Ryan’s tour was planned and organized by Toronto-based Tour d’Afrique Ltd, named for its flagship cycling tour that traverses the African continent. The company now offers a variety of epic bicycle tour adventures, including the Vuelta Sudamericana, of which Ryan will be taking part along with eleven other riders from various parts of the world. The itinerary for this tour, which will expose Ryan and his fellow riders to the full biodiversity of the continent, is as follows:

• July 26^th, 2009, cyclists depart from Rio de Janeiro. The journey begins along the Costa Verde, a series of beaches and islands along the southern Brazilian coast. Turning inland, they will head for Iguazu Falls. This system of 275 waterfalls marks the borders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. From the falls, the route meanders through the agricultural lands of Las Pampas until their arrival in Colonia.
• From Colonia, riders will sail to Buenos Aires to the next section, which crosses Argentina, leading them into the Andes and the first truly mountainous segment. After circumnavigating the 6,960 m peak of Mt. Aconcagua, they will descend into Santiago, Chile.
• From Chile, the tour turns north, following the Pacific coast. Here, riders will have the chance to sample local wines and witness spectacular sunsets while camping out on the coast’s endless beaches.
• In northern Chile, the route crosses the Andes a second time, as riders enter the Atacama Desert, famous for its vast white salt plains. This high altitude desert makes its way into Bolivia, where riders will head to La Paz. This marks the beginning of the most challenging section of the expedition.
• From La Paz to Lima, cyclists will traverse mountain passes at 4,200 m where they will encounter steep roads, thin air and extreme temperatures. At the same time, they will experience the unique cultures along the shores of Lake Titicaca, the magnificence of Machu Picchu and the enduring mysteries of the famed Nazca lines.
• Returning to the Peruvian coast, the tour passes through Lima, where the Andes appear to rise from the ocean. From northern Peru, riders enter Ecuador and cross the Cordillera Blanca to dip into the Amazon basin.
• The final evening will be spent in Papallacta, an alpine hot spring, before the tour rolls into Quito for the conclusion of this incredible expedition. After cycling over four months and 12,000 km, through seven countries, December 6th, will be the final ride into Quito for the grand finale amid the celebrations and excitement of Fiestas de Quito!