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Route 40! This legendary road leads along the Andes from the very north to the very south of Argentina. On a 3 weeks tour we'll be driving from subtropical Salta in northern Argentina through the dessert areas of Catamarca and San Juan, through the wine region of Mendoza and the Mapuche-Indian areas of Neuquen to the paradisiac lake district of Bariloche, the door to Patagonia.
From Bariloche we'll explore the adventurous part of the rough Ruta 40 to reach southern Patagonia with it's impressive mountains like Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, the famous glacier Perito Moreno and finally the southernmost city of the world Ushuaia.
 Total distance about 7000 km, 30% gravel roads.
The trip can be done in the 4 x 4 off road support vehicle, too!
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Day 1
The trip starts with a beautiful ride through the fertile Lerma Valley and the colourful Canyon Quebrada de Cafayate. We visit the Quilmes Ruins and rest in Santa Maria.
Approx. 300 km.
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Day 2
Now on the legendary Ruta 40 we keep heading south on tarmac and gravel roads through the sparsely populated planes of Catamarca.
Approx. 400 km.
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Day 3
Crossing the rocky pass Cuesta de Miranda we'll reach the Nature Park Ischigualasto (Valley of the Moon) with it's naturally carved bizarre rock formations. Overnight stay in Valle Fertil.
Approx. 330 km.
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Day 4
On tarmac road through bush land and wine plantations we pass San Juan and drive into Mendoza City, the wine capital of Argentina.
Approx. 400 km.
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Day 5
Day at leisure to explore the beautiful city and the wineries, or optional ride to the Aconcagua (approx. 390 km).
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Day 6
On our way south on the Ruta 40 along the Andes we'll pass fruit plantations, lakes and the volcano Diamante. Going on a small detour we´ll reach the ski resort of Las Leñas in the heart of the Andes. Overnight stay in pleasant Malargüe.
Approx. 440 km.
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Day 7
We'll visit the Cueva de Brujas caves and carry on through basaltic dessert areas into Neuquen and it´s oldest village Chos Malal.
Approx. 360 km.
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Day 8
Follow a valley high above the river we'll enter the volcanic landscapes of Copahue, Caviahue and Pehuenia, with their snow capped volcanoes, and shining lakes seamed by unearthly Araucaria forests, and we'll enjoy the evening of the idyllic shores of lake Aluminé.
Approx. 400 km.
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Day 9
On the Pehuenia Circle today we´ll enjoy an endless amount of Araucaria trees (similar to Sequoias) and lakes and rivers on our way to San Martín de los Andes.
Approx. 280 km.
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Day 10
Today we'll enter the lake district of Bariloche on the Road of the Seven Lakes, and reach the beautiful situated capital of northern Patagonia.
Approx. 210 km.
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Day 11
Day at leisure in Bariloche. Optional drive along the southern shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi to Llao Llao.
Approx. 80 km.
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Day 12
The legendary Ruta 40 leads us south to El Bolsón along beautiful lakes, forests valleys before we detour into the beautiful National Park Los Alerces to the welsh settlement of Trevelin.
Approx. 310 km.
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Day 13
All day on gravel we ride through the forested dry eastern slopes of the Andes. We get pass the Nant Waterfall, the town of Corcovado, the Vittner Lake and the Naked Mountain to the little town of Rio Pico.
Approx. 160 km.
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Day 14
We follow the Trommen Co River before we turn of onto the small road that takes us to Rio Frios and back to the Ruta 40. After a short visit to Alto Rio Senguer we pass the Pastos Blancos Mountains and get to Rio Mayo.
Approx. 230 km.
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Day 15
Carrying on southwards on the Ruta 40 we get to the town of Perito Moreno for lunch to carry on to our Estancia where we´ll spent the night. In the afternoon we take a ride and a short hike to the cave paintings of the Cueva de las Manos, situated in the beautiful canyon of the Rio Pinturas.
Approx. 240 km.
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Day 16
We'll reach the Ruta 40 again, which will be a dusty, windy and rough gravel road for the next 300 km, leading through desolate dessert flats.
Overnight stay in a traditional Estancia, having a real patagonian Barbeque.
Approx. 270 km.
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Day 17
Carrying on through the steppes we'll pass lake Cardiel and Lake Viedma to reach El Chaltén, a little Village on the base of the famous granite towers of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Optional ride to the Lago Desierto and back.
Approx. 280 km.
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Day 18
In the morning we ride into the mountain to the Lago Desierto on a rough gravel road with stunning views on the peaks of the Fitz Roy Massive, or hike to the view point of the Fitz Roy.
In the afternoon we go back along Lake Viedma to the Ruta 40, and on the southern shores of shining Lake Argentino we reach El Calafate.
Approx. 220 km.
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Day 19
Visit of the famous Glacier Perito Moreno.
Approx. 160 km.
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Day 20
Riding along the chilenian border we pass the town of Rio Turbio and get to the Estancia Stag River.
Approx. 300 km.
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Day 21
Now in easterly direction we follow the Gallegos River and the railway to reach the city of Rio Gallegos on the Atlantic coast.
Approx. 250 km.
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Day 22
After a short ride through the plains and a visit to the Blue Lagoon and cross into Chile and take a ferry over the Magellan Straight to reach the island of Tierra del Fuego. On rough gravel we reach Argentina and the town of Rio Grande.
Approx. 380 km.
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Day 23
First over the sheep farming plains of Fireland, the last 100km take us crossing the andes with beautiful sights to the Beagle Channel and our final destination, Ushuaia the southernmost city of the World.
Approx. 270 km.
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TOURS
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