Peace of Mind Policies

At Sacred Rides, our aim is to ensure your entire experience with us, from the moment you book your Ride to the moment you set foot back on home turf, is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Which is why we’ve put in place - and stand firmly behind - the following Peace-of-Mind Policies, with the goal of maximizing your happiness and minimizing your worries:

1. Our Ride Satisfaction Guarantee

If for any reason you aren't 100% satisfied with your Sacred Rides experience, let us know the reason(s) and we'll give you a free Ride. It’s that simple. If you still aren't 100% satisfied after your free Ride, we'll refund all of the original money you paid to us.

2. Guaranteed Departures

Once you book your spot(s), you're going! This allows you the freedom to start looking for flights and make other arrangements right away. Contrary to many other tour operators, we will never cancel a trip due to low numbers or other passenger cancellations.

3. 14-Day Risk-Free Booking Window

After putting down a deposit, you can cancel at any point during the first 14 days after booking and get a 100% refund.This buys you 2 weeks to sort out flights, vacation time, etc. and not have to worry about someone else taking your spot(s). 

4. Lifetime Deposits

Our Lifetime Deposit allows any of our Riders (i.e. clients) forced to delay a departure or wanting to switch destinations altogether the ability to apply their initial deposit towards a later scheduled date or another Ride at no extra charge. As long as you give us 60 days notice, your deposit will be good forever, whether you use it for the same trip or transfer it to another one.   A Lifetime Deposit has no expiration date and can be used for any departure – provided room is still available. Simply put, we want to ensure you can enjoy the Sacred Rides experience you want, at a time that works best for you.

A Lifetime Deposit is also transferable, meaning that you can transfer your deposit to another Rider as a gift. You can even choose to donate your deposit to our sister non-profit, Bikes Without Borders. We’ll then match the value of your donation! For full details on our Peace of Mind Policies and Lifetime Deposit policy, please CLICK HERE. 

Note:  Any cancellations made within 60 days of the scheduled departure will be treated as a passenger cancellation, in which case the entire payment, including deposit will be forfeited and cannot be applied to another departure.  We highly recommend you purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance.   We allow one transfer of your Lifetime Deposit  deposit, if you choose to transfer a second time, there is a $250 USD transfee fee. 

5. COMPREHENSIVE AND LIGHTNING-QUICK SUPPORT

The moment you book a Ride with us, you'll have a Rider Happiness Manager assigned to you. He/she is responsible for helping you with all your questions and trip planning. In your Rider Dashboard you'll have a Logistics/FAQ tab with tons of information and FAQ related to your Ride. Have a question that's not answered there? Just post it with one click and we'll respond within 24 hours (Monday-Friday). 

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To learn more about our Peace-of-Mind Policies and our commitment to you, click here. 

Ride Starting Point

We will be offering airport pickup at the following time and place on Day 1 only.

• San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) at 4:00 p.m. - We will be wearing a Sacred Rides jersey or holding a sign. Please wait inside to meet the driver on the arrivals floor. The airport is not very large.

We highly recommend arriving into Bariloche one day early in case of flight delays or cancellations on the domestic portion of your trip and to adjust to the time difference and catch up on needed rest after the long flight.

If you are arriving prior to Day 1, we suggest staying at Hotel Las Marianas in Bariloche. Use this link to book pre-trip hotel nights.

If arriving on Day 1, please book flights arriving into San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) no later than 3:00 p.m., to allow a cushion for delays and luggage pick-up.

NOTE: The bus connection between the two airports in Buenos Aires could take up to 6 hours. Please plan accordingly.

ARRIVING INTO BUENOS AIRES:

Most international flights to Argentina land in the capital city of Buenos Aires. There are two international airports in Buenos Aires.

The first is Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) most commonly known as “Ezeiza.” The other is Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP), most commonly known as “Aeroparque”. There is a third airport called “El Palomar” (EPA) which is both a military and commercial airport where many low-cost domestic flights operate. 

If you are booking a domestic flight or have a connection in Buenos Aires, be sure to verify which airport you are flying in and out of.

We recommend 4-5 hours between connections of any two of these airports.

PASSPORT & VISAS:

At the time of writing, most international travellers no longer needed to purchase any visas or pay reciprocity fees for travel into Argentina, however, we cannot guarantee this information and it is essential that you check the requirements according to the passport on which you will travel. All passports must have a minimum of 6 months left before they will expire at the time of entry into Argentina.

