Dakar 2009 : Dakar

Judith Tomaselli, a motor-sports journalist, has traveled throughout this last year through the regions visited by the Dakar. Check out the official site for here impressions and photos.

• A tarmac ribbon

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  Whether a ribbon of tarmac, earth or sand, the road opens up the gates to freedom, discovery and dreams…

  

• Lagoons

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  Before crossing through Argentine customs, the track passes by a turquoise lagoon that stands out from the black volcanic rock.

  

• The San Francisco pass

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  The San Francisco pass, at 4,763 meters high, allows travelers to cross the Andes Mountains through an impressive chain of volcanoes, including the Nevado Incahuasi – the house of the Inca in Quechua – which rises up to 6,638 meters high, as well as Mount San Francisco.

  

• The San Francisco pass

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  The San Francisco pass, at 4,763 meters high, allows travelers to cross the Andes Mountains through an impressive chain of volcanoes, including the Nevado Incahuasi – the house of the Inca in Quechua – which rises up to 6,638 meters high, as well as Mount San Francisco.

  

• Vigognes

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  In the Chaschuil valley and on the barren slopes, the tufts of ichu grass are heaven-set for the herds of vicuna. Everything is quiet, colorful and wonderful, with only the bird song, trickle of water and whistling of the wind breaking the silence…

  

• Les Peladas

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  The mountainsides, when heading down the San Francisco pass to Fiambalá, offer an astonishing palette of colors on a velvety soil…

  

• White sand dunes

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  On arrival in Fiambalá, the dunes of white sand are not far off…

  

Fiambalá

After having crossed the Andes Mountains via the San Francisco pass, the discovery of the wonderful landscape and the magic colors offered by nature will leave you speechless… Lower down in the valley the white dunes of Tatón rise up. For freedom-seeking travelers, the Argentine Noroeste offers a pretty palette to discover…