Yes!!!! We made it to the lowest point in South America!!!
We set out early (enough) from El Calafate and started off on Ruta 9, a good gravel road. We really did feel like being away from it all; in the 3.5 hours it took to drive it we saw 2 cars and a truck. We did see hundreds of guanacos (of the lama family) and ostriches. Every now and then we caught a glimpse of one of the Estancias (ranches) but most were too far from the road to see.
We got to Ruta 3, a proper road again, and continued on to Cmte. Luis Piedra Buena for lunch.
And then we set out from there to try and ‘descend’ to Laguna del Carbón. We had printed out maps with what we thought looked like possible tracks to the Laguna, and at which points to get off the main road. Turned out the one leading towards the gas plant was the one.
Naturally we found 2 locked gates.
I wasn´t going to let that stop me, and lo and behold someone at the plant opened the first gate for me. The extremely nice man listed to my explanation (in pretty poor Spanish) and not only did he understand where we wanted to go, he picked up the phone, called the owners of the land the Laguna is on, got us permission to proceed and opened the second gate for us!!!!
We couldn´t believe it!! (We had always suspected there would be a gate there). We were actually going to make it!!
And we did: it took a bit of skilled driving on Stephen´s part, but nothing hair raising. Our maps were just about spot on.
After about 45 minutes on dirt tracks later, we made it to Laguna del Carbón, at a delevation of -105m / -344ft, the lowest point in South America.
Oh, we did have one ‘little moment of concern’ when after we drove on the Laguna (it is a dry-ish lake) for a bit we noticed the tyres getting deeper into the salty mud… and for the briefest of moments the tyres spun as we tried to get out… but Stephen engaged the 4×4 and out we got. This was after all the number one reason we rented this Toyota hilux -:)
For me this means: 3 down, 4 to go!
So, naturally, I am very happy that it worked out, as for me this was probably the most important destination on this part of the trip!!!
Signing out from Puerto San Julián.
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