{"id":1602,"date":"2011-08-29T15:24:33","date_gmt":"2011-08-29T18:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/?p=1602"},"modified":"2021-05-12T18:53:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T21:53:13","slug":"ruta-40-informe-total","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/route-40-total-info\/","title":{"rendered":"Route 40, pure adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Route 40 runs alongside the Andes from la Puna until reaching the Glaciers of the South.\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

It is mythical for many reasons. For the solitary stretches it crosses. For the peaks of the Andes that guard the route like centennials. And also because its plan corresponds with the ancient travel routes of the first inhabitants of South America. These wise ancestors were knowledgeable about all of the different microclimates where a traveler could find fresh water supplies, the resource which enabled the development of the cities and towns of today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Route<\/em><\/h2>\n

National Route 40<\/strong>\u00a0can practically be considered\u00a0Argentina\u2019s backbone<\/strong>, running along\u00a05,000 kilometers (3,100 mi)<\/strong>, crossing 18 important rivers, 20 National Parks and Natural Reserves and connecting 11 provinces: Santa Cruz, Chubut, R\u00edo Negro, Neuqu\u00e9n, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucum\u00e1n, Salta and Jujuy.<\/p>\n

Similar to Route 60 in the United States, but many kilometers longer and reaching higher altitudes (almost 5,000 meters -16,400 ft- above sea level in Abra del Acay, Salta), Route 40 has become the new star of tourism in Argentina.<\/p>\n

From South to North<\/h2>\n

\u00a0Route 40 is an astonishing road, a rolling myth, the place of places that represents a milestone. For those who dare take it, there will always be a \u201cbefore and after\u201d their trip on Route 40<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Since its creation in\u00a01935<\/strong>\u00a0and while\u00a0kilometer 0 (zero)<\/strong>\u00a0was located in\u00a0Mendoza<\/a>\u00a0city, on the\u00a0intersection of San M\"Zigzagart\u00edn Avenue and Garibaldi Street<\/strong>, the route was divided into North and South. But as from\u00a02004<\/strong>, the Highway Department (Direcci\u00f3n Nacional de Vialidad<\/em>) moved this point to\u00a0Cabo V\u00edrgenes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From the current kilometer 0, located 124 km (77 mi) from\u00a0R\u00edo Gallegos<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0-the most southern point of the continent- up to\u00a0Puna in Jujuy<\/strong>, the route is approximately 5,200 km (3,200 mi) long and goes across a variety of climates, geographies and cultures.<\/p>\n

It borders the\u00a0Andes range<\/strong>\u00a0for the most part, from latitude 52\u00ba to parallel 22\u00ba 45\u2019, and goes through three different regions: Patagonia, Cuyo and Northwest.<\/p>\n

The area of the\u00a0Patagonian region<\/strong>\u00a0that Route 40 crosses (Santa\u00a0\"Guanacos\"Cruz, Chubut, R\u00edo Negro and Neuqu\u00e9n) shows a geography of plateaus and mountains and arid cold climate. This area is characterized mainly by a landscape full of lakes, mountains and forests. Some outstanding points are: Cabo V\u00edrgenes, R\u00edo Turbio coal bed and\u00a0Perito Moreno Glacier<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Los Glaciares National Park<\/a>, Cueva de las Manos in\u00a0Perito Moreno National Park<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Los Alerces National Park<\/a>,\u00a0El Bols\u00f3n<\/a>,\u00a0San Carlos de Bariloche<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0San Mart\u00edn de los Andes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Cuyo<\/strong>\u00a0region (Mendoza<\/a>, San Juan and La Rioja), the geography varies\u00a0\"Caminobetween plains and mountains and the climate is mainly arid. Here, the rivers come down the mountains to provide water for the vineyards, whose products are\u00a0 internationally well-known . The most outstanding points touched by Route 40 along this area are:\u00a0Caverna Las Brujas,\u00a0Las Le\u00f1as, Agua del Toro dam, Laguna Diamante, the famous Penitentes,\u00a0San Rafael<\/a>, the imposing Aconcagua<\/a>, Talampaya National Park, Valle de la Luna and Chilecito.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, in the\u00a0Northwest<\/strong>\u00a0(Catamarca, Tucum\u00e1n,\u00a0Salta<\/a> and Jujuy), the geography presents plateaus and mountains; the climate varies between high altitude arid climate and subtropical. Landscapes\u00a0\"Cerroare breathtaking, showing mountains in thousands of colors and green valleys, full of vineyards. But in the northwest the beauty of nature equals the cultural richness, since Inca and Kolla traditions are kept intact, alive and everlasting in each town and every inhabitant of these high lands. Some of the interesting points the route joins are: Santa Mar\u00eda, the Quilmes Ruins,\u00a0Cafayate<\/a>, Angastaco, Molinos,\u00a0Los Cardones National Park<\/a>, Nevado de\u00a0Cachi<\/a>, Abra El Acay and San Antonio de los Cobres.<\/p>\n

\"Roadside<\/p>\n

Route 40 and its surroundings bear an endless number of attractive places. Some are displayed as treasures in a showroom. Others are kept a secret. You only need time to discover them.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For those who want to join in a trip along this mythical route, here are\u00a0some tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is convenient to travel around Cuyo and the Northwest in the winter\u00a0season<\/strong>\u00a0since summer rains tend to flood and badly damage the route. In Patagonia, instead, the best time is from October to April, since winter snow and ice make the trip harder.<\/p>\n

In terms of\u00a0clothing<\/strong>, for dry mountain winds or snow storms it is advisable to have a spare change of light clothes and warm clothes as well as sunscreen lotion and related accessories (sunglasses, lip balm, gloves).<\/p>\n

Although the trip can be made by car, it is convenient to\u00a0increase the standard tire air pressure\u00a0<\/strong>(28 pounds) to 32 pounds.<\/p>\n

Water<\/strong> is vital in this kind of trips. You really need to have plenty just in case.<\/p>\n

The entire journey, leg by leg, at these articles:<\/h2>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Route 40 runs alongside the Andes from la Puna until reaching the Glaciers of the South.\u00a0 It is mythical for many reasons. For the solitary stretches it crosses. For the peaks of the Andes that guard the route like centennials. And also because its plan corresponds with the ancient travel routes of the first inhabitants… Read on<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,34],"tags":[102,100,61,107,119,117],"class_list":{"0":"post-1602","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bariloche","8":"category-calafate","9":"tag-cueva-de-las-manos","10":"tag-parque-nacional-perito-moreno","11":"tag-ruta-40","12":"tag-ruta-de-los-siete-lagos","13":"tag-rutas-de-la-patagonia","14":"tag-rutas-y-rincones-para-conocer"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1602"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9821,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1602\/revisions\/9821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patagonia-argentina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}