Chilean Bike Tour Quenches Baby Boomer’s Thirst for Adventure

By Gregg Marston –

According to CNN, 80% of seniors have the desire to travel to a place they have never visited. Seniors are healthier than ever, with many looking for an active vacation to satisfy their wanderlust.

With this in mind, travelers should flock to Chile where the landscapes, culture, people and beauty make it a place to put on the top of all travel lists. VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations has done expansive research for active travelers everywhere and created the Chile’s Coastal Vista’s & Vineyards tour.

Discovering a country, like Chile, by bike can be the most effective way to slow down and really soak in the surroundings. VBT has listed the following sights as great places to bike while being treated to some of the best views in central Chile.

The seaside towns of Zapallar and Cachagua are must-stop locations on a Chilean bicycling adventure along a breathtaking route called the Ruta del Mar. From Cachagua one can enjoy a lovely walk along the beach and view the colony of Humbolt penguins that congregate on a nearby island. In Zapallar, bikers can cycle pass lavish homes along streets lined with cypress and eucalyptus trees in a neighborhood known by some as the “Hamptons of Chile.”

Take a journey to the waterfront and learn how to trap crabs with local fisherman. Afterwards take the fresh catch and learn how to cook the seafood over an open flame with portions being served using newspaper as a plate, just as the locals eat it.

Biking to Viña del Mar is another popular coastal route. Chile’s fourth largest city is also one of the liveliest cultural centers, Viña del Mar is known as the “Garden City” because of the Reloj de Flores—a giant clock with hands that revolve around colorful, flowering plants. While cycling out of Vina del Mar, be on the lookout for the historic Wulff Castle, built in a neo-Tudor style that is perched on a bluff above the ocean.

A bike ride to the Casablanca Wine Region is the perfect stop for any oenophile, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay enthusiasts. The climate is affected by the cool Pacific air in this location, which makes the grapes grown to produce wine in this region especially pleasing to the palate. On the voyage through this area, tourists and locals alike rave about serene cycling routes through both eucalyptus forests and expansive vineyards and olive groves.

The foothills of the Andes are another prime location to enjoy the country’s renowned natural beauty. Travel along roads lined with ancient trees and rolling farmlands, with locals often tending to the fields on horseback. Wandering down these scenic roads, many can’t help but take a short break to sample delicious empanadas and other local specialties at one of the many roadside stands.

After biking Chile, adventurers will have gained not only a sense of culture, but also knowledge of the land’s history. Even in a large city like Santiago travelers can see how native and European influences have created a cultural melting pot in local neighborhoods.

Once this journey is complete, consider going on cycling adventures in other countries. The options are limitless with biking tour experts like VBT; who offer trips in Italy, France, Costa Rica and South Africa, among many more.

Gregg lives in New Haven, Vermont with his wife, Caroline, and his family. He makes every effort to continue to travel overseas multiple times a year to cycle, walk and experience the world.