Chos Malal

After one last ice cream in Rapa Nui, we left Barioche and made our way onto La Ruta de Los Siete Lagos, a spectacular 110km drive between snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and dense pine forests. On our first night we made it as far as the resort town Villa la Angostura where we were able to camp by Nahuel Huapi lake at camping cullumehe.

The next day we continued our drive along the road of the lakes, stopping for views and pictures along the way at Mirador Lago Espejo and a picturesque lunch stop at Mirador Lago Falkner before arriving at San Martín de Los Andes, a small pretty lakeside town marking the end of La Ruta de Los Siete Lagos. Here we explored the streets and found an Easter market as well as lots of artisan chocolate shops where we bought our Easter eggs. Keen to make further progress, we continued our drive onwards, stopping for dinner by Rio Chimehuin. A friendly local fishing advised us it wasn't safe to camp here so late in the evening we drove in to Junín de Los Andes where slept overnight along with some other campervans at the Axion petrol station.

On the 7th we arrived at a sleepy village Chos Malal, marking the halfway mark of the Ruta 40, the longest road in Argentina, connecting more than 210 villages over 5200km parallel to the Andes as well as crossing 20 national parks, 18 major rivers and 27 passes in the Andes. We enjoyed a nice sunset and food stalls along the river before parking up at the towns municipal camping!

After 2 months in Patagonia, we officially drove out of the region on 8th of April. Unfortunately the nice paved Ruta 40 turned back to gravel and sand, the worst road condition we experienced yet so the day consisted of a slow and tiring drive although very scenic running along the Rio Grande that zigzags in a wide valley surround by volcanic rock of all colours. We stopped at La Pasarela for a view of the erosion of the volcanic rock by the river giving irregular shapes and striking colours. That night we stayed in our biggest and busiest municipal camping yet in Malargüe, packed with Argentinians celebrating Easter weekend!

For a sunny and warm Easter Sunday, we picked a nice campsite San Antonio to stay in Tunuyán Uco Valley, another wine growing region which we didn't get to on our first visit to Mendoza. Beforehand, we stopped off in a small village Pareditas to gather supplies to celebrate Easter Argentinian style with an asado! Unfortunately when we arrived at the campsite, the swimming pool was closed for autumn however Joe admired an argentinian families asado near the pool which then turned into an invite to their family dinner! Not wanting to impose, we politely declined but Marko, his wife Julianna, granny Erma and their 11 year old daughter insisted and we were treated to a very generous and tasty asado despite the language barrier!

The next day, we drove Provincial Route 89, also known as the Wine Road which runs along Uco valley past vineyards and wineries. Our first stop of the day was at Bodega Jean Bousquet where we stocked up on some organic wine for the campervan. After finding a favourite wine called Gran Sombreros Malbec in a restaurant on our first trip in Mendoza, we went in search of the winery. Off the beaten track, we found Bodega Huentala Wines, a 230 hectare vineyard. With no reservation, initially we were stopped at the gate but luckily they were able to find space for us to enjoy a wine tasting and nibbles, a real treat!Read more