
Road Varvarco-Barrancas
Argentina, south-america
233 km
2.825 m
extreme
Year-round
Hey adventure junkies! Wanna tackle a real beast in Patagonia? Ruta Provincial 54 and Ruta Provincial 53 link Varvarco and Barrancas in Neuquén Province, Argentina, near the Chilean border, and it’s a wild 233 km gravel ride.
Forget your sedan – this baby demands a 4x4! Seriously, the gravel's loose, especially on the edges. You'll be crisscrossing rivers like Rio La Crianza, Rio de Los Chenques, Rio Neuquen, Rio Barrancas, Río Buta Mallín, and Rio Colorado, so be ready to get wet. The scenery is stark, arid, and unbelievably beautiful in its desolation.
Expect some serious climbs; this road is STEEP! You'll reach a dizzying 2,825m above sea level, near Laguna Cari Lauquen. This lake has a tragic history; a dam collapse in 1914 lowered the water level dramatically, and caused hundreds of deaths. So, while you're soaking in the views, remember the past. Get ready for an epic Patagonian adventure!
Where is it?
Road Varvarco-Barrancas is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -42.2703, -64.8753
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 233 km
- Max Elevation
- 2.825 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -42.2703, -64.8753
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