When I look at the top destinations in Peru, the Rainbow Mountains, Vinicunca and Palcoyo are among the top 5 destinations. It was only by chance that I came across Pallay Punchu at Laguna Langui.

I had already seen various cerros with many colors, but this idyll at 4,700 m inspired me. Probably also because I only came across 10 tourists in 2 days compared to the hundreds a day at the Rainbow Mountains and the whole thing is free.

At Pallay Punchu - Layo Canas the alpaccas still graze freely along the road

The ride from Laguna Pomacanchi to Campi was spectacular. Before Acomayo I left Ruta 117 and drove the next hour on the steep slopes of the mountains. The road in Campi was tight and bumpi however thereafter was great. The views from my pitch were reward enough.

The hike to Waqrapukara was too much for me. However the outlook during the hike was worth the 15 km on approx 4'000 m.a.s.l.

Another example for a less touristy location in Peru, I saw 3 other hikers that day

Yesterday, more by chance than by design, I found myself on the Ruta 34 E with the Dog.O.Mobil on a pass that has no name but is 4'789 meters above sea level. If you are looking for it, its location on Google Maps is about here

I couldn't really enjoy it much, as it rained, snowed and stormed all afternoon at over 4'500 m.a.s.l. What's more, the Ruta 34 E was the worst fucxxxx dust road in South America for me. I had never had so many potholes over 25 km before.

Puerto de Tiquina on Lake Titicaca is a ferry port where wooden ferries still bring everything from cars to trucks to the other side of the lake.

It only takes about 15 minutes and costs less than €5. Many Europeans can't imagine such a thing 🥳

What can I say, after crossing the Paso Agua Negra at over 4'700 m.s.a.l without any problems, I had been looking for higher and higher pitches over the last few weeks.

At Lago Chungará I cracked 4'500 m.a.s.l. It wasn't just the altitude, but also the fact that I drove up from Arica (sea level) with just one stop.

The pitch was brilliant, the view unbeatable. Temperatures at night were below -5 Celsius and I had to leave the parking heater on all night for the first time. But I didn't feel too bad at that altitude.

My last stop in Chile was Lago Chungará at the border to Bolivia. There are so many volcanoes and mountains in the Parque Nacional Lauca that this national park is definitely my favourite in Chile.

Firstly, because the panorama at over 4'500 metres is hard to describe, but it is brilliant. Secondly, because the wildlife at this altitude has so much more to offer besides llamas, flamingos, pumas and vincunas.

But if I'm honest, the altitude did get to me. I was glad to go to lower altitudes in Bolivia

In the last 2 weeks I have seen one or two llamas, then groups and at the weekend herds. They can reach almost two meters in length, weigh up  to 190 kg

I stayed with a breeder who had more than 200. The animals are so damn photogenic and the little ones are really cute.

I've been traveling through the Puna for days. I crossed passes up to 4'500 meters above sea level on the way and descended again in the evening to a maximum of 3'500 m.a.s.l.

Worked well. When I was standing at the Cone de Arita yesterday, I told myself that I had to break the 4'000 m.a.s.l. barrier for a pitch. I slept last night at 4'055 m.a.s.l. I feel brilliant! However I have to say it was fresh this morning with 2.5 Celsius outside

The Salar de Arizaro is a salt lake in the center of the Puna and lies at an altitude of 3,460 m.a.s.l. The ‘Cono de Arita’ is one of the sights of the Salar and one of my first goals for South America. Goal achieved!

The last 20 kilometers to the Cone de Arita are some of the worst Ripio tracks I have driven to date. I crawled along the track at 10 to 20 km/h at 25 degrees

It's around 320 kilometers from Vicuña, CL to Jachal, AR, with the Paso Aqua Negra in between. No really steep sections, tarmac road, but from the Embalse La Laguna you drive on gravel. Not a really bad track, but it's enough. It goes over approx. 158 km from 616 m.a.s.l. to 4'753 m.a.s.l., so it goes up about 25 m per kilometer. It looks similar on the other side in Argentina. 

I have to say that I was more excited about the journey up and down than the pass itself. Apart from a few signs, there's nothing there. 

Without warning, this fog forms on the Pacific coast. The temperature quickly drops from over 25 degrees to well below 20 degrees.

I found this phenomenon so interesting that I made a video with the drone. Unfortunately, the drone crashed after almost 25 minutes. I couldn't find it afterwards. The next morning, Marcus, Siegfried and I tried again. With success!

