Argentina – Road trip on the Ruta 40

Next stop on our route: the bustling city of Mendoza! This time, no more rough tracks and windy bivouacs in the middle of nowhere; we're embarking on a road trip along Route 40. The plan? Lots of driving, comfortable campsites, and most importantly, refreshing swims whenever possible to escape the scorching heat of the region!

Wednesday, January 24^th to Saturday, January 27^th, 2024

After the 4x4 track on the Argentine altiplano, the next stop on our journey is Mendoza, located 790 kilometers south of Belén. So, we embark on a road trip on Route 40 heading south. Ruta Nacional 40 is a legendary route in Argentina that follows, and sometimes crosses, the Andes mountain range. It connects the town of Cape Virgenes in southern Argentina to the town of La Quiaca near the Bolivian border. With its 5,080 kilometers in length (3100 miles), it is the longest road in the country! It traverses 11 provinces, 27 mountain passes, and rises to 4,895 meters, making it one of the highest roads in the world. However, our travel itinerary, which takes us back and forth between Chile and Argentina, does not allow us to drive the entire Ruta 40.

1- Driving under suffocating heat

We hadn't experienced such heat since Central America! The region is indeed under a heatwave alert due to extreme temperatures, even for the season. From the early hours of the day until late in the evening, a dry and suffocating heat descends upon western Argentina. Inside the Jeep, the thermometer rises to 43°C! During breaks, we desperately seek some shade, sometimes in vain in the Argentine desert.

As we drive south, the landscapes change. From the Argentine altiplano, we quickly lose altitude. We cross arid valleys with reddish earth, where a scorching wind blows.

2- Seek for water spots to cool off

Facing such heat, every water point is an opportunity to cool off. So, whenever we get the chance, we happily and eagerly plunge into the cool water. A canyon, natural pools, a river, a swimming pool!

3- Meeting the wildlife

On certain stretches, Route 40 is a busy road with a constant stream of trucks. But on other stretches, you can drive for miles without seeing a single car. It's at these times that wildlife encounters are most likely. You can spot a lot of vultures and birds of prey. But our most beautiful encounter is with the majestic Andean condor. Perched by the roadside, it takes flight as we approach, giving us the opportunity to watch it soar high into the sky. After the Colca Canyon in Peru, this is our second encounter with this majestic bird.

4- Visiting an old gold mine

The gold mine consists of three stations. The first station is located at the village station, at an altitude of 1,100 meters. The third station is located at 4,500 meters altitude. And finally, an intermediate station, halfway between the two, the one we visit. Between the three stations, the ore containing gold and the miners were transported by a system of suspended carts operated by steam. The system is an impressive feat of engineering and is perfectly preserved.

5- Finding campsites to spend peaceful evenings

Impossible de camper en plein désert par une telle chaleur ! On a besoin d’un point d’eau et d’une douche et les campings sont parfaits pour ça 😀 De plus, y a pas à dire, les argentins sont les rois du camping ! On se croirait aux États-Unis ! Des familles profitent du beau temps pour camper, se baigner et faire des barbecues. Ah l’Argentine en été, le top ! 😊 En plus, les argentins font preuve d’une gentillesse exceptionnelle à notre égard. Ils passent devant le Jeep et la tente de toit d’un air ébahi, puis viennent nous offrir du pain fait maison, des conseils, des prières, des pâtisseries. Voilà 2 semaines que nous sommes en Argentine et on est unanimes : les argentins sont parmi les gens les plus conviviaux et enthousiastes que l’on a rencontrés du voyage !

After 4 days on the road, we finally arrive in Mendoza amidst scorching heat. The first thing we rush to do? Find a camping site and dive into the pool, of course 😃. We actually find a little gem in that regard. And it's perfect timing because we're going to spend a good week in Mendoza to indulge in the local specialties! 😁