San Bernardino Pass Switzerland

Travelled:160km

Stay: Splugen Switzerland - free parking, hiking trails, river N46.5467 E9.3241

Visited: San Bernardino, Splugenpass into Italy

After a hot night, we took our time getting ready to get on the road again. We decided to get a little bit of fuel to make sure we made it into Switzerland but once again we got confused at the bowser.... one was self service, which was cheaper by 20c than the other bowser that the attendant fills up for you. There was also a prepaid credit card machine which I thought was for the self serve, but apparently you only use these if the station is closed...anyway we managed to get some fuel and got on the motorway heading to Switzerland. At the border we needed to purchase a vignette to travel on Swiss motorways. The only place was at a cafe that charged €42, way over the 40chf price. I told them they were thieves! But we had no choice so got it anyway. We drove past Lake Lugano and then along a beautiful valley until San Bernardino where we stopped for lunch.

Then instead of going through the mountain in a tunnel we zigzagged our way up and over the Pass.

When we reached the top we went for a walk to enjoy the views and built our own stone cairn.

In the next valley we were to stop at the base of Splugenpass but at the last minute we continued on to the top. 

There were a lot of tight hairpin turns and we took a rest before venturing to a lakeside stop 3km further into Italy. 

The little village is nearly at 2000m alt. and we were all feeling unwell from the altitude. 

We rested, had dinner and then drove back the 11km to our original spot which is still 1500m alt.