The Trek to the Post Office at the End of the World (road).
The popularity and exclusivity of this experience is something we couldn’t pass up. It’s no small task. But to our friends and family, we really thought this was worth it. What are all the pieces that makes this work? To make it official, you need the following:
A postcard
A stamp purchased from the ‘End of the World’ in Ushuaia, Argentina
An $18 paid ticket per person into the Tiera Del Fuego National Park
Paid transportation to the National Park that will then travel down those last miles of the Pan American Highway that are dirt and gravel
An official hand stamp by the Post Office at the End of the World (road), tucked in the back of the National Park right at the edge of the water on Bahía Ensenada Zaratiegui
$4 USD per postcard and a miracle that they travel to the recipients over 7,500+ miles away.
Since we’re on a tight timeline to be back at the ship, we also needed help that the line wouldn’t be hours long when we arrived, and that it was open (today is Sunday 1/14/2024).
I’ve been here 5 minutes and I already love this town. Tucked into the southernmost tip of the Andes. I love mountain towns.
Oh, yeah, by the way, the entire National Park is dirt and gravel roads. And, worth it!
We stop for pictures through the park along the way.
And then, we, are, here.
I felt as though ‘Unidad’ had something to do with Dad and therefore I definitely needed this shot. He’s the only dad I have so I think that’s what this referred to.
This post office is covered with stickers from people who’ve come from every corner of the globe.
The inside of this tiny post office is heated with a wood stove in the corner, and pressboard walls, and this above, and this cool little item below. Is it possible they just take your money here and nothing actually happens? I guess we’ll find out in 20+ days when these postcards should land in the intended recipients mailboxes.
It’s the final step in the process. The official mailing ‘box.’
And that’s a wrap from the end of the road on Bahía Ensenada Zaratiegui, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. Happy trails to you!
Why do they also call this the ‘post office at the end of the road’ versus at the end of the world?
It’s because the Pan-American highway ends at the footsteps of this post office. The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching across the Americas, measuring almost 19,000 miles in total length. Except for a break of about 60 miles across the border between Colombia and Panama, the roads link most of the Pacific coastal countries of North America and South America in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". See the image below.
Making this drive would take you about 38 days if covering 500 miles per day.
Our final steps on land for the next eight days. Meet the vessel up close and personal that was built for these Antarctic Expeditions. We are boarding now. This along with an entourage to support the Captain including two Ice Pilots, 3 scientists, and 3 Antarctic Expedition specialists to navigate Drake’s Passage and the next 8 days at sea and the channels we will navigate along the Antarctic Peninsula. The complexity of every aspect of this type of voyage also means that there’s nearly one employee for every 3 passengers. The captain shared there are 755 employees onboard.
Ushuaia, Argentina as we pull away headed to Cape Horn.
Final shot of the day as we head out to sea.
Tomorrow we sail past Deception Point, and then the infamous trip ‘around the horn’ which is Cape Horn, and then into Drake’s Passage.