March 19, 2004

A look at our adventures in Chile and Argentina

[Above: Rolf struggles in the currents of the Maiten River, not far from the Argentina border in Chilean Patagonia. What you can't tell from this picture is that Rolf is riding on an empty fuel jerry can from his expedition Land Rover. This adventure happened on a lark, and we promise booze was not involved.]

Though I am now back in the United States, I do want to share some leftover photos and observations from my recent Land Rover expedition from San Francisco to the southern tip of Argentina. Today I’ll share some photos from Patagonia.

I feel like I’m cheating when I say that the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina was my favorite area along our South American route. I use the word “cheating” because the region — while beautiful — didn’t feel quite as exotic as the other places we visited, as it bore so much resemblance to the American West (but with fewer people). Chile’s Carretera Austral felt like Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Argentine Patagonia felt like parts of Montana, and Torres del Paine National Park felt a lot like Wyoming’s Grand Tetons. As a result, we spent a lot of time camping and exploring as we drove our way south across these sprawling wildernesses. Here are a few glimpses of the action (each text link clicks into its own picture box):

Surfing off the southern coast of Chile.

Rolf aboard the overnight ferry on the Gulf of Ancud.
[The most comfortable place to sleep on the boat turned out to be in our safari tents, which we set up atop our vehicles in the cargo hold.]

DATW Land Rovers offloading from a ferry across the Gulf of Ancud.
[This ferry took us to the beginning of the legendary Carretera Austral.]

A moonlight shot of our camp at Lake Elizado, along Chile’s Carretera Austral.

A Drive Around the World Rover stuck in the mud near Lake Elizado.

A suspension bridge across a cove of Lake General Carrera in Chilean Patagonia.

Lakeside flowers in Chile.

Rolf tightens the Land Rover roof racks while Todd Borgie checks out an exhaust manifold problem in Argentine Patagonia.

A lone tractor outside the tiny town of Tres Lagos, in Argentine Patagonia.

Enjoying the morning at our campsite in the shadow of the famous Torres del Paine, or the “Towers of Paine” in southern Chile.

Taking a break from driving in Torres del Paine National Park.

A great sunset along the Chilean-Argentina border in Tierra del Fuego.

“Route J” outside of Ushuaia in the Argentine side of Tierra del Fuego.
[This road is as far south as you can drive in the Americas.].

5 Responses to “A look at our adventures in Chile and Argentina”

1. Matt Says:
   March 22nd, 2004 at 10:34 am

   The pictures you take are always fabulous. What kind of camera are you sporting?

2. Rolf Says:
   March 22nd, 2004 at 11:02 am

   Hey, Matt — actually, most of the photos I’ve blogged from the DATW expedition weren’t taken by me, but by Neil Dana, who has an excellent digital Canon. If you’re interested on the exact specs of his camera, I can check on that for you…

3. João Rodrigues Says:
   August 10th, 2006 at 10:24 am

   Hi there!

   Great images!

   I am going to chile next december. Do you have any advise for me? I am looking for non turist amazing sites to go with a 4×4.

   Thanks!

4. diana Says:
   June 9th, 2007 at 7:35 am

   come and visit me …. I show you the whales…have a look at my blog
   Diana Visintini
   Ayacucho 138
   9120- Puerto Madryn, Chubut
   Patagonia – ARGENTINA

   http://dianavisintini.blogspot.com/

5. Mike Says:
   July 20th, 2011 at 12:26 pm

   Couldn’t see the images as they directed somewhere else. i am interested to see as my girlfriend and I will be planning a trip to the south of Argentina in the summer.

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