Pedaling and Paddling in Patagonia

Bariloche, Argentina - Think of the word Patagonia and what probably comes to mind is an iconic clothing company or a spectacular, windswept South American landscape dominated by glaciers and high peaks. You probably don't think of mountain biking.

Until now.
Sacred Rides, North America’s leading mountain bike adventure company, has just put together an epic South American adventure on the Argentinian side of Patagonia. The action all takes place out of a beautiful and remote eco-lodge south of Bariloche, at the confluence of two impressive rivers. The lodge is surrounded by singletrack, much of it hand carved by the lodge owner’s mountain-bike-obsessed son, a former national champion downhiller. The rest crisscrosses a series of sublime national parks that protect some of the most incredible wilderness on the planet.

Sacred Rides’ new 9-day Pedal and Paddle trip features plenty of cross-country mountain biking (the word ‘epic’ can be accurately used to describe some of the rides, with challenging climbs, massive landscapes, and big descents), 4 afternoons of whitewater kayaking and/or rafting, morning yoga sessions by the river, and volunteering with local community projects – all based out of an ecolodge that runs entirely on renewable energy.


“When we started looking for destinations for a new trip in early 2010, we had a pretty big and daunting wish list,” says Sacred Rides CEO and “Rider Happiness Manager” Mike Brcic. “We wanted this to be something truly special, in line with our tourism values, and with plenty of wow factor. And we’ve done it.”

The inaugural Ride takes place from February 19 to 27, 2011 – smack dab in the middle of Patagonia’s summer and a half a world away from the icy grip of North American winter. Saddle up your steed, say adios to winter and hola to Patagonia by visiting www.sacredrides.com, or call 1-888-423-7849.


About Sacred Rides
Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Adventures, founded in 1996 in Fernie British Columbia, has been committed to leading and innovating the sport of mountain biking, by developing such programs as Mountain Bike University and yoga/mountain bike retreats, and offering women’s only camps and trips. Voted “#1 Mountain Bike Tour Company on Earth” in 2009 by National Geographic Adventure magazine, Sacred Rides is committed to promoting mountain biking as a force for good in the world. Through their Keeping Rides Sacred program, the company has donated thousands of dollars and countless volunteer hours to community projects in the areas where they ride. Sacred Rides is also proud to support the work of their sister organization Bikes Without Borders, using bikes as a tool for development in marginalized communities.

For more information on Sacred Rides, visit sacredrides.com.

About La Confluencia Lodge
La Confluencia is a mountain lodge and organic farm in El Bolson, Patagonia, Argentina serving as a demonstration center for sustainable self sufficient living techniques, and a base for outdoor adventure. La Confluencia is located within the Rio Azul Protected Wilderness Area (approximately 150,000 acres) which forms part of the world´s largest UNESCO Temperate Forest Biosphere Reserve. For more information visit www.laconfluencia.com.