January 09, 2025

We left Estancia Penitente, where we had spent the night—a captivating location reminiscent of The House of the Spirits and “the Three Marias.” The estancia has been inhabited by five generations since 1893.

Before leaving, we were greeted by a lovely group of white and black llamas, including some young ones. We managed to take some beautiful family photos!

Then, we began the day’s journey: 140 km with winds coming from the west or northwest, which either helped or hindered us depending on the direction of the road. It was a long stage where we endured side gusts for much of the time and enjoyed a brief stretch of tailwind.

Around lunchtime, we came across a rare roadside stop for this area—a small rest area where we ate empanadas.

On the way, we also passed a futuristic installation that looked like a glamping site or a space station, featuring curious globe-shaped structures.

Finally, we reached Punta Arenas. After days of desolate steppes, mountains, and untouched nature, arriving in Punta Arenas brought us back to the traffic and hustle of a real city with over 100,000 inhabitants.