TRANSPORT BETWEEN AIRPORTS & HOTELS IN BUENOS AIRES:

Here are a few options once you land in Buenos Aires and need to get to your next destination.

Transport Service: There is an official shuttle called “Manuel Tienda Leon” that has a shuttle departing approximately every 30-min between EZE and AEP airports. You can purchase a ticket from their booth after clearing customs (they have one inside and one outside at EZE). They will direct you where to wait for the bus. They also offer a “Remis” service ('remis' is a taxi) to other locations in Buenos Aires. www.tiendaleon.com.ar

Taxi: (known as a “remis" in Argentina). There are official Remis booths where you can purchase a standard fare after clearing customs. This is a good option if you are running late and cannot wait for the shuttle service or have a special destination in mind.

Uber: If you are comfortable with the Uber app then this is a more economical option although you may or may not be able to pay with a credit card and you will need to have an internet connection to order your vehicle. Also, the Uber driver may not be able to pick you up at the airport doors, so you may need to walk to a meeting point.

Please note, all services may charge you extra for oversized luggage.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN ARGENTINA:

There are a few options for getting to Bariloche. If your international flight does not include the leg to Bariloche you can book that domestic flight separately. In the last few years several low-cost airlines have popped up and they offer some good deals.

Here are links to 4 airlines that operate flights from Buenos Aires to Bariloche.

Fly Bondi

Aerolineas

Andes Online

Norwegian

A few things to keep in mind when booking a domestic flight within Argentina: 

- Luggage is not always included in the base price, you may have to add your bags on before purchasing and they can be very strict about the weight limits at the airport. 

- There are 3 different airports in Buenos Aires. Take note of which one you need to fly out of and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to transfer between airports.

- There are taxis and shuttles available between each airport but traffic can sometimes be horrendous. We recommend about 4-5 hours between your international flight landing and your domestic take off. Allow for delays and cancellations. If possible do not choose the last domestic flight of the day in case of flight cancellations. Or better yet, plan on arriving in Bariloche a day earlier to arrive with plenty of time to settle in, tour around the town and allow for a cushion in case of flight delays or cancellations.

Ride Ending Point

The Ride ends after breakfast at Las Marianas Hotel in Bariloche on Day 9. We’ll be offering one shuttle service to the airport, arriving to the airport no later than 10:30 a.m. For Riders flying out at another time or day, a taxi can be arranged independently with the reception at Las Marianas Hotel, at the Riders expense at a rate of approximately $25 USD.

Arrival Airport

San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) in Argentina. Most flights will route through Buenos Aires.

Flights to/from the starting point

We do not book international flights for our clients (some Rides do, however, include in-country flights).

Great tools  to view different flight options at the best available rates are:

Google Flights

Kayak

Fitness and Skill Requirements

Ensuring you are on a Ride that's right for you, and ensuring you are ready for the physical and technical demands of a Ride, is of utmost importance to us. It helps ensure that you will be riding with other people of a similar skill and fitness level as you, and that you will be able to make the most of the experience and enjoy it to its full potential.

Here's how you can assess whether or not you're ready fo a particular Ride, and how we can help:

• We've developed a 9-level Skill and Fitness Rating System with the help of some of our most senior guides.  Click HERE to review the Skill and Fitness Rating System. Though we recognize this is a very objective process, you may want to ask a friend who rides with you regularly to assess where you fit in, or Contact Us with a detailed description of your riding experience, and we'd be happy to help with your self-assessment.

• We have several photos and videos available for each Ride that depict what can be expected on a particular Ride. Many of those videos were taken by our guides, staff and/or past clients on actual trips, and therefore showcase some of the trails you'd be riding and the level of skill required to handle those trails. Be sure to watch most of the videos available for the Ride(s) you are interested in, and assess whether or not the riding is appropriate for you.

• When booking a Ride, we ask each Rider to tell us about their mountain biking experience, and to let us know if they have ever traveled with their mountain bike. The answers are reviewed by our staff and provide valuable insight as to whether or not the desired Ride is a good fit for them.

• We follow up with a phone call if we think a Rider might not be quite up to the challenge (or might be 'over qualified') for certain Rides and discuss their skill level and fitness in detail to discover whether they are indeed a good fit, or if another Ride might be more suitable

Please pay close attention to the skill and fitness ratings for the Ride(s) you're interested in, and be honest in your self-assessment. For more information on skill and fitness ratings, please click here.

