Laguna Llancanelo: Driving the Challenging Ruta 186
Argentina, south-america
87 km
1,280 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventurers, listen up! Deep in the south of Argentina's Mendoza Province lies the otherworldly Laguna Llancanelo (Llancanelo Lake), a high-altitude, salty gem just begging to be explored! Perched at a cool 1,280 meters (that's nearly 4,200 feet!), this lake isn't just stunning; it's an ecological treasure.
The gateway? Ruta Provincial 186 (RP-186), a gravel road stretching 87 kilometers (about 54 miles) from the paved RN40 (south of Malargüe) to the unpaved RP180, near the tiny village of Agua Escondida.
The road surface is ripio (think gravel), and usually it's in decent shape – mostly sandy with a few bumps along the way. Stick to the 60 km/h speed limit, and you should be fine in a regular car if it's dry.
But, and this is a big but, this is semi-desert country! Rain turns that gravel into a muddy, slippery mess. So, after a downpour, you'll definitely want a 4x4 to tackle those tricky sections. After a storm, this road can be impassable.
And why brave this remote road? Because Laguna Llancanelo is a Ramsar Site – a wetland of global importance. This salty lake is a haven for wildlife, especially flamingos and other migrating birds. So, grab your camera, pack your binoculars, and prepare to be amazed by the unique beauty and incredible biodiversity of Laguna Llancanelo!
Where is it?
Laguna Llancanelo: Driving the Challenging Ruta 186 is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -38.8013, -65.4755
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 87 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,280 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -38.8013, -65.4755
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