
The Wild Road to Cerro Galan in the Andes
Argentina, south-america
80 km
4,964 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, listen up! You NEED to add Cerro Galán in Argentina to your bucket list. Picture this: you're in the wild, remote Catamarca Province, practically spitting distance from Salta, ready to tackle one of the world's biggest volcanic calderas.
First thing's first: leave your low-rider at home! This ain't no Sunday drive. We're talking 80km (50 miles) of pure, unadulterated, unpaved road starting from El Peñón. You'll need a high-clearance 4x4. Seriously. Also, check the width of your vehicle, some parts get a bit tight.
The altitude? A cool 4,964m (16,286ft). Translation: breathtaking views, thin air. And speaking of breathtaking, this is NOT the place to go rogue. Seriously, hook up with a guide through the local tourist office. Trust me on this one. You do NOT want to get lost out here. But the scenery? Totally worth it.
Where is it?
The Wild Road to Cerro Galan in the Andes is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -37.6036, -60.5725
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 80 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,964 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -37.6036, -60.5725
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