Ride Add-ons

We offer several add-ons (like mountain bike rentals, post-ride massages and single room upgrades) to help complement your Ride. See the add-ons tab to see pricing for each available add-on.

To book your Ride add-ons, you can either:

a) select them when you make your initial booking;

b) add them to your account via your Rider Dashboard at any time prior to start date (restrictions apply on the timing of certain items)

Traveling with your bike

If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think!   Your local bike shop may have options to rent a bike bag or case, or if you're planning on going on more than one bike trip, we recommend investing in a quality.  Our guides recommend any of the following products:

EVOC bike bag  | DAKINE bike bag  | TULE  bike bag

For tips on packing your bike, watch this handy video we made just for you!

Bike Damage Disclaimer

While participating in a Sacred Rides trip, the Rider assumes all risk and expense related to loss or damage to the mountain bike, whether rented from a third party or owned by the Rider. This assumption of risk includes loss or damage due to transportation, theft, vandalism, accident, misuse or other events leading to the loss or damage of the mountain bike.

We recommend that Riders purchase their own insurance to cover their bikes, either through your homeowners or tenants insurance plan. It is uncommon for regular travel insurance policies to cover the cost of high-end, expensive bikes if damaged, lost or stolen.

General Bike Rental Information

If you don't feel like hauling your own bike around the globe, renting is an alternative option. However, as our rental bike fleets change often, we are unable to guarantee special requests, promise a particular brand, model or wheel size.   If you are attached to the look, feel, geometry and specs of your bike, we highly recommend bringing it with you to ensure the best riding experience. 

Note: If you are renting, and would prefer to use your own pedals and/or saddle, bring them with you and we'll swap them out when you arrive.  Our guides will have the required tools.
 

For bike rental pricing, please visit the Ride Add-Ons tab.  Note that a small number of our Rides include bike rentals in the pricing (this would be mentioned in the 'What's Included' tab).

Assembling your bike when you arrive

If you've never assembled your bike, not to worry! Our guides will be on hand to assist. 

Bike Rentals

Hardtail mountain bikes are our only available option for rental bikes in Patagonia. Many bike makes and models are not available. We strongly suggest bringing your own mountain bike for comfort and performance.

What’s the Ideal Bike for this Trip?

A cross-country mountain bike with at least 4" of travel, and no heavier than 30 pounds is highly suggested to get the most out of this mountain bike experience. The terrain is quite rough, so a full-suspension bike is our recommendation. A well maintained, well functioning mountain bike with front suspension is mandatory. We ask that all Riders be respectful of the group, and show up with the appropriate bike to minimize bike related delays before or during riding. WHERE WILL MY BIKE BAG BE STORED DURING THE RIDE? Bike bags are stored at the Inn during the first 5 days. They are not with us during the overnight at the cabin and then they are stored at Las Marianas hotel for the last two nights.

Weather and Clothing

The weather in Patagonia is quite warm during the summer months (Dec. - Mar.), but can get chilly at night in the mountains. Bring warm clothes that you can wear at night (long pants, long-sleeve jacket), and a light insulating layer that you can wear while riding at higher altitudes.

Ride Specific Packing List

- sport sandals (e.g. Tevas) or some sort of footwear that can get wet (for rafting). - A small backpack or duffel bag to pack belongings in for one night at the Manso cabin (toiletries, change of clothes, camp shoes).

General Packing List

Below is a comprehensive list for you to use as a guide only. These are items we suggest you consider bringing regardless of the Ride you are on - please also check the Ride-specific packing list above (if applicable), as there may be items that are specific to your Ride .

In efforts to pack appropriately, we encourage you to understand your destination's climate during the month(s) you are visiting.  We also encourage you to refer to the Itinerary tab to understand the activities you will be taking part in.

If you need a few items for your ride, check out your local bike shop or shop online at  Worldwide Cyclery.

You know your personal needs better than anyone so please pack accordingly. The following are suggestions based on our experiences in various destinations.

