From Alicia's home through South America to the DKMS in Santiago

After the first fundraising bike tour of 2022 took me to the place on the European mainland that is closest to South America, I am now actually on the continent that I want to support. It was particularly important to Alicia to draw attention to the difficult situation in her home country of Ecuador and in South America. 

 

Therefore, the route for Ride-for-ALL 2.0 takes me from Alicia's hometown of Ambato in Ecuador to the DKMS headquarters in Chile in Santiago de Chile. 

 

Leukemia is a disease that does not stop at national borders. It affects us all. 

 

  • through 4 Countries: Start in Ambato in Ecuador, through Peru and Bolivia to Santiago de Chile. 
  • and 5,500km: more than. 1/10 the circumference of the earth.
  • along and through the longest mountain range in the world: the Andes.
  • almost 90.000 meters in altitude: conquer the height of Mount Everest by bike ten times.

1st section: Ecuador - Alicia's homeland

from Ambato (EC) to La Balsa (PE)

Total KM:               about 893 km

Altitude:              approx. 22.000

Planned days:           17 days

Details

Alicia's birthplace Ambato is about 2 hours south of the capital Quito. Located in the center of the country at an altitude of around 2600m in the middle of the Andes, Ambato is the starting point of my tour. First I circle the Chimborazo volcano, the highest elevation at almost 6.300m, before heading through the south of the country through the Sangay National Park to Loja and finally to the border crossing into Peru in La Balsa.

2nd section: Northern Peru - On the edge of the Amazon

from La Balsa (PE) to Caraz (PE)

Total KM:               about 987 km

Altitude:              approx. 23.000

Planned days:           25 days

Details

From the border between Ecuador and Peru, the route first takes me through the transition area between the Amazon and the Andes. There are many waterfalls to marvel at here, including the Yumbilla Waterfall, the fifth highest waterfall in the world with almost 900m. Crossing the Andes, the end of the section is in Caraz, at the foot of the snow-capped mountains of Huascaran National Park with its glaciers and lagoons.

3rd section: Central Peru - Across the Andes

from Caraz (PE) to La Paz (BO)

Total KM:               about 1,075 km

Altitude:              approx. 18.000

Planned days:           36 days

Details

Before I embark on the third section, I would like to complete a 3-day hike through the Cordillera Huayhuash - the trek is considered one of the most beautiful hiking routes in the world. The path then takes me through the Andes to the capital of Peru, Lima. From there I will take a transfer to Cusco, where the Inca site of Machu Picchu awaits me and a few days of rest before continuing to the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.

4th section: Bolivia - the Altiplano

from La Paz (BO) to San Pedro Atacama (CL)

Total KM:               about 641 km

Altitude:              approx. 3.400

Planned days:           18-19 days

Details

By this time I will already have climbed over 60.000 meters in altitude, so the Bolivian plateau is just right. But here too, at altitudes between 4.000 and 5.000 meters, the air can become very thin. Cycling through the Altiplano of Bolivia to Uyuni, where the large salt desert Salar de Uyuni extends, I leave Bolivia behind me and finally reach Chile in San Pedro de Atacama. 

5th section: Northern Chile - through the desert to the sea

from San Pedro Atacama (CL) to Carrizal Bajo (CL)

Total KM:               about 1037 km

Altitude:              approx. 10.000

Planned days:           15 days

Details

Chile stretches over 4000km in length - luckily Santiago is pretty much in the middle. Coming from the Bolivian plateau, this section starts in the Atacama Desert - the driest place in the world. From there downhill to the coast and along there to the coastal town of Carrizal Bajo.

6th section: Central Chile - off to Santiago

from Carrizal Bajo (CL) to Santiago de Chile (PE)

Total KM:               about 965 km

Altitude:              approx. 13.000

Planned days:           17 days

Details

With the goal firmly in mind, the final section begins. The sea remains in view for a while before the path leads through the wine-growing regions of Chile to Santiago de Chile. After over 5.500 km and around 90.000 meters of altitude, my legs will be very heavy, but my heart will be incredibly happy.  

1st section: Ecuador - Alicia's homeland

from Ambato (EC) to La Balsa (PE)

Total KM:               about 893 km

Altitude:              approx. 22.000

Planned days:           17 days

Details

Alicia's birthplace Ambato is about 2 hours south of the capital Quito. Located in the center of the country at an altitude of around 2600m in the middle of the Andes, Ambato is the starting point of my tour. First I circle the Chimborazo volcano, the highest elevation at almost 6.300m, before heading through the south of the country through the Sangay National Park to Loja and finally to the border crossing into Peru in La Balsa.

2nd section: Northern Peru - On the edge of the Amazon

from La Balsa (PE) to Caraz (PE)

Total KM:               about 987 km

Altitude:              approx. 23.000

Planned days:           25 days

Details

From the border between Ecuador and Peru, the route first takes me through the transition area between the Amazon and the Andes. There are many waterfalls to marvel at here, including the Yumbilla Waterfall, the fifth highest waterfall in the world with almost 900m. Crossing the Andes, the end of the section is in Caraz, at the foot of the snow-capped mountains of Huascaran National Park with its glaciers and lagoons.

3rd section: Central Peru - Across the Andes

from Caraz (PE) to La Paz (BO)

Total KM:               about 1,075 km

Altitude:              approx. 18.000

Planned days:           36 days

Details

Before I embark on the third section, I would like to complete a 3-day hike through the Cordillera Huayhuash - the trek is considered one of the most beautiful hiking routes in the world. The path then takes me through the Andes to the capital of Peru, Lima. From there I will take a transfer to Cusco, where the Inca site of Machu Picchu awaits me and a few days of rest before continuing to the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.

4th section: Bolivia - the Altiplano

from La Paz (BO) to San Pedro Atacama (CL)

Total KM:               about 641 km

Altitude:              approx. 3.400

Planned days:           18-19 days

Details

By this time I will already have climbed over 60.000 meters in altitude, so the Bolivian plateau is just right. But here too, at altitudes between 4.000 and 5.000 meters, the air can become very thin. Cycling through the Altiplano of Bolivia to Uyuni, where the large salt desert Salar de Uyuni extends, I leave Bolivia behind me and finally reach Chile in San Pedro de Atacama. 

5th section: Northern Chile - through the desert to the sea

from San Pedro Atacama (CL) to Carrizal Bajo (CL)

Total KM:               about 1037 km

Altitude:              approx. 10.000

Planned days:           15 days

Details

Chile stretches over 4000km in length - luckily Santiago is pretty much in the middle. Coming from the Bolivian plateau, this section starts in the Atacama Desert - the driest place in the world. From there downhill to the coast and along there to the coastal town of Carrizal Bajo.

6th section: Central Chile - off to Santiago

from Carrizal Bajo (CL) to Santiago de Chile (PE)

Total KM:               about 965 km

Altitude:              approx. 13.000

Planned days:           17 days

Details

With the goal firmly in mind, the final section begins. The sea remains in view for a while before the path leads through the wine-growing regions of Chile to Santiago de Chile. After over 5.500 km and around 90.000 meters of altitude, my legs will be very heavy, but my heart will be incredibly happy.  

Contact
close slider