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.

Abra del Calvario

Is the road to Abra del Calvario on Ruta 40 paved?

Abra del Calvario is a high-altitude mountain pass rising to 4,423m (14,511ft) above sea level in the Jujuy province of northern Argentina. This remote section of the legendary Ruta Nacional 40 is a true test of endurance for both vehicle and driver. Crossing the Puna landscape, the road is far from the paved highways found elsewhere in the country, offering a raw experience where the altitude and the shifting surface are the primary obstacles.

Ruta Provincial 2

Ruta Provincial 2

The Ruta Provincial 2 road is a very scenic drive located in the Valdes Peninsula, on the Atlantic coast in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina.

Laguna Cerro Negro

The extreme 4x4 road to Laguna Cerro Negro: Driving into the heart of the Argentine Puna

Laguna Cerro Negro is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4,492m (14,737ft) above sea level, located in the High Andes of the Jujuy Province, Argentina. This remote destination is famous for the dramatic contrast between the deep blue water of the lagoon and the dark volcanic rock of the mountain that gives it its name.

Ruta Provincial 4

Ruta Provincial 4

Located in the Río Negro Province of Argentina, Ruta Provincial 4 is a 143 km long road, linking Valcheta and Pomona.

Ruta Provincial 52

Ruta Provincial 52

The Ruta Provincial 52 road is a very scenic drive located in the Valdes Peninsula, on the Atlantic coast in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina.

Cuesta de Randolfo

Cuesta de Randolfo

Cuesta de Randolfo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.209m (10,528ft) above the sea level located in Catamarca Province, in Argentina in one of the most amazing landscapes on the Earth.

Abra de Quiron

Abra de Quiron

Abra de Quiron is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.182m (13,720ft) above the sea level, located in Salta Province, Argentina.

Lenguas del Cochuna

Lenguas del Cochuna

Located in Tucumán Province, Argentina, Lenguas del Cochuna is an astonishing piece of mountain road engineering. It climbs sharply via 31 hairpin turns tightly stacked one on top of another. It's an improbable road clinging to the edge of the cliff.

Ruta Provincial 89

Ruta Provincial 89

Ruta Provincial 89 is a short mountain road located in Mendoza province, in Argentina’s Cuyo region.

Vallecitos ski resort

Driving the steep Andean road to Vallecitos ski resort in Mendoza

Vallecitos is a high-altitude ski resort and mountaineering hub located at 2,999 meters in the Cordon del Plata range of Mendoza, Argentina. The road to the resort is a classic Andean challenge, carved into the glacier-carved Valle del Plata. This is not a drive for the faint of heart; it is a relentless ascent on loose ripio (gravel) that punishes the vehicle's cooling system and tests the driver’s ability to manage traction on narrow, unprotected ledges where the mountain air starts to thin out rapidly.

Ruta Provincial 3

Ruta Provincial 3

The Ruta Provincial 3 road is a very scenic drive located in the Valdes Peninsula, on the Atlantic coast in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina.

Camino Minero Veladero

Driving the stunning Camino Minero Veladero

Located in the north-western part of Argentina in San Juan Province, Camino Minero Veladero is the name of a stunning drive through the Andes. It tops out at 4.878 m (16,003ft) asl.

Cuesta de Miranda

Cuesta de Miranda

Cuesta de Miranda is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.020m (6,627ft) above the sea level, located in La Rioja Province in northwestern Argentina.

Abra de Arizaro

Abra de Arizaro

Abra de Arizaro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.330m (14,206ft) above the sea level, located in the Provincia de Salta, Argentina, near the border with Chile.

Cuesta de Bonilla

Cuesta de Bonilla

Cuesta de Bonilla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.110m (10,203ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, in the Argentinian Mendoza Province.

Portezuelo de Guaitiquina

Portezuelo de Guaitiquina: Driving the remote 4,288m border pass

Reaching an elevation of 4,288m (14,068ft) above sea level, Portezuelo de Guaitiquina is an international high mountain pass located on the stark border between Chile and Argentina. Far less traveled than the nearby Paso de Sico, this route offers a raw and isolated crossing through the high-altitude deserts of the Andes, connecting the Antofagasta Region with the Salta Province.

RN76

Driving the high-altitude RN76 to Pircas Negras Pass

National Route 76 (RN76) is an epic high-altitude journey located in the La Rioja Province of western Argentina. Spanning 259 km (161 miles), this rugged road runs south-north from Villa Unión to the international Pircas Negras Pass on the border with Chile.

Alto de Chorillos

Alto de Chorillos: Driving to 4,806m in the Argentine Puna

Located in the rugged Province of Salta, in northwestern Argentina, Alto de Chorillos is a high mountain peak reaching a staggering elevation of 4,806m (15,767ft) above sea level. Situated in the heart of the Puna de Atacama, this is one of the highest roads in the country, leading to a world where the air is thin and the desert landscape looks like another planet.

