Garibaldi Pass (Paso Garibaldi)

The basics

Crossing the Garibaldi Pass is an iconic moment on any road trip through Tierra del Fuego, or Patagonia’s land of fire. National Route 3, spanning from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, crosses the circa-1956 Garibaldi Pass. Offering one of the region's best views, the pass marks the geographical change between the two continental plates it nearly straddles. Sheep farms and steppes define the north. To the south, the Beagle Channel stretches to Patagonia’s islands and towards Antarctica.

Things to know before you go

• The pass is open all year.

• Snow and ice frequently make Garibaldi Pass difficult to traverse.

• Due to road conditions, a 4WD vehicle or tour is the most practical way to cross.

How to get there

Unless you’re planning on road tripping your 4WD the length of Argentina (or indeed the Americas), the best way to visit the Garibaldi Pass is as part of an organized tour from Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city. Due to the remote location of the pass (almost 40 miles or 64 kilometers from Ushuaia), round trips generally take at least six hours to give you time to fully explore. Some include hiking and visits to Fagnano and Escondido lakes.

When to get there

Visit anytime in Patagonia outside of South America’s summer (December–March) and you'll find that the famed land of fire has become full of ice. Days are long, and snow and adverse weather less likely in this preferred visitor time period of summer, but know that when you’re this far south, blizzards can hit at any time of year.

Argentinian Patagonia’s sawmill industry

As you cross the Garibaldi Pass, you may see spires of smoke rising from one of the few functioning sawmills in the area. Largely dating from the early 20th century, these sawmills were part of an important industry in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego. The Bronzovic Sawmill, on the edge of Lake Fagnano, is still in use, but many others are little more than husks.