On the bike:

● jersey tops (mix of short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve  and long sleeve)

● quick-dry cycling shorts with a quality chamois (padding)

● full-finger bike gloves  (2 pairs recommended)

● cycling socks (synthetic or lightweight wool. We recommend Merino)

● arm and leg warmers

● helmet

● rugged yet versatile riding shoes  (for your choice of clipless pedals or flats)

● knee and elbow pads 

● if you ride clipless and you are renting a bike, please bring your pedals and shoes   (Rental bikes  are equipped with flat pedal)

On and off the bike:

● rain jacket (Goretex with pit-zips)

● windbreaker (lightweight and form-fitting)

● sweater (fleece and form-fitting mid layer)

● quick-dry weatherproof pants with zippered pockets

● top and bottom base layers (synthetic or lightweight wool. We recommend Icebreaker)

● sunglasses (clear lens and polarized lens)

● backpack with hydration system (2-3L water capacity)

● cycling water bottle (with squirt lid)

● camera (phone, GoPro, point and shoot)

● ear warmer (toque or headband)

Chill time:

● swimwear

● flip flops

● small camp towel (to use for swimming etc.)

● comfortable, casual clothes for relaxing in (such as jeans, t-shirt, hooded sweater)

● down-filled coat

● trail shoes or hiking boots

● flashlight or headlamp

Personal and First Aid:

● toiletries i.e. toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, soap, feminine hygiene products etc.

● sunscreen (oil-free for sport)

● anti-bacterial wipes

● anti-bacterial gel

● chamois creme

● first-aid kit (ibuprofen, band-aids, Polysporin, tweezers)

Random stuff you don't realize you need, well, until you need it:

● electrical and/or duct tape 

● international travel power adapter and converter (if required)

● zip-lock bags

● zip ties

● mesh laundry bag

● eyemask and ear plugs (if you're a light sleeper)

● alarm clock

Tools to Bring

We recommend bringing the following tools with you. Rest assured your guides will have a full tool kit, but it's a good idea to have the following items with you in case of trailside breakdowns:

• multitool (preferably with chainbreaker)

• tire levers

• small bottle of chain lube

• small tire pump (not a floor pump)

Spare Parts for Your Bike

Although there may be some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts with you to avoid availability problems in case of broken parts:

• Rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)

• Front and rear brake pads (1 set of each is sufficient)

• Extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old

• 2-4 spare tubes (our guides can't realistically carry enough 26", 27.5", and 29" tubes for everyone)

• 2 extra spokes

• Any rare parts that might be hard to find locally (Shimano and SRAM are generally available in all our locations, but Magura levers, for instance, might not be available everywhere)

N.B. If you are renting a bike, the above is not necessary.

Visas and Entry Requirements

IMPORTANT Canadians and Americans no longer need to purchase the reciprocity fee/visa for Argentina. Most European countries are not required to pay the fee, although we highly suggest looking into it prior to travel. Please check with your local embassy to confirm the regulations for your country of origin.

Food

Argentina is one of South America's most developed, cleanest countries. There is little risk in Argentinian restaurants beyond what you would encounter in an North American restaurant.

Lodging

INN If you're interested in upgrading to a single room at the Inn for the first 5 nights of the trip, please contact support@sacredrides.com. Single room upgrades are $260 USD and based on availability. MANSO RIVERSIDE CABIN 1-night accommodation is in a backcountry cabin on the Rio Manso. The cabin on the Rio Manso is shared accommodation and does not have internet access. If you would like to upgrade to a single room, please contact support@sacredrides.com to check availability. We cannot guarantee single rooms at the Manso cabin. HOSTERIA 2 nights accommodation are in a hosteria in the tourist town of San Carlos de Bariloche. The family-run hosteria in Bariloche is very close to the city center and is a great place to stay if you decide to arrive early or extend your stay. If you would like a single room upgrade for the last two nights in Bariloche, please selected the "Single Room Upgrade (last 2 nights)" option on the Add-Ons tab on your Rider Dashboard.

Vaccination

Please visit the Travel Health website and navigate to your destination country for information about any vaccinations you may require prior to traveling, or please visit your local travel clinic for the most up to date information.

Currency

The Argentinian currency is the Argentinian Peso (ARS). You will not have access to an ATM after leaving Bariloche. We recommend carrying enough Argentinean pesos to cover any meals, massages, souvenirs or additional beverages during your first 6 days of the trip (approx. $200-300 USD worth of pesos). Once back in Bariloche, most establishments will accept credit cards and the USD is fairly easy to exchange or in some locations can be used directly. Bringing USD cash is often more convenient and when you need pesos you can exchange in a "casa de cambio" in Bariloche. Any guide/staff gratuities should be paid in cash.

