Photo Story: Andes Adventure With a Bike & a Beetle

Biking between the Andes mountains is a dream for a lot of people. And I'm happy to be near this place, so I can drive there in my own car...

My name is Rodrigo Kaspary, I'm a Brazilian mountain biker and photographer. The idea of crossing the Andes with the beetle has been in my mind for a long time, and taking the bike with me would make it even better.

I drove around 7,000 kilometers from South Brazil to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. With my 1974 air-cooled beetle, floating through the time, living a dream crossing the dry mountains and playing around there with the bike.


I went through incredible days, met great people and relearned a lot of things about life, with some people that live in villages more than 4000 meters above sea level, without electricity, internet, and any kind of those normal things of the "modern" world. It's hard to believe that we have to go so far to learn things as simple as the fact that we need so much less to live than we are accustomed to.


Inside a house where I was invited to stay. The floor was dirt and had no running water but it had a spectacular comfort brought by its simplicity.



And yes, with all those mountains to ride, it is hard to choose one. But, I had been thinking for a long time that I would like to ride down a volcano, and then, the dream come true.


But, and as the rules say, you have to go up to get down.




Amazing scenarios all around, endless options and priceless freedom.



It's hard to describe.

With such wilderness, in sometimes hard conditions because of the low air pressure, the wind blowing and sometimes making a sandstorm, there is no way to stay outside.


Some places were exploited in the past by miners, and when business was over, there were only the buildings remain to tell the story.


Even if you do not see a single person, the llamas are always waiting for you.



Or also the starry sky


After Argentina, then was time to go to Chile.


Naturally could not lose the classic Moon Valley



And play a little with colors and the Lost Bus.


Lonely roads cross the altiplano to the way back home, where the great companion sometimes is only the hostility mixed with the feeling of freedom. It's time to depart from the fairytale.



More photos coming soon in @rodrigo.kaspary

Cheers!