The Paso de Agua Negra is located in the Andes between Argentina and Chile and is the highest pass between the two countries. We start at Las Flores on the Argentinian side, where we spend the night at a simple campsite before starting our journey the next morning. The Argentinian border post is only a few kilometers away. We reckon on a day's journey of around 150 km over the pass, which is in no man's land. The Chilean border post is on the other side of the Paso de Agua Negra. Most of the road is a gravel track. It is mid-March and we have great weather. Please note that the pass is only passable from around December to March, depending on the weather. So we chill out a bit, soak up the sun, fortify ourselves and crawl into our tent at sunset.
Let's go! We are already very excited and eager to see what the day has in store for us. The temperatures are still mild, but could change quickly at over 4000 meters above sea level. The country is vast and sparsely populated. We can already see a small border post on the horizon. We set the blinker and the Argentinian customs officials are already waving at us. They greet us curiously and want to know where we are coming from. After a brief chat, our passports are stamped. They want to know whether we are staying overnight on the pass or driving through. If you want to stay overnight, you have to register at the border post, because we are entering no man's land. The Chilean customs officers are informed when we arrive. If we don't arrive on the same day, they will come looking for us. We get on our motorcycles and leave the last few kilometers of asphalt behind us. Hasta luego Argentina! A country full of wonderful nature and friendly people. This is a farewell that is not easy for us. Who knows when we will return.
We have arrived on the gravel road. And we can't stop being amazed. Suddenly we are standing in front of a sign. Apparently a tunnel is being planned. Interesting!
The air is very thin. The walking is strenuous and our movements become more and more conscious. We have reached the top of the pass and are at 4753 meters above sea level. Wow, what a feeling. Our hearts are beating faster and we are full of adrenaline. What an exciting ride. But the natural spectacle continues!
Argentina bids us farewell in its own way. An unforgettable journey! We arrive at Chilean customs dusty but overjoyed. But a somewhat longer check awaits us here. We have to unload all our luggage and let it through the scanner. Sweaty, dusty and tired, we put up with it.
Hannes from Münster has to hand in his peppers. We get to know him and look for a place to spend the night together. We round off the evening with a cerveza and home-made spaghetti napoli - without peppers. The Atacama Desert awaits us the next day. Bienvenidos a Chile! This is our next adventure. Hasta luego!
