Ruta 40 from Río Gallegos to Río Turbio

Ruta 40: From the Sea to the Andes

2^nd Leg

Last Updated: 18.Jul. 2019

Map of this Segment

Section 2 is located in the southern part of Argentina, see red box at the bottom of this map

Map of the segment of Ruta 40 that links Río Gallegos with Río Turbio

See this Google Map of the section.

This is another map, in image format: Map of this road section: Río Gallegos a Río Turbio

Other maps of the region and Santa Cruz Province

• Central and Northern Santa Cruz
• Southwestern Santa Cruz
• Río Turbio
• Río Gallegos
• Cabo Vírgenes

Description of the itinerary: Section 2

Argentina's Ruta Nacional 40 runs along the southern bank of the río Gallegos River from the city of Río Gallegos, on the river's estuary, heading west to its sources, near the town of Río Turbio.

This section is 266 km (165 miles) long, which is almost fully paved: there is a section with a lenght of 48 km which is unpaved; it is gravel and dirt roadbed.

It climbs from sea level at Rio Gallegos to 250 m in Rio Turbio (820 ft.) it is a flat alignment.

Leaving Río Gallegos

Important. Fill up your gasoline tank before leaving because there are no service stations along the way until you reach the town of 28 de Noviembre (which is 252 km away).

Drive south from the downtown area of Río Gallegos, which is our km 0 for this section, taking Av. San Martín. Then when you reach Av. Benigno Carro, (which is the superposition of Rutas Nacionales 40 and 3) turn right, towards the west.

Here Ruta 40 is a four lane divided highway. You will drive past the airport (km 6), "estancia" (Estancia is Spanish for Ranch, and in Patagonia it means a sheep farm) Killik Aike (km 19). At km 26 Provincial Highway Patrol Police post and roundabout. Turn left and head west leaving the freeway behind.

Ruta Nacional 3

The Ruta Nacional 3 (Argentina's National highway #3) that you have just left, continues northwards crossing the Gallegos River heading towards Güer Aike and eventually reaches the city of Buenos Aires. From Güer Aike the provincial highway "Ruta Provincial" (RP) 5 which is paved, offeres a shorter drive than Ruta 40 to reach El Calafate, El Chaltén and the "Los Glaciares National Park".

Across the Steppe

Head west along Ruta 40. The highway runs close to the río Gallegos River. At km 39 the road meets (from the left) the railroad tracks of the old narrwow gauge "Ferrocarril Industrial" (Industrial Railroad) , at the station known as Apeadero Luís Piedrabuena.

Ahead is the entrance to the Touristic "estancia" Palermo Aike. Ruta 40 runs more or less parallel to the Gallegos River and the railroad (to your left, on the south side).

Las Buitreras Archeological site

At km 61 the highway has a grade crossing with the railroad, which passes to the northern side of Ruta 40. At km 68 to you right is a dirt road that heads towards Capitan Eyroa station and Estancia Las Buitreras.

This is the access to the Las Buitreras archeological site which has rock art. It is located on the northern shore of the Gallegos river, which you can cross on a pedestrian suspension bridge. The estancia es a fishing lodge, ideal for fly fishermen after Patagonia's sea run brown trout.

The humid steppe

Patagonia south of the Santa Cruz River is not as dry as it is north of that river. The valley of the Gallegos River is therefore less arid. It has pasture and not only shrubs. It rains more in southern Santa Cruz province.

The highway approacehs the río Gallegos again at km 100 and just ahead (km 104) to your right is the hotel Bella Vista.

The name means "Beautiful View", and it used to be the main establishment of Bella Vista "estancia", a large sheep farm.

Ruta 40 crosses the Gallegos Chico river (Small Gallegos) which is also a good fishing spot. At Bella Vista there is a place to eat at, lodging, camping and a tire repair shop.

The following image shows the newly paved Ruta 40, the old steel railroad bridge and the narrow bridged of the old Ruta 40.

The highway moves away from the river with a NE - SW course towards the border between Argentina and Chile, which here runs along the 52° South parallel.

Ruta 40 almost touches the border when it reaches El Zurdo at km 155. Here it crosses the El Zurdo creek (the word means "The Left handed person"), and goes by the Border Patrol squad (Gendarmería Nacional ). There is a pass into Chile, but it is closed. The border is ony 450 meters (1,475 feet) south of the bridge.

Puente Blanco end of the paved road

The highway turns towards the Northwest and at km 186 at Puente Blanco (White Bridge in Spanish), crosses the río Gallegos River.

