Mendoza launches VanLife program for motorhome tourism

A group of travelers was stranded by a heavy snowstorm on Mount Pissis in Argentina's Catamarca province. One of those affected admitted they were unprepared, and tourism officials called for stronger preventive measures. Fernando Millán, a tourist from Buenos Aires, spent nearly 24 hours trapped inside his vehicle with his family after a sudden whiteout covered the road in minutes. According to Millán, they had left before the expected weather change, but around 2:00 p.m. the convoy of several vehicles became stuck. Snow blocked the exhaust pipe, forcing them to turn off the engine due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Civil defense personnel reached the area on foot and evacuated the tourists via an alternate route, as clearing the main road was impossible. A total of 120 people were rescued in the operation.

In Neuquén province, Argentina, a 60-year-old man and his daughter became stranded in their motorhome on a snow-covered road in the Santo Tomás area after following a GPS route that did not account for actual driving conditions. Rescue teams evacuated the pair to Las Coloradas, where they received accommodation and medical checks; both were unharmed. The motorhome remained at the site until the next day for recovery by heavy machinery.

In Neuquén province, Argentina, rescuers evacuated a father and daughter from Mendoza whose motorhome got stuck on a washed-out road. GPS directed them onto a section of Provincial Route 47 that was impassable. Both were unharmed; the motorhome remains at the site.

In Argentina, illegal entry of 4x4 convoys into the Batea Mahuida Natural Protected Area has been reported. Local authorities say groups of SUVs, including tourists from Brazil, access restricted zones such as El Arco and Laguna Corazón, causing environmental damage. Lorenzo Lorente, president of the Villa Pehuenia Volunteer Firefighters Association, stated that caravans of up to 20 vehicles operate and avoid official rescue services to evade detection. This year, no access control has been implemented at the site, worsening the problem.

Camila, a former office worker from Neuquén, converted an old Traffic van into a motorhome and lives in Patagonia on a budget of under 200,000 pesos per month. Her main expenses include fuel (60,000–80,000 pesos), food (45,000–55,000 pesos), and gas and maintenance (20,000–30,000 pesos). She earns income through photography, writing trail guides, and bartering services for accommodation, while using free campsites and municipal showers.

The municipality of Puerto Madryn has stepped up inspections of motorhomes and travel trailers on Hansen Street following resident complaints. Local regulations permit parking from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. but prohibit overnight stays. Traffic director Gustavo Fernández said night patrols enforce the ordinance. Authorities are also working to remove a motorhome occupied by a homeless person, coordinating with community and social services.