Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica
The Southern End of the World
On January 8th, we crossed the border into Argentina at Paso San Sebastián and continued south toward Río Grande, officially entering the final stretch of our long Patagonian journey. After weeks of constant movement, we treated ourselves to two relaxing nights by the beach, enjoying the wide-open landscapes, the sound of the wind, and the feeling of being truly at the edge of the world.
From Río Grande, we drove west toward Tolhuin, a small and peaceful town nestled between forests and lakes, before continuing on to Ushuaia, famously known as Fin del Mundo. After 678 days of travel, we finally arrived on January 10th in Ushuaia, the southernmost town of Tierra del Fuego—a powerful and emotional milestone that marked the end of a journey spanning continents, borders, and countless unforgettable experiences.
We spent two nights in Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, surrounded by dramatic mountains, forests, and coastal landscapes, before moving on to stay several more nights along the Beagle Channel. With ships passing quietly through the cold southern waters and snow-dusted peaks in the distance, it was the perfect place to pause and prepare for the next, most ambitious chapter of our adventure.
Soon after, we boarded a ship with the goal of exploring the seventh continent: Antarctica. Unfortunately, the Southern Ocean had other plans. A powerful storm system over the Drake Passage made a direct crossing impossible, forcing a change of itinerary. Instead, we sailed first to the Falkland Islands, where we spent a memorable day on land, walking among penguin colonies and soaking in the raw, windswept beauty of this remote archipelago.
When conditions allowed, we attempted the legendary Drake Passage once again. After two intense days at sea, facing waves of up to five meters, we finally reached the Antarctic Peninsula. Stepping onto Antarctic soil was an unforgettable moment—silent, vast, and overwhelmingly powerful. Sadly, our time there was short. After just one day on land, another major storm was forecast, and the captain made the difficult but necessary decision to sail back toward Ushuaia to ensure everyone’s safety.
The return crossing of the Drake Passage was even more challenging, with waves exceeding six meters, making it a true test of endurance. After three long nights at sea, we finally arrived back in Ushuaia. While we had planned to spend four full days on the Antarctic continent, we managed only two, but the experience of reaching Antarctica at all—combined with the unexpected visit to the Falkland Islands—made the journey extraordinary in its own way.
Back in Ushuaia, we reunited with several travel friends we had met along our long road south, sharing stories and celebrating the fact that we had all made it to the end of the continent. We also said an emotional goodbye to our Swiss cycling friend Fiona, whom we had crossed paths with multiple times across the Americas—she too had successfully reached Ushuaia, completing her own incredible journey.
Finally, on February 1st, we left Tierra del Fuego and began heading north once again. Crossing the border back into Argentina at Paso Integración Austral, we closed one of the most intense and memorable chapters of our travels—carrying with us stories, friendships, and experiences that will stay with us forever.