I drove for approx 1 hour on R-801 and it was one of the most spectacular valleys in Chile so far. But this tiny little bridge, or better what was left of it forced me to go back to Lonquimay. So I had twice the opportunity to enjoy the valley you could say, correct!

The whole R-801 is a gravel road, however the last 20 min to the missing bridge was covered in a black powder, so fine that it got into the car through every crack. Guess what I did the day after 🥴

Arrived at Lago Llanquihue in the late afternoon after a hike in the Parque Nacional Alerce Andino. What a view of the Osorno Volcano! Should be doable for me!

In the evening I looked at the weather forecast and I knew that it wouldn't be Osorno. Rain for the next few days. The next morning, the volcano was covered in clouds. It would be a different day and a different volcano!

If there's one thing I'll remember, it's the bad weather along the Carretera Austral. Below travel blog post didn't quite apply to me.

Patagonia in the dry season (December to February). During these months the temperatures are very warm, averaging 20° C, and the amount of rainfall is much lower than in the rest of the year. This is the high season and best time to travel anywhere in Chile

What do you do when your mind says no, but you really want to see the glaciers from your pitch..... 2 hours later I was out again. 

Thanks to Elisabeth and Carlheinz. Without help it would have taken much longer. 

After 2 weeks in Argentinian Patagonia, I crossed over to the Carretera Austral (R7) in Chile. The journey to Paso Roballos and the border station were definitely a highlight for me.

Next stop Cochrane. Refuelling and shopping

I am still not able to grasp the sheer distances in the Santa Cruz Province and as I call it the Estepa Province

Hardly a journey between 2 must-see spots under 300 kilometers and mostly on tiringly straight roads. Only the wind forces you to stay alert

Finally I have seen Fitz Roy. For me the most beautiful place in Patagonia. Even after a 19 km hike I felt so balanced and relaxed

At 8:00 this morning I entered the NP Los Glaciars to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier.  Paid 45 € and 30 min later I was one of many others, that drove the only one road that gets you to the Mirador. The viewpoint is nicely arranged with pathes that gives you the opportunity to see the Glacier from all angles. 

New Year's Eve is like Valentine's Day 

Some people party, others sit in front of the TV and I celebrate in Patagonia without fireworks and a TV

Happy New Year!

I wish you a Merry Christmas 

from the shores of the Pacific Ocean

north of Punta Arenas

After almost a week of rain and strong winds, I can once again enjoy a cup of coffee in front of the Dog.O.Mobil with a view of Tierra Del Fuego.

It's only 13 Celsius, but it feels so good. Afterwards I make myself a campfire to round off the Saturday in style

Last spring, I wanted to know how many kilometers I would cover on this tour. Furkot had planned around 32,000 kilometers from Montevideo to Cartagena in Colombia. The distance to Tierra del Fuego was to be around 5,500 kilometers and the direct route (along the RN3) around 3,000 kilometers.

Up to the border in Monte Aymond it was finally 7,600 km. All the small detours to avoid traveling on the RN40 added up to 2,000 km.

In Rio Gallegos, at the wreck, the driver's door was almost torn off. It was windy, but the gusts of wind were fierce. The door wouldn't close, warped, and a hinge was broken. Drove 25 km with the broken door to the next workshop

A VW workshop repaired it. They just laughed about the rookie error.... But they were so helpful

Drove from Puerto San Julián to Rio Gallegos and only saw 1 city next to the RN3. 2 junctions and the rest was Estepa, wasteland. Nothing on the left, nothing on the right. Only exits to Estancias which I couldn´t see

A little bit like in a Mad Max movie

Once upon a time, there was a proud drone owner who wanted to make beautiful videos of flamingos. But there was a flamingo that didn't know right from left. The drone is now R.I.P on Mar Chiquita

A comparsa parades very slowly down the street in Palermo. A comparsa group of candombe drummers and dancers

I have just received the picture from the agent. Friday 25th 18:00 local time. The Dog.O.Mobil is in the harbor and with a bit of luck I'll be able to take delivery of it on Monday

On Oct 23rd the Grande Francia arrived in the harbor of Montevideo around 11:00 in the evening. Now everything just has to be in and on the Dog.O.Mobil🤪. Over 9 month of preparation finally goes into action.

On Sept 9th I handed over the Sprinter in Hamburg with the support of Overlander Shipping Hamburg. The whole process took less than 45 minutes. Expected arrival in Montevideo is Oct 7th. As shit happens, the Dog.O.Mobil will be on a later vessel and only arrive on the Oct 19th