ADVENTURES IN DRIVING: Going with Land Rover Into the Andes and Beyond

Ever wondered what it would be like to really drive off-road? Not just on rain-splattered city streets or snowy (but paved) mountain passes, but across landscapes where the smallest miscue will result in punctured tires or broken axles? If that kind of off-road challenge tweaks your fancy, then look no further than a Land Rover Driving Adventure Experience. By the time you complete one of their four- to seven-day trips, you’ll feel like a real off-road driving pro – and will have had a blast in the process.

Owning a Land Rover or Range Rover is not a requirement; bring only a desire for the experience and you are good to go. Past trips offered by the crack team of the company’s driving pros based in the U. S. included trips to the remote mountains around Telluride, across Moab’s incredible desert landscape in Utah, on safari in South Africa, and, the one we did in September, 2007, to the Argentinean Andes.
Driving LR3 Land Rovers in the remote Andes Mountains.
Heading to the northwest corner of Argentina means beginning and ending in Buenos Aires, where a visit to the Plaza del Mayo is a must do. That’s where Eva Peron stood on the balcony of the Pink House and seduced her countrymen into loving a dictator; it’s where government protests and strikes are often rallied, too, and where couples stroll hand-in-hand as they take in a warm summer night.

Make sure to visit San Telmo as well, where dancers tango in the middle of the street and antique shops, bistros, and bars dot the landscape; and try some of Argentina’s famous beef in one of the many chic restaurants that look out onto the riverfront in Puerto Madero. Cabaña Las Lilas is an especially elegant choice, with steak to die for; try some of Argentina’s fantastic red wines (the malbecs are especially good) from the Calchaqui Valleys near Salta, where our off-road adventure culminated.

A local restaurant at the top of the world in Argentina's Andes Mountains.

Leaving Bs.As. by chartered plane was the beginning of the Land Rover experience, flying high into the Andes to Cafayate, close to the Chilean border. At this point, we were at about 5,000 feet above sea level – and that is only the beginning of this trip to the clouds! Spending the night at the beautiful Patios de Cafayate Hotel and Spa (part of the Starwood Luxury Collection) begins the trip in style, with its antique furniture, ceramic floors, and whitewashed buildings (www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1702). There’s even a winery on the property to visit, and pre-Inca ruins close by to explore.

The next morning was when the excitement of driving took over. The award-winning LR Discovery 3 was the vehicle of choice, an SUV that inside is comfortable and roomy, and outside is a war horse, ready to take on the surprising landscape of desert and cacti that soon confronted us. Each car holds two drivers (so take one of these trips with a friend or loved one, and you’ll not only share the adventure, but hours of conversation as well), as well as a Land Rover Guide who will teach you exactly how to take the SUV across the wild landscapes you’re sure to encounter.

Beginning on paved roads, the ride climbed higher and higher into a sere desert world, where towering mountain peaks overlook rocky river beds and salt flats. Soon enough all civilization disappeared and it was just our hardy group and the landscape, as we plunged our LR3s right into a rushing river, then clambered out and up a boulder-strewn hillside. We found ourselves in a catacomb of overhangs, where the mountains rise up on either side of a tight squeeze, but never fear; on a Land Rover Expedition, you’re with pro driving instructors who will walk you through every aspect of taking a vehicle into places you never expected to be able to drive.

That night, we camped out high in the isolated mountains, where the Milky Way shone in all its amazing brightness while local chefs prepared a traditional “asado,” a delicious beef barbecue paired with local vegetables and breads. Being at altitude, the guides warned against alcohol consumption, but it was impossible to not sip a glass of local Syrah while marveling at the brilliant night sky.

Camping in the Andes Mountains at 14,000 feet. Photo courtesy Land Rover.

The next day dawned sunny and warm (the trips to this area are scheduled for the spring months, in September and October, so some warm layers are advised), and off went our caravan of LR3s once again, with the top of the world as the day’s destination. Winding higher and higher, we passed fields of cacti, herds of llamas, and saw incredible blue skies until we reached our final goal, to a mountaintop that sat at 5000 meters (over 16,400 feet). Gusty, chilly winds shook the SUV, sharp rocks threatened the tires, and some altitude sickness was definitely felt, but all prevailed and reached the summit. For most of the group, it was the tallest mountain we had ever climbed, and the excitement of the experience was palpable as high-fives were exchanged all around.
Local children living in Argentina's far north.

The adventure continued with an overnight stay in the remote mining town of San Antonio, sleeping at a quaint hostel (the only hotel in town) called Hosteria de Las Nubes. Then it was on to the cosmopolitan city of Salta, where llamas and sheep give way to sophisticated boutiques, chic restaurants, rollicking nightclubs, and numerous historical and cultural sights.

Salta and Buenos Aires are certainly fascinating places to visit and to experience Argentinean hospitality and culture, but it was the remote places and landscapes – and the feeling of accomplishment at successfully driving in extreme off-road conditions that made the Land Rover Adventure trip one that is simply unforgettable.

To discover more about the company’s trips coming up, go to

www.landroverexperience.com/int/en/experience/Expeditions/land-rover-exp....

Prices begin at around $3000 per person (exclusive of airfare), depending on the length of the adventure and destination.