
Driving the defiant Ruta Provincial A in the Province of Tierra del Fuego
Argentina, south-america
91 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to the very bottom of Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego, you HAVE to check out Ruta Provincial A.
This isn't your average highway cruise. We're talking 91km (56 miles) of pure, unadulterated 'ripio' β that's gravel to us gringos. It's generally in good shape, but trust me, you'll want a 4x4 for this one. It'll make things way comfier and keep you out of trouble, especially on those narrow sections. Just remember that the last 22km are closed off by a barrier at the Irigoyen River.
Seriously, this place is REMOTE. Think way, way off the grid. Pack everything you need because you won't find a Starbucks out here. The reward? Insane views and a chance to spot massive marine creatures doing their thing. Just be prepared for anything weather-wise β this semi-arid zone throws curveballs, and the wind can be intense! The route begins at Ruta Nacional 3 and is a proper bucket-list experience.
Where is it?
Driving the defiant Ruta Provincial A in the Province of Tierra del Fuego is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -38.2706, -60.3458
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 91 km
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -38.2706, -60.3458
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