Hello everyone!
I’m Santiago, one of the founders of our travel agency Beyond BA Latam, and I’d like to share a personal story: an unforgettable road trip I took in 2010 with three generations of my family—my brother, my father, and my grandfather. Apologizes if the quality of the pictures is not the best!
A Family Legacy
My grandfather, Anatolio, was born in Poland and emigrated to Argentina in 1931, when the situation in Europe began to deteriorate. Together with my grandmother, they formed a family of four Argentine children—one of whom was my father, Daniel, born in 1954.
From a young age, my father dreamed of exploring Patagonia. In the early 1970s, he and his best friend David ventured on an epic trip from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. They hitchhiked across the vast Atlantic coast, stopping in places like Puerto Madryn, and worked along the way to fund their travels. They eventually reached Tierra del Fuego, experiencing a side of Patagonia that was even more remote and wild than it is today.
Years later, my father and David also explored the stunning Lake District near Bariloche and Esquel.
I was born in 1984 and, like my father, developed a deep love for Patagonia. My first solo trips to the far south—El Calafate, El Chaltén, and Ushuaia—were with one of my closest friends… also named David.
The Spark Behind This Journey
While my father, brother, and I had all been to Southern Patagonia before, my grandfather had never made it that far south. He had explored much of Argentina and parts of South America, but never beyond the latitude of Puerto Madryn or Bariloche.
During a family barbecue, we came up with the idea of doing a multi-generational road trip to Ushuaia—and Anatolio would be the guest of honor.
And so, in December 2010, the four of us set off on a 21-day road trip across Argentina and Chile, covering more than 10,000 km. My grandfather was 86 at the time, my father 55, my brother 26, and I was 25.
The Route
From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
We departed from Buenos Aires just after Christmas and drove straight to Puerto Madryn (1,400 km), where we spent four nights exploring Peninsula Valdés. We enjoyed the sea cliffs, Punta Norte, sea lions, elephant seals, and other local wildlife. My grandfather even befriended a curious pichi armadillo.
We skipped the local penguin colony at Valdés because we had plans to visit Punta Tombo later on our journey.
From there, we continued south to Comodoro Rivadavia, an oil town we used as a stopover, before heading to Puerto San Julián, where we visited a replica of the Victoria (Magellan’s ship) and stayed at a small roadside inn connected to a gas station.
Next came the long drive to Ushuaia, passing through Río Gallegos, crossing the Magellan Strait into Chilean territory, and finally re-entering Argentina on the island of Tierra del Fuego. The transition from the barren steppe to the lush Andean forest as we crossed Garibaldi Pass was simply magical.
Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego
The arrival in Ushuaia felt legendary. We spent five nights there, visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park, snapping a family photo at the Lapataia Bay sign (the southernmost end of the Pan-American Highway), and exploring places like Estancia Harberton.
Torres del Paine, El Calafate & El Chaltén
After Ushuaia, we retraced our steps northward and entered Chile once again, arriving in Puerto Natales for the night (this was a very long day). We had a fantastic seafood dinner and visited panoramic viewpoints of Torres del Paine before continuing back into Argentina, in the following days.
In El Calafate, we spent two nights and marveled at the Perito Moreno Glacier. Then we drove to El Chaltén for another two nights. While my brother, father, and I went hiking to Fitz Roy and Lago Torre, my grandfather stayed in town and made new friends over a delicious Patagonian lamb lunch.
Naturally, if you’re planning a road trip in Southern Patagonia, I suggest you to invest more days !
From Southern Patagonia to the Lake District
To connect Southern and Northern Patagonia in the limited time we had, we opted to return to the Atlantic coast. After overnighting in Caleta Olivia, we headed to Sarmiento to visit an awe-inspiring petrified forest.
We then reached Esquel, the gateway to Los Alerces National Park, and drove north along the scenic Ruta 40 to Bariloche, where we spent four relaxing nights. One highlight was rafting the Manso River—with my 86-year-old grandfather riding along like a champion! We also did horseback riding, lakeside barbecues, and caught up with friends and family.
Back to Buenos Aires
The final stretch was a long one: driving all the way from Bariloche to Buenos Aires in one single day—about 1,700 km (something I don’t recommend doing in one go!).
My grandfather passed away in 2022, but the memories from that trip live on, etched into the landscapes we crossed and the moments we shared.
Today, I keep traveling through Patagonia, and the legacy has extended…my children have already begun discovering its magic.
Custom Road Trips in Patagonia
At Beyond BA Latam, our team specializes in tailor-made trips across Argentina and Chile. Whether you’re looking for a self-drive adventure, a trekking expedition, or a classic scenic tour, we’re here to help you craft an unforgettable experience. Get in touch to start planning your next adventure!
Start by exploring our most popular travel sections:
El Calafate to Ushuaia self-drive tour
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