Maria and her team mates began the Patagonian Expedition Race at midnight on 12 February 2013, setting off from Puerto Natales in Southern Patagonia, heading north towards Torres del Paine National Park.

They began with a 108 km bike trek over bumpy tracks and then trekked on foot for 28 km. This was the only time during the whole expedition that there was a path to follow – and even that disappeared after 6 km!