Survival Guide - Argentina - page 323

Argentina by Road
For the adventurous of spirit looking for a different kind of
holiday experience, there is the option of traveling across
Argentina by road. An increasingly popular tourist activity,
driving around the country has become much safer and more
convenient. Argentina's road network is comprehensive - if a
place is listed on a map, it can usually be reached by car or
motorbike. Driving offers an intimate view of the country.
Roads pass spectacular scenery along the Atlantic coast or
run across barren Patagonia where wide open spaces
encourage a sense of freedom and adventure.

DIRECTORY
Renting Cars and
Motorbikes
Avis
Te l [phone], (0810) 9991-
2847. ∑ avis.com.ar

Hertz
Te l [phone].
∑ milletrentacar.com.ar

how enormous, dry, and
featureless most of Patagonia
is, they can try the fully paved
Ruta Nacional 3, which runs
down the Atlantic coast. Ruta
Nacional 23, on the other
hand, running from Ruta
Nacional 40 to El Chaltén, is
a difficult, high drive with a
spectacular backdrop. For the
purist road-tripper, Ruta
Nacional 25 from Trevelin to
Trelew is perfect, with the
requisite remote gas stations
staffed by friendly local people.
Ruta Provincial 9
runs from Buenos
Aires to the Bolivian
border, following
the old Camino
Real to the silver
mines. It also
passes through
Quebrada de
Humahuaca
(see pp200-4) .
The journey across South
America taken by Che Guevara
and his friend, Alberto Granado,
in 1952 is becoming an
increasingly popular driving
route. The famous 8,700-mile
(14,000-km) drive was
documented in the 2004 biopic
The Motorcycle Diaries . It is,
however, not advisable to try
it on a battered Norton 500,
as Che and Granado did.

General Safety
Though paved, most of the
country's Rutas Nacionales
can be narrow, making over-
taking tiring and sometimes
dangerous. Windscreen and
headlamp guards are essential
on the roughly graveled rutas
provinciales as there is a danger
of flying stones. By law, drivers
must carry warning triangles, a
first-aid kit, and an international
driving license. Seat belts must
be worn and spare tyres, a
carjack, car pump, spare wiper
blades, and oil must be carried,
along with antifreeze if driving
in the south.
It is also important to trust in
local knowledge - if someone
says that a road is impassable
at a particular time of year, it is
safer to assume that they know
what they are talking about.

Off-Road Driving
Conventional wisdom dictates
that travelers need a 4WD
(four-wheel drive) vehicle with
truck-tyre tread to get around
Argentina, but that is not always
the case. Roads often look
worse than they actually are.
For off-road driving, however,
a solid 4WD vehicle with
strong suspension is a must.
Main tenance gets
more expensive
farther away from
towns and cities,
so it is worth
installing extra
shock absorbers
and taking on
plenty of fuel before
starting out on
a long journey.

Distance marker along Ruta
Nacional 40

Great Drives
The 3,100-mile (5,000-km)
long trunk road Ruta Nacional
40 is easily the country's most
famous highway (see p247) .
However, there are plenty of
other routes to satisfy those
with a thirst for both adventure
and awe-inspiring scenery. If
visitors want to get a sense of

Renting Cars and
Motorbikes
Most of the main international
hire companies such as Avis
and Hertz have offices in
Argentina. Expect to pay
between US$40 and US$60 per
day depending on the required
mileage. Some smaller, local
companies offer the same level
of service for a significant
discount; visitors should ask for
details at their hotel or travel
agent. By law a person must
be at least 23 to hire a car in
Argentina. A driving license,
passport and, often, a credit
card are required. It is crucial
that the renting agency hands
over the ownership documents
for the vehicle, which must be
shown at police checkpoints. Lonely stretch of Ruta Nacional 40 going through Bajo Caracoles, Patagonia