End of the paved road. A segment 48 km long of natural surface -gravel & dirt- begins here and continues until the hamlet of Turbio Viejo

You will now begin to see the Patagonian Andean forest: small clumps of trees, mostly Nothofagus antarctica, a species of Southern Beech, grow near the river. There is a very basic place to eat at by the bridge.

The unpaved road passes by estancia Glencross where it crosses the río Turbio (the Spanish word "Turbio" mans murky, turbid), it is a tributary of the Gallegos river. Ruta 40 continues with a NW course towards the Andes.

The highway passes by the entrance to the touristic estancia Stag River (km 227) which has accommodation.

At km 234 is the old semi-abandoned village of El Turbio which was the original mining settlement in the area. Grocery store, and bar - simple diner.

End of gravel, paved road begins again.

Into the Forest

Ruta 40 crosses a rolling countryside, with hills. Creeks and streams cross its path, running east from the damp ranges along the west. There is more greenery and the trees become thicker. There are ñire, lenga (another variety of Southern Beech) and ferns.

At km 240 is the Military Base of Rospentek Aike. From here you can cross the border and visit Chile using the International Border Crossing of "Laurita- Casa Vieja" via Ruta Nacional N° 293 "Antártida Argentina" and the Chilean Highways Y-235 and National N° 9. You will reach the Chilean city of Puerto Natales (pop. 25,000)

Now we will continue the final part of our journey, in Argentina, along Ruta 40:

28 de Noviembre

At km 251 is the small town of 28 de Noviembre, (pop 4,700) it has hotels, stores and places to eat.

Ahead is the small village of Julia Dufour (Campamento Dorotea) with lodging at km 258.

Río Turbio

End of this segment

Here is the 240 megawatt power plant which was built to burn the coal from Río Turbio mine during the Kirchner Administrations (2003 - 2015); it is a white elephant that costs hundreds of millions of dollars, paybacks to corrupt government officials and to date it lies idle, never having generated a single watt of electric power.

The road forks and to the left it heads into the town of Río Turbio, Ruta 40 heads north towards El Calafate [see our Spanish language webpage]) which we describe in the next leg of Ruta 40: Rio Turbio to Tres Lagos.

Turn left and at km 266 you will reach the town of Rio Turbio, it has all the services that a tourist may need: fuel, shops, logding.

From Río Turbio you can also cross the border and visit Puerto Natales in Chile, which is 30 km away (map with directions).

Tips and Advice for a Safe Journey

1. Weather: The tough and unpredictable Patagonian weather

The weather is quite cold; the mean annual temperature is only 6 °C. (roughly 43°F). The coastal areas have a slightly warmer climate.

Although it is less arid than the rest of Patagonia, it is a semi-arid area with little rain (only 260 mm fall each year -10.5 inches).

It rains throughout the year, and it rains more in the western part, in the Andean foothills at Río Turbio.

Summers are cool and winters cold. Expect frost, ice and snow in winter. The lowest temperature recorded in this area was -20,2°C (-4°F). The highest summer temperature was a sweltering 35°C; (95°F).

The relative humidity is low (60%) meaning that it is quite dry.

Westerly winds are strong with an average velocity of 50 km⁄h (31 mph). This is one of the windiest spots on Earth, it can come in gusts of up to 100 km⁄ (62 mph).

2. When to visit the area

Drive this segment of Ruta 40 during the warm season: between November and April. You will avoid the snow and ice of winter; by the way, winter is the low season with cheaper accommodation opportunities!

3. Safety Tips

Very Important: Fill up your gas tank in Río Gallegos before leaving. Take adequate clothes and gear with you.

Ruta 40 crosses the steppe and the distances are great and there is no fuel along the way until you reach 28 de Noviembre. Wind and cold climate can cause hypothermia.

Wind is strong, drive carefully and be aware of sudden gusts

Snow is not all that frequent but it can snow a lot and block the highways in June and July. It freezes during winter, with frost.

On the gravel surfaced segment be on the look out for stray stones -if you rent a car, buy window breakage insurance.

Road Conditions

Check out our website to learn about the current: Road Conditions along Ruta 40.

Important Tips

• Take food and water and a paper map.
• Take warm clothes and a windproof jacket with you, even in summer. The weather in Patagonia is unpredictable and very harsh Wind chill drops the temperature considerably.
• A blanket or sleeping bag and a small gas heater come in handy in case you have to spend the night on the road.

Gravel Road. Drive carefully on the gravel roads, you can skid or flip over. Breaking distance increases.

››   Location of Ruta 40's Service Stations

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