No man’s land

February 22, 2024

Waiting for a little boat to take us over to the other side. For three days, we had to wait at the end of the Carretera Austral in southern Chile before it was our turn to cross the first of the two lakes that would take us back to Argentina. A border crossing only accessible on foot or per bike, with a tricky hiking path in between the lakes through "no man's land". Spanning five kilometers, together with a group of friends we met along the way, we carried our bikes over narrow paths, through muddy streams, over fallen trees and logs, up steep hills and down slippery slopes. After two hours we arrived at the small Argentinian border post where we spent the night in our tent waiting for the second boat to complete the traverse. A time-consuming yet exciting transition. South America keeps on giving.

Now back in Argentina, we are looking forward to the most famous of Patagonian wonders. Immense glaciers, granite spikes shooting high in the sky, arctic scenery and elusive wild-life. No more alone in the wilderness though. This amazing place you share with people from all over the planet. Which takes some getting used to. But we can't complain. After all, we are here too. We simply embrace it, get in line, close our eyes whenever the wallet is open, and soak in all the beauty. A once in a life-time experience!

Route: Villa O'Higgins - El Chaltén