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From Wednesday 13 to Monday 25 December, from San Sebastian, border with Argentina, to Ushuaia , “Ruta del fin del Mundo “
A very special bakery.
After a very quiet night and in absolute security at the border post, last steps before the final destination Ushuaia. It will take us about three steps to reach it. A first day still in the great outdoors, where our only companions are the guanacos and a few zorros (Patagonian foxes). We go very quickly on a beautiful road with a tailwind and arrive very quickly in Rio Grande. A town which was marked by the Falklands War, a large square is dedicated to the memories of this war. Apart from this, the city has no particular attraction. We sleep in a small hostel.
Thursday we calmly continue our route, which is indeed very monotonous in the middle of these large spaces, where a few oil wells stand. This evening for the first time we sleep in a bakery, among bags of flour and various packaging boxes. The owner is friendly and will offer us pastries that we won’t want anymore.
Ushuaia, the grail.
Friday our final stop before reaching the city of Ushuaia. In a few km, the setting changed. We find trees and large bodies of water. The hilly road offers a magnificent spectacle. We cycle quickly and with pleasure. The holy grail is our arrival in Ushuaïa. The emotion is great and it really hurts the heart to arrive in this southernmost city in America. Afterwards, there is nothing left, it is Cape Horn, the Drake Passage and Antarctica. After the traditional photos we settle on the heights of the city. We planned to stay ten days at the end of the world.
A city without a soul
As the days go by, there is a bit of disappointment. This is undoubtedly the price of success, but Ushuaia located at the end of the world has lost its mythical image of a place difficult to access and has become a city without soul. In the end there is little to see apart from penguins and sea lions. The little getaway to see them is done on a boat of 200 people at an exorbitant price. The city with its 80,000 inhabitants is the victim of mass tourism. This phenomenon has the effect of causing prices to explode. Tourists disembark by the thousands from the cruise ships which dock every day. Europeans and other foreigners who are here for business are driving up prices. For example, a cruise in Antarctica on a sailboat for 23 people costs 12,000 euros per individual for 18 days.
Our road
During these 13 days we covered 491km. Our map is still available on our site and by clicking on this link .
Our encounters: There were many, and especially with people impressed by the number of countries we crossed by bike and also Asian tourists who are always fond of photos and selfies.
Did you know: The Drake Passage, an area located between Cape Horn (extreme tip of South America and Antarctica), is considered the most dangerous place on the planet for sailors. It is one of the maritime areas which experiences the worst weather conditions. The passage was named in honor of the 16th – century British explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake .
