What are the most spectacular roads in Argentina?
Located in South America, Argentina is a country of contrasts, and so are the roads. It features more than 100 roads listed as the most spectacular in the world, including climbs to mountain peaks, mountain passes and coastal drives. A challenge for everybody.
For instance, the country hosts a never-ending list of mountain passes acting as borders with other countries. It’s worth to remember the country shares borders with Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. If you travel to Argentina, you can’t miss the legendary Route 40. Stretching from Santa Cruz Province in the south to Jujuy Province in the north, Ruta 40 is a real adventure in the western part of Argentina. It’s one of the longest and most spectacular drives in the world. Remember the climate ranges from subtropical in the north to subpolar in the south, so plan accordingly the drive.
If you prefer mountain roads, you can’t avoid Jama Pass, an Andean road from Chile to Argentina at an elevation of 4,283m (14,051ft) above sea level; Roballos Pass, an Andean pass from Chile to Argentina at an elevation of 651m (2,135ft) above sea level; or driving the international San Francisco Pass in the Andes, a mountain pass at 4,760m (15,616ft) above sea level, on the border with Chile. It's one of the highest roads of Argentina. Or the popular Sico Pass, a scenic border pass in the Andes, at an elevation of 4.092m (13,425ft) above sea level, on the border of Chile and Argentina.
Ruta Provincial J
Ruta Provincial J is an amazing journey on Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego archipelago. The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed!
An old mining road to Overo Volcano
Volcán Overo is a dormant volcano at an elevation of 4.481m (14,701ft) above the sea level, located in San Rafael department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Cuesta de la Chilca
Located in Catamarca Province, Argentina, Cuesta de la Chilca is an astonishing piece of mountain road engineering. It climbs sharply via 27 hairpin turns tightly stacked one on top of another. It's an improbable road clinging to the edge of the cliff.
Ruta 3 Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost paved road on Earth
Ruta 3 in Tierra del Fuego is one of the world's most spectacular drives. Stretching 395km (245 miles) through the Tierra del Fuego Province of Argentina, it is said to be the southernmost paved road on Earth.
Puente del Rio Lainez
Located in the Tierra del Fuego Province, in Argentina, the southernmost extreme of the Americas, the bridge over the Lainez river is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Salar del Hombre Muerto
Salar del Hombre Muerto is a salt pan at an elevation of 4.000m (13,123ft) above the sea level, located in Catamarca, in northwestern Argentina.
Puente del Rio San Pablo
Located in the Tierra del Fuego Province, in Argentina, the southernmost extreme of the Americas, the bridge over the San Pablo River is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Driving the road to Cerro Estrella in the Andes is not a piece of cake
Cerro Estrella is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5,389m (17,680ft) above sea level, located on the Chilean-Argentinian border. It is one of the highest roads in the country.
Cuesta del Clavillo
Located in Tucumán Province, Argentina, Cuesta del Clavillo is an astonishing piece of mountain road engineering. It climbs sharply via 14 hairpin turns tightly stacked one on top of another. It's an improbable road clinging to the edge of the cliff.
Camino de Los Túneles
Camino de Los Túneles (Road of the Tunnels) is a very exciting journey located on the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River. This challenging drive features 5 tunnels and several bridges.
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is a national park located in southwestern Tierra del Fuego province, over the borderline with Chile. The pass is reached by the Ruta Nacional 3 at the southern tip of the South American continent.
Pirquitas Mine
Mina Pirquitas is a high mountain town at an elevation of 4.340m (14,240ft) above the sea level, located in Jujuy Province in Argentina. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.
Ruta Provincial 13
Ruta Provincial 13 is one of the most spectacular tracks in the world. Located in the Andes, in the Argentinian Mendoza Province, the track is very scenic, climbing up several mountain passes and dry rivers.
Driving through the defiant road to Laguna Margarita
Carretera a Laguna Margarita is a very scenic drive located in Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur Province, in Argentina.
