Road conditions - Ushuaia
 

Hello All

I'm looking at a 4 week trip early next year from Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Santiago - Buenos Aires.

Have very limited off road skills so would be welcome feedback on severity of road conditions.

Thanks, John

Hi John,

You will find a few threads on here that may help answer your question. Just key in "ruta 40" in the search engine to find what you are looking for.

Generally speaking, the roads in Patagonia are not technically difficult. For example, sand is extremely rare on ruta 40 and ruta 3 is paved all the way. Having said that, it is the intense wind in some parts of your chosen route that will pose most problems. But if you take things slow I believe with even basic off road skills you can enjoy going all the way south.

Also, the bike you will be riding will be a factor. Which bike will you be using?

You don't need to leave tarmac all the way to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires.

If you are heading to Santiago de Chile after Ushuaia then you will probably be taking RTA 40 and a few other minor gravel roads.

If you ride slow and within your abilities, you will be just fine...

2007, the worst of RTA 40 was being paved so should be much better now.

Hi Ted, many thanks for that - sounds like i won't need to get knobblies at that rate.

You wont want to do it on slicks or "shanghai skidmasters"

Some TKC80s, Sahara 3's etc etc will be great for your trip :thumbup1:

You definitely don't want to do it on street tires. There are about 125 km of dirt (but good condition and not difficult) that you can't avoid in Tierra del Fuego. Also, coming north in Chile you'll probably want to go through Torre del Paines, which is dirt. I used Sahara 3s on a KLR and they were fine. Only difficult part of the trip (aside from some portions of Ruta 40) is the heavy winds. Unless, of course, you hit rain and mud....

Someone suggested to me using a neck brace... the foam rubber kind used for whiplash. I bought one for $5 and it really helped. Not only did it support my helmet (and my head) when riding in very high sidewinds, but helped keep me warm. Even in summer it can be very cold down there.

Have a ball.

Ruta Quarenta
 

Ruta Quarenta, as it is known can be made even on moped :-)
It is not difficult to drive. The worst on that is dust on unpaved sections.
Part of the route through Tierra del Fuego to Ushuaia - very rare settlements, Chilean part of the rote in worse condition, than Argentinian.
I can't upload pictures, but they are available on Picasa Web Albums - ArekPawelek - PUNTA ARENAS-...

Accomodation options
 

Many thanks for all the above advise ... one final thing .... if all goes to plan will be travelling from BA to Ushuaia first week in Jan ... read somewhere that you need to pre-book accomodation at that time of year .... any thoughts ?

G'day Mike

Any chance you have a GPS location of that camp site, it sounds like the bees knees :) I would like to be there new year ish.

Cheers
TravellingStrom

You're best asking in the South America forum...

From what I remember, you just head to the coast road and keep heading west, hugging the coast (Ushuaia is a coastal town) until it turns into 1 road. The camp site is off this road.

That same road is the one that heads into the national park.

Everyone in town knows the campsite and you could always follow a taxi there for about $10 USD from town.

Rio Pipo
 

Hi,

Campsite to be found heading west on Av Ynoyen just before it meets Av Alem


ushuaia - Google Maps

Alec.