There Is Nothing Better Than Riding a Bike In the Winter

The invitation on the web could not be more interesting: “Being pioneers in cycle tourism on snow and ice in Ushuaia, we venture ourselves onto some frozen lakes using bikes with studded tires and practice snowshoeing across Patagonian woods and valleys. Do not miss this adventure. A memorable experience for the whole family. Available from June through October…”


Searching for the Great Adventure

No sooner had we got to Ushuaia than we went in search of that mixture of ecological and scientific tourism the operators of Ushuaia Extremo proposed. This singular 5-hour tour began at about 9.30 in the morning. We could not wait for it to start.

In addition to all the safety items necessary for us to feel confident during our outing, a bilingual guide would accompany us. This ensured foreign visitors would also be able to ask questions and be amazed by the answers.

We had arranged each member of the group would be picked up at their hotel. Once all of us were ready, we headed for the winter resort known as Valle de Lobos (Valley of Wolves), located just 18 kilometers from the center of the city.

As soon as we reached our destination, the first thing that caught our attention was the howling and barking of the great protagonists of this place: dozens and dozens of Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky dogs. They are part of this dog breeding center that invites visitors to enjoy dog-sledding as if they were inside one of the best stories by the brilliant writer known as Jack London.


Back to the Bikes

The circuit for these bikes that have been specially adapted for snow and ice goes across the valley touching incredible panoramic points where cyclists stop to take pictures and listen to the explanations provided by the guide about the activity of beavers in this area.

After seeing one beaver lodge after another, we got to one of the last frozen dams. At this point, we started our way down riding our mountain bikes on ice. As the thickness of the ice is measured regularly, this activity is risk-free and makes everyone feel like a superhero relishing the most unthinkable experience.

It was time for lunch and we were all ready to let ourselves be surprised by the specialties served at the restaurant in Valle de Lobos to fight the winter temperatures. We left our bikes outside, close to the dogs and the various anecdotes we had just savored.

The Fuegian lamb cooked on the pit was waiting for us...