George,

I can't tell you about northern and far southern SA, but after 30 years in Peru, Bolivia, and western Brazil I think I can speak to those parts.

In southern Brazil you will hit off-on rain in August and Sept (different from the Amazon area which is HEAVY rains from Dec to March. Don't worry, all main roads in Brazil are paved, just don't schedule your days too tight. I have learned this by driving two 12 hour days thru solid rain in southwestern Brazil.

Returning north from Santiago will be March, April, May, and June. You will want to see Bolivia and Peru, but not until May can you really drive anywhere in the jungle areas of those two countries because of the rainy season. That means you will miss some of the best places (even Machu Picchu is in the mountain jungle. It will not only be rainy meaning it will be very difficult to "ride" your moto to near MP, but that is the season when the roads/railway to MP often get washed away. 2 years ago thousands of tourists were trapped there and had to be helicoptered out!).

March-April is when the rains (light rains, but most every day in the afternoon) fall in the central Andes. Not so bad as you can plan your day to leave early and arrive at your next destination by 2:00 pm... BUT when it is cloudy (versus sunny) in the Andes during the day it is the difference of 40 degrees versus 70 degrees ambient air temp. Multiply that by 60MPH and it is a WHOLE different ball game! South American winter (our summer) is the best time to ride in the central Andes. At that time we ride with only under armor and a breathable jacket! But get where you are going by 4pm because the winds begin to pick up and it gets cold quick and you know you are in the Andes!

IMHO, I would try to hit the central jungle and Andes parts May to Nov, and save the southern and northern SA places for Dec to March. Little hard to do... but with a some imagination and a twisty,turny route, it can be done!

Cheers, Toby

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