Best Way to Use/Get Local Currency

Generally, the best way to get local currency is to use local ATMs.  Your bank will usually charge you a small fee to do this, and you may also get charged a fee by the local bank, but you will generally get a reasonable exchange rate (as opposed to local banks or money exchange desks).  Check with your bank or credit card provider regarding out-of-country withdrawal and exchange fees, and ask them for recommendations on how to minimize those fees.

Since you're getting charged fees we recommend taking out a few days worth of local currency at a time, and an amount that you would feel comfortable carrying around (e.g. $100-$200). No point in taking out $500 to avoid $5 of ATM fees.

If feasible, we recommend getting a day or two worth of local currency before you arrive (either at your local bank, or your home airport), so that you're covered for a day or two upon arrival.

Cancellations

You may cancel your reservation and get 100% of your money back within 14 days of booking. After that 2-week window, our lifetime deposit policy comes into effect. For more on our cancellation policy, please visit  http://www.sacredrides.com/cancellation-policy.

Travel Insurance

Travel medical insurance is mandatory for all of our trips. If you have your own travel medical insurance it needs to:

a) cover evacuation (e.g. air evacuation) and hospital costs while in other countries 
b) cover mountain biking trips (some policies include mountain biking in their list of 'extreme' sports that are not covered).

We strongly recommend also getting insurance that   covers the following: 

• Trip cancellation up to 100% of your trip cost
• Equipment protection for delay, loss, theft and damage (if traveling with your bike/expensive equipment)
• Trip interruption up to 100% of trip cost
• Medical expenses up to $50,000
• Emergency medical transportation up to $1,000,000

Please note that our cancellation policy is strict. If you decide not to purchase cancellation/interruption insurance, and then get hurt or sick before or during your Ride, please don't ask us for a refund.

For travelers from around the world, we recommend World Nomads. 

For U.S. travelers, we recommend Global Rescue (Individual Medical Plan with Signature Travel Insurance Plan)

NOTE:   If you are traveling with us to Peru or Nepal,   you may need to select a travel insurance policy that covers mountain biking at elevations higher than   3000 metres.   

In Peru, the highest elevation you'll be at is 4445 metres. In Nepal, the highest elevation you'll be at is 4300 metres. 

Emergency Contacts

If your loved ones need to contact you during your trip for emergency reasons, they can reach us during office hours at the following numbers: 

Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849

Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955

If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message, with phone number and your email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Should you or your family require local contact with our Patagonia team, please contact:

NAME:   Katie Tisato

PHONE:  (+54) 2944 274239

EMAIL:  paddlepatagonia@gmail.com

Safety and Security

Argentina is a safe country, particularly in the area around the Inn, however certain precautions should be followed, as with all foreign travel. To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.

Tipping

Recognizing and compensating our guiding team for the level of service you've received is a personal matter. We pay our guides very fair wages by industry standards but given the seasonality of their employment, they do welcome tips to help supplement their income (and recognize their hard work).

At the end of the ride, if you feel you have received outstanding service and that your guides have contributed to a highly enjoyable trip, we encourage you to provide them with a tip of your choosing. We know that tipping may not be customary for everyone, but please know they are highly appreciated in the guiding industry.

A typical gratuity varies between 2% - 5% of your Ride price per guide, depending on your level of satisfaction. e.g. $4000 trip = $80-$200 per guide. Guides are grateful for tips in USD or the local currency.  You may wish to tip guides individually based on your time spent interacting with each guide, or provide the Lead Guide with a tip to be divided evenly amongst the team.  

OTHER EXPENSES

Aside from alcoholic beverages and some meals, there are no required additional expenses for this trip, however you might like to take spending money for such things as souvenir shopping and ice cream in town!
 

INTERNET

Wifi is available on all days in the Inn.  Due to the remote location, internet quality is sometimes limited and not guaranteed at all times!   There is no wifi at the Manso River cabin, however there is free wifi at Las Marianas hotel in Bariloche.
 

LAUNDRY

Laundry service is available at a minimal cost every day at the Inn with 24hr turnaround.

massages

1-hour massages are available at the lodge based on availability and can be booked when you arrive.   Prices vary between $40 - 50 USD and cash is the only form of payment available.