was beyond amazing), but for the country as a whole. It’s one of the few places I’d eagerly return to and spend an extended amount of time exploring. I feel like there’s still so much to discover, and I’d also jump at the chance to revisit the places I’ve already experienced—including these three unforgettable mountain biking destinations. From the awesome trails to the fantastic guides, each tour was a highlight during my time on the TDA South America Epic!

Have you mountain biked in Chile? Where and what was your experience like? Is Chile now on your bike-it list? Leave a comment below!