One Stop per Province —11 musts on Route 40

Mythical, iconic, and fascinating; packed with mountains, salt flats, lakes, forests, and even moon-like landscapes. Travelling the longest route in Argentina on four wheels (and the highest in the world) gets the adrenaline flowing. The result is a dreamy road trip that draws in not only locals, but also fans from all over the world. Bordering the Andes Mountains and with a total of 5,301 kilometres, Route 40 links north and south in an itinerary where nature is the star. Its length allows 11 provinces to be present with must-visit destinations close to the road.

1. Valle de la Luna, Jujuy

A little piece of Mars on Jujuy lands. Valle de la Luna is a natural wonder alongside Route 40, to the west of the province of Jujuy. The geological formation is located in an arid desert tinged with shades of red, white, green, yellow, and orange. The time and erosion have conferred it different shapes, making it a mandatory stop in northern Argentina.

2. Cafayate, Salta

This destination, 192 kilometres from the capital, woos everyone with the variety of activities it offers. The distinctive red rock faces pave the way for photo enthusiasts so that they get a good dose of gorgeous landscapes to capture. Cafayate is a key point in the Northern Wine Route, so the wine suggestion is covered. You must try the emblematic grapevine, the Torrontés.

3. Quilmes Ruins, Tucumán

Thirty hectares at the foot of a hill represent the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina. The Sacred City of Quilmes was home to the original people of the Quilmes, the last bastion of the indigenous resistance against the Spanish advance. Different residential rebuilding and a stone-wall fortress stand up to illustrate the lifestyle of these communities thousands of years ago. To fully get a grasp of local traditions, the visit asks for a walk through the Interpretation Centre, which exhibits objects and projections of the culture.

4. Jujuil Gorge, Catamarca

Lots of green areas, level elevations, and a unique energy. All this is felt and seen in the Jujuil Gorge, an alternative destination in the province of Catamarca. The abundant giant cacti and local vegetation are part of the fairy-tale scenery, which is accessed from Route 40.

5. Cuesta de Miranda, La Rioja

In La Rioja, Route 40 is tinged with reddish tones that suit it very well. Twelve kilometres of a winding section join the villages of Villa Unión and Chilecito. The travelling experience is enhanced with this high-altitude route among red slopes which have panoramic points strategically laid out to get the best photography of the geological forms.

6. Huaco, San Juan

A quaint little village in the centre of the province dedicated to agriculture, the production of alfalfa, and olive trees. A 10-minute drive away (and turning off Route 40 onto Route 49), you get to see the Sillón Gigante (Giant Chair), a popular rock formation that looks like a huge chair. And, a few metres away, the Huaco viewpoint only improves the views, with panoramic high-altitude vistas in green and brown, and packed with curves.

7. Wine Route, Mendoza

The capital of wine knows how to show off. How? Just with the country’s most famous wine route. Mendoza, the great producer of the grape elixir, also swells with pride on Route 40, and with honours. The accesses spread through four areas full of wineries: the North, the East, the Uco Valley, and the South. A good number of wineries found their place alongside the most emblematic road in the country, and one of them is considered the best in the world by The World’s Best Vineyards: we are talking about Zuccardi Valle de Uco.

8. San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura, Neuquén

Two breath-taking locations that make nature fans fall in love and conquer everyone’s hearts. Both offer the same picture: waterfalls, lakes, mountains, and native forests work the natural magic.

In San Martín de los Andes, you’ll get the unique feeling of being wrapped up by snowy peaks, which seem very close. Some of its must-try activities are: going kayaking in Quila Quina, diving in Lácar Lake, visiting Cerro Chapelco (a must for skiing in winter), watching the sunset from Arrayanes Viewpoint, and going trekking to Bandurrias Viewpoint.

Villa La Angostura, on the other hand, is particularly located on Route 40 itself, on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake. In this Patagonian destination, you should be amazed by its endless crystal-clear lakes, climb Bayo Hill, visit Manzano Bay, and enjoy the beaches of Brava and Mansa Bay. In addition to drinking craft beer, of course.

9. San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro

The city of chocolates, mountainous elevations, and Saint Bernard dogs. Everything that happens in Bariloche is worthy of being part of a story because Bariloche has nothing but magic. Typical wooden architecture, impressive natural circuits, hills to climb, world-class gastronomy, and dream-like landscapes come together to offer the perfect tourist pack in Río Negro.

10. Esquel, Chubut

Cultural and tourist attraction, a perfect mixture of Patagonian viewpoints and local wonders. Just 11 kilometres from Route 40, on Route 259, a world of lakes and mountains opens up surrounded by Los Alerces National Park. Esquel is a city that has it all: a great ski resort in La Hoya, culinary art, hills for trekking, and the only narrow-gauge railway in operation on the planet. La Trochita is one of the great attractions of the area, offering a journey through Chubut soil you can’t miss!

11. El Calafate, Santa Cruz

Desirable peace, and quietness that delights everyone who seeks to relax in nature. El Calafate is a land of glaciers: thousand-year-old masses of ice that cover part of the Argentinian territory and give an unprecedented spectacle. Bordering Argentino Lake, the city is 80 kilometres from the famous Perito Moreno, making clear which the main attraction is. In addition, Los Glaciares National Park, where the ice giant is located, is considered a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. There you’ve got two reasons for visiting it.