Driving the challenging 365 turns of Ruta del Año in the Andes
Argentina, south-america
30 km
2,960 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're anywhere near the Chilean border in western Argentina, you HAVE to check out Ruta Provincial 52. Locals call it "Ruta del Año" - Route of the Year - and trust me, it lives up to the hype.
Located in the Las Heras department, northwest of Mendoza Province, this bad boy is a winding, unpaved masterpiece stretching for about 94 km (58 miles) from Uspallata. Forget speeding - you'll be lucky to hit 30 km/h on this curvy, mountainous track! Think you can handle 365 turns? Most are hairpin, so buckle up if you get car sick easily!
The views are insane, seriously some of the most dramatic scenery you'll find anywhere in the region. This route climbs high into the Andes, peaking at a breathtaking 2,960m (9,711ft) above sea level at Cruz de Paramillo. Word of warning: avoid this road between July and October as it can get super dicey.
The road leads to Villavicencio, an abandoned resort spa nestled in a protected ecological area. Even though the spa has been closed for decades, the thermal waters still flow, and you can wander through the gardens and check out the old chapel. Definitely worth a stop!
Where is it?
Driving the challenging 365 turns of Ruta del Año in the Andes is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -37.6784, -58.8527
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,960 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -37.6784, -58.8527
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