Driving to the End of the World: Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego
The overland journey from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia — following the Ruta 3 for 3,079 km through the flat Patagonian steppe to the Strait of Magellan ferry crossing and then south to the end of the world — is South America's greatest road trip
- 1
Box 3 — The End of the World Road
The Ruta Nacional 3 runs from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia — 3,079 km of paved road through the Argentine interior, crossing into Patagonia south of Bahía Blanca; the road's character changes as it heads south — the pampas give way to Patagonian steppe, the estancias become more remote, the wind increases, and the sky grows more dramatic
- 2
Patagonian Steppe
The Patagonian steppe — the flat, wind-swept grassland of southern Argentina — has a desolate grandeur; the guanaco herds, the rhea (South American ostrich) families, the maras (Patagonian hare), and the peregrine falcons are the visible wildlife; the steppe's emptiness (Patagonia has fewer than 2 people per km²) and the horizontal quality of the light create a landscape of profound solitude
- 3
Strait of Magellan Ferry
The Strait of Magellan — the waterway discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520 — must be crossed by ferry at Primera Angostura (between Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego); the 20-minute ferry crossing is a significant moment — the point at which the mainland of South America is left behind; the first sight of Tierra del Fuego across the Strait is unforgettable
- 4
Punta Arenas Stopover
Punta Arenas — the southernmost city in Chile, on the Strait of Magellan — is a natural stopover on the drive to Ushuaia; the city's Victorian architecture (built during the mutton and wool boom), the Nao Victoria Museum (with replicas of Magellan's and Drake's ships), and the Milodon cave are the main attractions; the city has a frontier-town quality that reflects its position at the edge of the inhabited world
- 5
Guanaco Herds
The guanaco — the wild ancestor of the llama and alpaca — is the most numerous large mammal on the Patagonian steppe; herds of 50-200 guanacos are commonly seen from the road through Tierra del Fuego; the guanaco's graceful gait, its curious stare, and its presence in the desolate landscape make it the emblematic animal of Patagonia
- 6
Río Grande Crossing
The crossing of the Río Grande - the largest river in Tierra del Fuego - marks the passage into the Fuegian mountains; the flat steppe of northern Tierra del Fuego gives way to the increasingly rugged terrain of the southern island; the last 240 km from Río Grande to Ushuaia through the Fuegian Andes is one of the most beautiful sections of road in South America