Challenges of Self-Driving Cars in Argentine Patagonia Revealed 🇦🇷

Due to the strike in Argentina, the flight to Calafate was canceled. Coinciding with Thanksgiving and the surrounding days, there were no available flights. Seeing that Bariloche still had tickets, I flew there on the 29th. The subsequent flights to Calafate were either ridiculously expensive or early morning without luggage.

Noticing that a one-way Uber to the booked Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel would cost $35, I decided to rent a car at the airport, even though I only had a translated copy of my driver’s license from Zuzuche and not the original. Apart from Hertz, which asked for an electronic version of the domestic driver’s license, all others refused service without the original.

Dates: October 29 – November 10, with two days wasted flying to Ushuaia.
Car rental and insurance: Approximately $950 USD, very last minute with no discounts.
Rental company and car model: Hertz, Citroën C3, odometer 5500km.
Fuel and parking: YPF Super throughout, average price $0.8 USD/L, total amount forgotten, but fuel is cheaper than water, and parking is free.

P1: Total route about 5000 kilometers, with two sections marked in red as extremely poor roads.

P2-6: Bariloche lake area, beautiful mountains, water, grass, and wildflowers. Activities include skiing, hiking, and golf. The view from and of the LLAO LLAO hotel is stunning. P5-6 shows Bolson, which was passed through but not stopped at. On the return trip, it snowed and fogged, with lupines, forsythias, and pine trees along the road, creating a fairy-like scene. Swimming and stream tracing are possible in summer.

P7: Wetlands on the way from Bariloche to Chalten, with flamingos.

P8-9: Hiking in Chalten, no further explanation needed.

P10-11: Glacier hiking in Calafate, the minitrekking price has risen to 400,000 ARS, excluding transportation, plus an additional 30,000 ARS for the entrance fee, which is outrageously expensive. So, if you don’t want to take a boat or hike but still want to see the glacier, feel free to hitchhike; there are many cars going there.

P12-13: Monte Leon National Park, where you can see penguins and sea lions for free! Remember, visiting Ushuaia costs an extra $70. There are also various colorful birds, and there’s a very small chance of encountering a puma, which I did not.

P14-16: Scenery on the return trip, possible wildlife encounters include armadillos, ostriches, sea lions, foxes, hares, and the common guanaco.

P17: Very regretful for not visiting Puerto Madryn due to time constraints, where southern right whales can be seen from the coast during spring and summer.

Highlights: Lake area and coastal roads, flexible schedule, relatively safe in Patagonia, and opportunities to pick up people and chat about different lives.

Drawbacks: Other routes are more desert-like, and without a US visa, I couldn’t drive to Ushuaia (which requires crossing Chilean territory). The roads are straight and empty, making it easy to drive at 180 km/h.