Exploring Tierra Del Fuego
Posted by KombiChronicles@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 30 comments
In December 2024, 1960 days after first arriving in New York, we arrived in Ushuaia... the most southern point you can drive to in the world.
Ushuaia is actually on an island called Tierra Del Fuego, which is found right at the bottom of South America and is split between Argentina and Chile.
We ended up celebrating Christmas and New Years there with other Overlanders from all over the world at a former campground next to the train station for the 'End of the World' train.
Tierra Del Fuego actually translates to Land Of Fire, which is ironic because camp fires are prohibited on the island due to the strong winds. There's been more than one major fire spread across the island due to a travel having an innocent BBQ! It would be much more appropriate to be renamed the Land Of Non-Stop wind, which was relentless during our time there. It was so bad that it actually broke our pop top on night.
It was an incredible place to explore though. Filled with giant snow capped mountains and glacier lakes.
We like to go places others pass by, and so drove a remote track over some mountains to Caleta Maria, where we found a small colony of wild King penguins.
It was our first real taste of the immense Patagonian landscapes that we would go on to explore for the next five months.
It is definitely an amazing reward for finishing the Pan American Highway 👌
csb7566381@reddit
Congratulations!
I'll never forget that feeling. Rolling up to that sign after three years on the road. Equal parts exhaustion, exhilaration, and OMG what now?
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
We were in shock when we reached it. We had the sat Nav set for the town, so does giant signs just came out of nowhere.
It's still our greatest achievement. Took us 1960 days, so about 5 years. Through a global pandemic, major engine problems, as well as all the other problems you get driving a 50 year old vehicle over places like the Bolivian Altiplano.
We want to visit all the countries in South America. Annoys us that we never made it up to Canada and Belize closed their borders a few days before we were due to cross from Mexico, so we have to trick them all off. We've just left Brazil and returned to Argentina, where we will visit Puna De Atacama and Jujuy/Salta and then it's a big push back north 👍
mbardeen@reddit
"we will visit Puna" -- I see you're a fan of wind!
The Puna is an incredible place. I've been twice, and want to go again.
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
I hate the wind 😭🤣
The wind down the Laguna route in Bolivia has horrendous. And the wind in Ushuaia broke our pop top!
But alas. I am a sucker for a killer road trip and the Laguna Route was one of the most incredible drives we have done on the trip, so bring it on I say 🤘
mbardeen@reddit
My friend and I went in my Jeep XJ in 2020. We were near Catamarca and La Ruta de Los Seis Miles. He'd done it by bike previously and wanted to go back.
It still calls to me. I'd like to have longer to really acclimate to the altitude so I could start enjoying myself.
(You can watch the video he made of the experience here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SP_uv7ai8U )
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
YES... Those are the same landscapes I fell in love with in Bolivia.
We've since done the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia and touched of the wild Amazon in Brazil.
But I want those open desolate views. Volcanos and hostile looking mountains.
I have been planning this for over a year now, so can't wait.
csb7566381@reddit
I bet we camped at a lot of the same places! My favorite campground of the entire trip was the one in Santa Elena, just outside Medellin. Did you stay there?
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Al Bosque?
csb7566381@reddit
That's the one!
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
I actually stayed there a while whilst my gf returned to the UK.
Loved sitting around their camp fire with other Overlanders.
mbardeen@reddit
I was in Ushuaia a couple years back (flew in for a celebration of life for Iohan Gueorguiev). One of the things I enjoyed the most was talking to the travelers there. I always started the conversation with "What's your story?"
Everyone has one, and they're all similar but unique in their own forms.
It was interesting watching people process the whole moment. Some with sadness, some already looking forward to their next adventures.
Royal_Assignment9054@reddit
Love Ushuaia. Been there a couple times. The IVECO truck looks awesome. Can you find parts easily in Southamerica? It's by Fiat, correct? Would love more details about it
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
That Iveco truck was owned by a French family we became friends with. It was pretty cool,but I don't know too much about it. They sold it after they had reached Ushuaia.
Mr_RollingGuy@reddit
This is insane! How amazing! And in that cool little old van. The trust that went into that van always being there for them is beyond my comprehension! I would maybe try this in a Toyota van but idk what else really. And even then I’d think it a million times over. lol
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
There's no totally reliable vehicle on this trip. We have met Overlanders from all over the world in all sorts of vehicles and they have all had problems.
But you don't let the problems stop you, getting past them make the trip even more special
Mr_RollingGuy@reddit
True. That’s a good way of looking at it. I tend to over think things. Maybe I should stop. lol 😆. This trip yall had is absolutely wild. I wish one day I can do the same.
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
I hope you can, it's such an amazing experience.
So.many amazing landscapes, cultures and people to meet along the way.
Mr_RollingGuy@reddit
I can imagine it. So awesome! What year is your van and do you have anything showing it like a YouTube video or even a post on here? I’m curious. I find it very interesting that an old combi van like that would not only carry so much weight (I imagine it has a small tiny engine) and that it was reliable being an air cooled design? Maybe I’m wrong? Thanks for the info. Very very cool stuff!
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Our van of most likely incredibly overweight,although we haven't weighed it in a very long time.
We have actually swapped the original engine for a 2l Subaru and so we have more power and better cooling. I don't think we would have made it to some of the places we visited without it.
We did this van tour last year which is pretty up to date. We've added a few things since then, but nothing major.
Van tour
Mr_RollingGuy@reddit
Awesome! Started to watch it now and came back to tell ya your 100th like came from me. Thanks again for the info and the video! The Subaru swap is a sick thing I had no idea you could do to these. Haha that’s awesome!
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Ah that's ace. Cheers buddy.
Yeah, the Suby swap has been great. Faster and longer cruising times. More power. I don't think we would have made it to some of the places we have visited with the original motor.
cab1024@reddit
Awesome. I've been talking about Tierra Del Fuego my whole life. Glad somebody went to see it!
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Ah it's a cool place.
We had planned to hike to this famous ice cave but it collapsed a few days before we were due to set off.
squeaki@reddit
Amazing!
I was confused when I saw UK plates whilst looking at the pics, then read your description. This camper is really holding up hey! What an amazing adventure!
Are you driving it all the way back?
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Haha we once had an English guy spot and our plates really confused him. Notanyboeople recognise our plates as classic UK plates... Some times that is a good thing though.
I don't think we have the budget to keep our camper together to get back 🤣
Our current plans are to visit all of the South American countries and then we will decided what to do from there
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overlanding-ModTeam@reddit
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Most_Talk_2067@reddit
Congratulations
KombiChronicles@reddit (OP)
Cheers. It was a cool place to explore in a camper. Definitely worth the wait 🤣
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