Route Across South America

The 2012 Dakar Rally departed from Mar del Plata, Argentina, on December 31, 2011, beginning a 9,000-kilometer journey across three countries.

From the Atlantic coast, competitors drove north through Argentina before climbing into the Andes and crossing into Chile via the high-altitude San Francisco Pass. The rally then continued through Chile’s Atacama Desert, reaching Iquique on the Pacific coast, a key stage with its towering dunes and challenging terrain.

For the first time in its history, the Dakar crossed into Peru, where the route led through the vast sands of the Nazca Desert before finishing in Lima on January 15, 2012.

The 2012 edition featured four vehicle categories — motorcycles, quads, cars, and trucks — each facing its own mechanical and navigational challenges.

This gallery documents the route and the striking landscapes of the 2012 Dakar Rally, from mountain passes to coastal deserts, showcasing the extraordinary diversity of terrain conquered over two demanding weeks.