Attractions on Argentina's Ruta 40

Attractions along la Ruta 40

Ruta 40 an incredible Road Trip

Ruta 40 is not only an amazing Road Trip, it is a highway that links sites with amazing natural beauty with historic places, blending culture, ancient traditions Native American heritage with the work of pioneers and European settlers.

Here we detail all you can do, see and experience along the mythical Ruta 40.

Two horses and behind them, the snowcapped - cloud shrouded peak of Mount San Lorenzo as seen from the Estancia Menelik ranch, Perito Moreno National Park, Patagonia, Argentina — Mount San Lorenzo from estancia Menelik ranch in the Perito Moreno National Park, Santa Cruz. Menelik Estancia Turísticas

Visit our Webpages that have all the details:

Our webpages with complete information on:

Or read on below to learn about the National Parks, Towns and cities and Unesco World Heritage Sites

View of the red, ochre and white rocks of the Valley of the Moon in Cusi-Cusi — Valle de la Luna (Valle of the Moon) in Cusi Cusi on Ruta 40 in Jujuy. Rodolfo Pace

Ruta 40's Top 10 Attractions

Top 10 Attractions on Ruta 40.

Choosing the top ten sights and attractions was very difficult, there are many more than ten wonderful places on Ruta 40! This was our pick, plus a few bonus sights too!

Read a summary of these Top 10 Attractions , or just click below for full details:

Listed from North to South:

jagged snow capped Andes, horses and lake Viedma at Estancia Helsingfors ranch in Patagonia — Lake Viedma and the Andes, Patagonia.
TripAdvisor

colorful altar at the church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Hualfín Ruta 40 — Colorful altar of Nuestra Señora del Rosario's church in Hualfín, Catamarca, Turismo Catamarca

Bonus Track: Another Top Five Attractions

These are the five runners-up to our top ten list of Route 40 amazing landmarks:

Vineyards and the Andes. www.benvenutodelaserna.com

Mendoza, Andes & Wines

The "Valle de Uco", Tunuyán, Tupungato, Luján de Cuyo, Maipú are terroirs where the great Mendoza wine estates are located. This is the land of the Argentine Malbec. And Route 40 links them all.

> Mendoza Wines

forest, mountains crystal clear blue lake

Verde Lake and Arrayanes River (Sec. Turismo Esquel).

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Los Alerces National Park protects more than 15,000 acres of Alerce forests. This tree, the Fitzroya cupressoides is related to the North American redwood. Some trees are over 2,600 years old.

> Los Alerces National Park

Inca Trail www.cultura.gob.ar

Camino del Inca: Inca Trail

UNESCO World Heritage Site the "Qhapaq Ñan is the Inca Empire's vast road network.

> The Inca Trail

Expreso Patagonico, La Trochita steam engine railroad

Steam engine, La Trochita. Juan Macri

Expreso Patagónico Railroad

Narrow gauge in Patagonia is a National Historic Monument, you can still ride in in Esquel.

> La Trochita

Cueva de las Manos

Rock art painted by paleoindians thousands of years ago.

Some of the painted hands are 9,300 years old. The "Cave of Hands" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

> Cueva de Las Manos

Hands painted on the rocks at Cueva de las Manos. A. Whittall

Some Tourist Atractions and Destinations

From our Spanish language webpages, these are some other Ruta 40 attractions:

More Attractions

Volcano in la Payunia, Ruta 40, Mendoza — Volcano in la Payunia, Mendoza. Dirección de Turismo de Malargue

National Parks along Ruta 40

National Parks

Natural Monuments and National Parks (north to south)

Laguna de los Pozuelos Nat. Mon
Los Cardones Nat. Park
Campo de los Alisos Nat. Park
Talampaya Nat. Park
Parque Nacional San Guillermo Nat. Park
El Leoncito Nat. Park
Laguna Blanca Nat. Park
Lanín Nat. Park
Nahuel Huapí Nat. Park
Los Arrayanes Nat. Park
Lago Puelo Nat. Park
Los Alerces Nat. Park
Patagonia Nat. Park
Perito Moreno Nat. Park
Los Glaciares Nat. Park
Monte León Nat. Park
Taruca Nat. Mon.
Huemul Nat. Mon.
Ballena Franca Austral Nat. Mon

Interactive Map

Except Talampaya and Los Alerces National Parks, whose webpages are in English, the other webpages are in Spanish.

Correntoso lake, Nauel Huapi National Park, surrounded by forested mountains — Lago Correntoso, Ruta de los Siete Lagos, Nahuel Huapi National Park, A. Whittall

UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Ruta 40

The UNESCO designates certain places as World Heritage Sites. These places or "sites" can have a very particular natural beauty, or be constructions, monuments or even food and musical or dance expressions (such as the Tango, also a World Heritage asset).

Map showing where the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located along Ruta 40

There are six World Heritage sites located on, or very close to Ruta 40.

The map shows where they are located. And you can read more about them following the links below:

>> Quebrada de Humahuaca

>> Camino del Inca

>> Talampaya Nat. Park and Ischigualasto Prov. Park

>> Los Alerces Nat. Park

>> Cueva de las Manos

>> Los Glaciares Nat. Park

Mushroom landform: "El Hongo" and Barrancas Coloradas at Ischigualasto San Juan — The landform "El Hongo" (Mushroom) and the "Red Cliffs" (Barrancas Coloradas), Ischigualasto San Juan. A. Whittall

Some Great Itineraries along Ruta 40

What parts should I drive?

Ruta 40 is very long, over 3,220 miles or 5.100 km of highway, so which are "The best" short trips that I can drive to get a taste of Ruta 40 without having to drive it all?

You can take our suggestions and drive shorter legs to see the best of Ruta 40. Read about Some Great Itineraries along Ruta 40 to learn more.