#1: [03-May-07] (incomplete)

27-Apr-2024 --

For my first confluence visit, I set off from Salinas Grandes (Argentina) around 08:00 and arrived at Paso de Jama, one of the official Argentina/Chile border crossing points, at 11:00. I filled my rental 4x4's gas tank, as well as my own "gas tank" with a lunch at the local restaurant.

Based on the 2007 incomplete visit by the team from the University of Jujuy (whose narrative was very helpful in planning my own visit), I went to ask the local police about the area. Unfortunately, they didn't have a detailed map, but First Sargeant Diego Enrique Quintanilla shared his local knowledge and indicated the areas that were generally safe to walk or drive.

I ended up surveying what local dirt roads would get me closest to the confluence through Google Maps' terrain view. This was the best available source of information, and greatly helpful to plan the last few kilometers to the confluence. I traced a 38 km path from the local gas station to as close as the confluence point as I could (see waypoints listed below).

Since the confluence is located in Chile, I completed border controls; but instead of entering Chile, I went back out of the border control area on the Argentinian side. I informed the sergeant of my destination and said I should be back by 20:00.

I set off on the path starting next to the gas station at 13:00. The dirt tracks got progressively narrower and rougher. It took me about 30 minutes to drive the first 25 km, and an hour and a half to drive the remaining 13 km at 5-20 km/h. The path can only be driven with a 4x4 vehicle in dry weather, and goes through a very narrow section at the foot of a sharp hill for about 400 meters. That path was littered with small stones collapsed from the hillside, some very sharp which I removed to avoid bursting a tire. Turning the vehicle around in this spot was impossible, and I crossed fingers very hard that I'd make it to the end. I have no idea how I would have reverse-driven this hellish path.

Despite its difficulties, the road offered incredible views of the local hills and mountains, two of them capped with snow (one of them appears to be Nevados de Poquis). Local flora was typical of the area: small shrubs growing among desertic rocks. Local fauna consisted of a few birds; several groups of llamas (both domesticated and wild) happily looking at my car advancing slowly; and I even spotted one endangered short-tailed chinchilla. (This entire trip took place within the Provincial Reserve Alto Andina de la Chinchilla, started in 1992 to preserve the little animal)

At about 15:15 I crossed into Chile and arrived within 200 metres of the confluence point. I recognised the area photographed by the university team in 2007. I celebrated with photos and a video, noted GPS measurements, and took in the beautiful scenery before heading back.

I headed back at 16:15, and made it back to the gas station at 18:15.

Path to the confluence (GPS):

1. (Starting point) -23.236570, -67.018600
2. -23.184977, -66.962492
3. -23.122642, -66.925261
4. -23.082914, -66.927208
5. -23.076950, -66.922216
6. -23.073847, -66.920339
7. -23.042556, -66.929409
8. -23.024856, -66.967569
9. (Arg./Chile border) -23.007856, -66.993017
10. (200m from the confluence) -22.998600, -66.998750

Path to the confluence (What 3 Words):

1. (Starting point) parabola.carousels.gobbled
2. throat.abridging.decked
3. splurging.avoiding.faces
4. bellyache.fevers.ribs
5. thriller.concern.psychical
6. lawfully.whittled.humanistic
7. grimaces.delude.terraced
8. guarantees.bananas.lures
9. (Arg./Chile border) offers.hungrier.biter
10. (200m from the confluence) miraculously.skulls.seat