Cuesta de Zapata
Cuesta de Zapata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.907m (6,256ft) above the sea level, located in Belén department of Catamarca Province in Argentina. It’s, undoubtedly, one of the world’s most dangerous roads.
Conquer the Spectacular Paso Internacional Los Libertadores: Chile-Argentina Border Crossing
Chile and Argentina share more than 5,000 miles of border, most of them drawn on the imposing peaks of the Andes. With over 40 border crossings between the two countries spread over the mountains, the most spectacular is Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, also known as Paso del Cristo Redentor.
Huahum Pass
Paso Huahum is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 625m (2,051ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, on the border between Chile and Argentina. It’s one of the lowest passes of the southern Andes.
Faro Cabo Blanco
The Cabo Blanco lighthouse is Argentina's oldest surviving lighthouse. It’s located in Santa Cruz Province, within the Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve.
Cerro Famatina
Cerro Famatina is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.603m (15,101ft) above the sea level, located in the province of La Rioja, in northwest Argentina.
Veladero Mine
The Veladero mine is a high mountain gold mine at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level located in the San Juan Province of north-western Argentina.
Cerro San Pedro
Cerro San Pedro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.199m (7,214ft) above the sea level, located in the west of the province of Mendoza, Argentina, near the Chilean border.
An awe-inspiring road to Pino Hachado Pass in the Andes
Paso Pino Hachado is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.887m (6,190ft) above the sea level, located on the Argentina-Chile border.
Puente del Rio Lapataia
Puente del Rio Lapataia is a mountain bridge located in southwestern Tierra del Fuego province, in Argentina, near the borderline with Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Mamuil Malal Pass: a border road in the Andes
Paso Mamuil Malal is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,253m (4,111ft) above sea level, on the border between Chile and Argentina.
Ruta Provincial 31
Ruta Provincial 31 is a very scenic drive located in Chubut Province, on the Atlantic coast of Argentina.
Alferez Portinari Refuge
Refugio Alferez Portinari is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.520m (8,267ft) above the sea level, located in the Departamento de Tunuyán, Provincia de Mendoza, in Argentina.
Laguna Llancanelo
Llancanelo Lake is a high altitude, saline lake at an elevation of 1.280m (4,199ft) above the sea level, located in the south of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
How to navigate the challenging Ruta Provincial 73?
Ruta Provincial 73 (RP73) is a demanding high mountain road situated in the extreme northwestern part of Argentina, ranking as one of the highest roads in the country.
Cerro Blanco
Cerro Blanco is a high mountain caldera at an elevation of 4.174m (13,694ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of the Catamarca Province in Argentina.
The road with 65 hairpin turns to Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
Set high in the Andes, Cristo Redentor de los Andes is a massive 4-ton statue at an elevation of 3,832m (12,572ft) above sea level, located on the border between Argentina and Chile.
Ruta Provincial 48
Ruta Provincial 48 is a very scenic drive located in Chubut Province, southern Argentina. The road is 118km long.
Road Varvarco-Barrancas
Located in La Patagonia, in Neuquén Province, southwestern Argentina, the road linking Varvarco and Barrancas (Neuquén) is an extremely challenging adventure.
Portezuelo de Laguna Brava
Portezuelo de Laguna Brava is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.379m (14,366ft) above the sea level, located in the Provincia de La Rioja, Argentina, near the border with Chile. The pass lies on the magnificent route between Chile and Argentina via Paso Pircas Negras.
Lagunas de Epulafquen
Lagunas de Epulafquen are two small lakes at an elevation of 1.490m above the sea level located in the Departamento Minas, Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina, near the Chilean border, in the Andes.
An old mining road to Tuzgle Volcano in the Andes
Volcán Tuzgle is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Susques Department of Jujuy Province in Argentina. A former mining road to the northwest of the volcano ends at 5,244m (17,139ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
El Angosto
El Angosto is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.581m (11,748ft) above the sea level, located in the Jujuy province, Argentina.