Destination: Chile

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Itinerary: Chasing Che

Follow in the tire tracks of revolutionary icon Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara through the route laid out in the cult movie Motorcycle Diaries.



The youthful Che – then a medical student bumming around South America with his buddy Alberto Granado – crossed into Chile by lake-hopping from Argentina through what is now Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales. This route is now popular with tourists so you won’t have to secure ferry passage as Che and Alberto did – by operating the bilge pumps. Arriving in Petrohué, take the road skirting the enormous Lago Llanquihue and past the towering Volcán Osorno – a good spot for climbers and skiers. From there the adventurers revved their way to the lively, handsome port of Valdivia, then courted press publicity and paid homage to Pablo Neruda in his native Temuco. As their ancient motorbike sighed its last before reaching Santiago, Che and Alberto rode a truck to the beautiful colonial city of Valparaíso. You could also shoot up north to see the awesome copper mine of Chuquicamata, and poke your nose into a few nitrate ghost towns around the laid-back city of Iquique, some of which were still functioning when Che visited. Then round off the Chilean leg of the journey beachside at Arica.

Travelling to Chile?
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