The Samba Tango Tour: Riding from Rio to Buenos Aires

With January comes visions of healthy living and rejuvenation—all those grand plans to get fit and change your life.  Instead of waiting in line for the elliptical at the gym to suffice your New Year’s resolution, why not take the trip of a lifetime that will not only improve your cardiovascular health, but also serve as an extraordinary cultural experience.

On January 15th, the 9th annual Tour d’Afrique will depart with over 100 riders representing 14 countries, participating in the 7,500-mile journey from Cairo to Cape Town.

Okay, so perhaps you missed the start gun on this one, but good news. This Toronto-based adventure company, launched in 2003, will light fires in the bellies of cyclists around the globe by offering nine distinct multi-week journeys in 2011 that span the globe from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas.

The newly fashioned Samba Tango Tour, a 36-day bike tour, journeys from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires.  Spanning 1,950 miles, cyclists will travel through intense rain forests and pedal past sun-swept islands while following the coast from Rio to Santos.

Samba Tango takes place August 14 to Sept. 18, 2011. The $3900 cost per person includes accommodations (camping, hostels and home stays), nutritious meals, daily route logistics, optional side trips, overland vehicles to transport baggage and the support and guidance of their knowledgeable tour guides.

Not quite ready for the full tour challenge? Riders also have the option of joining two shorter tour segments—“Samba” from Rio de Janeiro to Florianopolis (870 miles) from August 14-29 priced at $2,100 per person or “Tango” from Florianopolis to Buenos Aires (1,050 miles) from August 31 to September 18, priced at $2,400 per person.

So prove them all wrong and fulfill that resolution by training for and experiencing an epic trip.

Payments made on or before February 20 receive a five-percent discount. For more information, visit www.tourdafrique.com or call 1+(416) 364-8255.