Argentine routes to explore by car

Why take a road trip in Argentina?

For those who enjoy traveling at their own pace, taking in breathtaking landscapes, and making an unplanned detour off the main road to discover a small town that seems frozen in time, a road trip is one of the best ways to get to know the country.

If you're planning your next road adventure in Argentina, keep in mind that the car rental company Hertz launched a 30% discount promotion, applicable across its entire fleet of vehicles and valid until December 15 at all of the company's service points. Just use the code VISITHERTZ on the Hertz website to hit the road on some of these routes, only six of the many the country has to offer.

What does Route 40 cover?

It's the longest and most emblematic route in Argentina: about 5,200 kilometers from south to north, running parallel to the Andes mountain range. It begins at Cabo Vírgenes (Santa Cruz) and ends at La Quiaca (Jujuy), crossing eleven provinces. Its highest point is El Abra del Acay (Salta), at nearly 5,000 meters above sea level.

It connects unmissable destinations such as El Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier) and El Chaltén, Bariloche, and San Martín de los Andes in Patagonia. It runs through the main wine-growing valleys and high-mountain landscapes of Cuyo, and it also crosses the Calchaquíes Valleys, Cachi, Cafayate, and the Puna region in Salta and Jujuy in the North.

You can learn more about this route in the article Route 40: An Unforgettable Journey Through the Heart of Argentina.

What is the Route of the Seismiles?

It's about 200 kilometers along National Route 60 in the province of Catamarca, running from Fiambalá to the San Francisco International Pass. Its name comes from the fact that it crosses a high-mountain road surrounded by nineteen volcanoes over 6,000 meters high.

Fiambalá, the starting point of this route, is also part of the Adobe Route: you can learn more about the city in the article Fiambalá.

What is the Route of the 7 Lakes like?

It's a 110-kilometer stretch of National Route 40 connecting the towns of Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes, in Neuquén. The road crosses the Nahuel Huapi and Lanín national parks.

For more details on this route, you can read the article Route of the 7 Lakes: A Journey Between Villa La Angostura, San Martín de los Andes, and Bariloche.

What can you see along the Cuesta del Lipán?

It's a winding mountain stretch of National Route 52 in the province of Jujuy, connecting the town of Purmamarca with the Salinas Grandes salt flats. It's about 40 kilometers long, with more than thirty sharp bends of up to 180 degrees.

Purmamarca, the starting point of this stretch, has its own article with more information: Purmamarca.

What does the Camino de las Altas Cumbres offer?

It's nearly one hundred kilometers along provincial route 34, a mountain road that crosses the Sierras Grandes in Córdoba and connects the Valle de Traslasierra with the central area of the province. It passes by the access to Quebrada del Condorito National Park, ideal for spotting Andean condors.

You can learn more about the region it crosses in the article Traslasierra Valley.

How do you get from the Esteros del Iberá to the Iguazú Falls?

National Routes 14 and 12 are the most direct and scenic way to connect the Esteros del Iberá, in Corrientes, with the Iguazú Falls, in Misiones. It's a stretch of about 800 kilometers surrounded by jungle vegetation. An unmissable stop is San Ignacio, home to the famous San Ignacio Miní Jesuit Ruins, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This route through Argentina's Litoral region is covered in more detail in the article Argentine "Litoral" Region: Entre Ríos, Corrientes and Misiones.