Abra de Ovejería

Abra de Ovejería: Driving the unpaved 4,310m track in Salta

Abra de Ovejería is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,310 meters (14,140 ft) above sea level, located in the Rosario de Lerma department of the Salta Province, Argentina. The road is a raw, 85.7-kilometer unpaved track that crosses the eastern range of the Andes. The physical reality of driving at over 4,300 meters involves managing extreme power loss in the motor and navigating a surface of loose soil and deep sand that can swallow a vehicle's momentum in seconds.

Cerro Aspero

Cerro Aspero, a thrilling (scary) off road experience

Cerro Aspero is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.964m (6,443ft) above the sea level, located in Calamuchita Department of the province of Córdoba, Argentina.

Abra Falda Cienaga

A challenging unpaved road to Abra Falda Cienaga

Abra Falda Cienaga is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.436m (14,553ft) above the sea level, located in Catamarca Province of Argentina.

Punta Cauchari

Punta Cauchari

Punta Cauchari is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.047m (13,277ft) above the sea level, located in Salta Province in northwestern Argentina.

Camino de los Puentes Colgantes

A journey on the legendary Camino de los Puentes Colgantes in Cordoba

Camino de los Puentes Colgantes (Hang Suspension Bridges Road) is a very scenic drive located in Córdoba Province in Argentina, running through mountains, and gorges by suspension bridges.

Abra Paves

Abra Paves: An Awe-Inspiring Road through Extremely Remote Areas

Abra Paves is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.239 m (13,907 ft) above sea level, located in the province of Jujuy, in Argentina.

Abra Antofalla

A memorable road trip to Abra Antofalla

Abra Antofalla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.005m (16,420ft) above sea level, located in Antofagasta de la Sierra, the northernmost department of Catamarca Province in Argentina. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Paso de Lara

A hairpinned crazy road to Paso de Lara

Paso de Lara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.625m (11,893ft) above the sea level, located in Tucuman province, in northwest Argentina.

Abra del Colorado

Driving the RN149 to Abra del Colorado in San Juan

Abra del Colorado is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,629m (8,625ft) above sea level, located in the San Juan Province of west-central Argentina. Situated in the rugged precordillera of the Andes, it is one of the most famous climbs in the region due to its prominence in international cycling.

Cuesta del Portezuelo

Travelling through the curvy Cuesta del Portezuelo road

Cuesta del Portezuelo is a short winding mountain road located in the Valle Viejo department, in the southeast of the Catamarca province, in the northwest of Argentina.

Abra de la Cruz

The Ultimate Road Trip To Abra de la Cruz in Jujuy

Abra de la Cruz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.556m (14,947ft) above sea level, located in Jujuy province of Argentina. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Cruz de Paramillo

Road trip guide: Conquering Cruz de Paramillo in Mendoza

Cruz de Paramillo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 2,960m (9,711ft) above sea level located in the Las Heras department, in the northwest of Mendoza Province, in Argentina.

Abra de Vacas Heladas

Driving the high-altitude road to Abra de Vacas Heladas in the Andes

Abra de Vacas Heladas is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 5,064m (16,614ft) above sea level, located in the San Juan province of Argentina. It is a critical logistical point in the Andes and stands as one of the highest roads in Argentina.

Portezuelo de Salín

Driving the international border road to Salin Pass in the Andes

Portezuelo de Salín is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,015m (13,172ft) above sea level, located on the Argentinian-Chilean border.

Cerro Tuc Tuc

The challenging 4x4 road to Cerro Tuc Tuc: A high-altitude pass in Salta

Cerro Tuc Tuc is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,624m (15,170ft) above sea level, located in the Santa Victoria Department of Salta, Argentina. This remote track, also known as Cerro Tuc Tuca, is one of the highest roads in the country and offers a raw driving experience near the border with Jujuy.

Abra Campana

Road Trip Guide: Conquering Abra Campana

Abra Campana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,399m (14,432ft) above sea level, located in the Santa Victoria Department, Salta Province of Argentina.

Abra de la Santa Cruz

Abra de la Santa Cruz: Driving the 4,597m Jujuy-Salta Boundary (RP13A)

Abra de la Santa Cruz is a truly challenging high mountain pass located in the Andes Mountains of Northern Argentina. Situated at a breathtaking elevation of 4,597 meters (15,082 ft) above sea level, this remote crossing is renowned for its technical driving demands and stunning high-altitude scenery.

Abra de la Cruz

How to Travel the Unpaved Road to Abra de la Cruz

Abra de la Cruz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,757m (12,326ft) above sea level, located in Tilcara Department, in Argentina.