🇦🇷Roads in Argentina
2 roads found in Argentina, South America
Ruta 40
🇦🇷 Argentina
Ruta Nacional 40 is Argentina's longest highway and one of the great road trips on Earth, stretching over 5,000 kilometers from Cabo Virgenes at the southern tip of Patagonia to La Quiaca on the Bolivian border. Running parallel to the Andes mountain range along the entire western edge of Argentina, the road passes through 20 national parks, crosses 18 rivers, and traverses 236 bridges. It connects some of the most diverse and stunning landscapes in South America, from the windswept steppe of Patagonia to the high-altitude deserts of the Puna. The southern Patagonian section is the most legendary and challenging stretch, where the road passes through vast, empty expanses with barely a settlement in sight. Here, fuel stations can be hundreds of kilometers apart, and the famous Patagonian winds can buffet vehicles with gusts exceeding 100 km/h. The road surface alternates between paved sections and rough gravel (ripio), particularly in the more remote southern portions. Between El Chalten and Perito Moreno, drivers traverse some of the most isolated territory accessible by road in South America. Further north, Ruta 40 passes through the wine country of Mendoza, where the road runs through renowned vineyard regions with the snow-capped Andes as a backdrop. Continuing north through the high desert of the Puna, the road climbs to over 5,000 meters at Abra del Acay, one of the highest points on any national highway in the world. The entire route typically takes two to three weeks to drive, making it one of the ultimate long-distance road adventures.
Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Route of Seven Lakes)
🇦🇷 Argentina
The Ruta de los Siete Lagos is a 107-kilometer stretch of Ruta Nacional 40 between San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura in the Argentine Lake District of northern Patagonia. As its name suggests, the road passes seven stunning glacial lakes, each with its own distinct color ranging from deep emerald to brilliant turquoise, set against a backdrop of snow-dusted Andean peaks and ancient Araucaria (monkey puzzle) forests. The seven lakes along the route are Machonica, Falkner, Villarino, Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, and Lacar. The road climbs through Lanin and Nahuel Huapi National Parks, crossing mountain passes that offer sweeping views of the lake-studded landscape below. Numerous pulloffs and short trails lead to hidden beaches, viewpoints, and waterfalls. The route is equally spectacular in every season, from the wildflower-covered meadows of spring to the fiery autumn colors of the southern beech forests.