It's hard to say good bye to our lovely host Luisa and her family, and leave the impressive city of La Paz behind. A bus takes us to the crossing 40 km before Oruro, and from there we have to cycle against strong winds and we get the spectacle of soughing whirlwinds.
Our dream to ride across the white glittering world largest saltpan can not get fullfilled. By 4WD-tour we visit the impressive Isla de Huancasi with its up to 12 m high and 1000 years old giant cactus. Then by train to the border of Argentina.

Villazon is the place where we finally get on our bikes again. Asphalt and an easy route enables us to ride the bike part of the way to Mendoza. It is hot, one afternoon the thermometer climbs up to 49 degrees C. The Quebrada (canyon) de Cafayate is magical with its uncountable colours and rock formations, and one wishes to never forget all the details. Between Cafayate and Mendoza, the enormous wine growing area of Argentina, lies endless desert with nothing but thorny scrubs for hundreds of kilometres. When camping one has to be carful not to catch thorns in the tyres and sleeping mattresses.

The crossing of the Andes to reach Santiago de Chile is done comfortably by bus. The last meeting with our friends Adi and Ines before they fly back home to Switzerland. Then we will visit the Lake District in Chile before the nephew of Pius, Andreas, will join us again, to cycle together the famous Carretera Austral down to Tierra del Fuego.