Motorcycle Explorer December 2014 Issue 3 | Page 84

WAY POINTS TO STAY
DISTANCE
THE NIGHT
San Pedro de Atacama
(Chile)
ROAD QUALITY NOTES * SUBJECT TO CHANGE
0 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA TO PURMAMARCA - ALL PAVED EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE SMALL TOWNS
400km PURMAMARCA TO LA QUIACA VIA ROUTE 9 ALL PAVED
LA QUIACA TO ROUTE 52 INTERSECTION TO GET BACK TO PURMAMARCA ALL GRAVEL/SAND - BAD IN VALLEYS -
OK WHEN CLIMBING
ROUTE 52 BACK TO PURMAMARCA ALL PAVED
560km ROUTE 52 BACK TO 40 ALL PAVED
40 70% UNPAVED TO CAFAYATE - STOP IN SAN ANTONIO DE LOS COBRES FOR WATER AND GAS
SEVERAL GHOST TOWNS ON THE ROUTE
THIS PART OF THE RUTA 40 IS VERY LIKE UTAH
469km LARGE SECTIONS OF UNPAVED ROAD - QUITE SANDY AND ROUTE IS DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW THROUGH LOTS OF
THE SMALLER TOWNS WHERE THE ROAD SHRINKS TO A SMALL LANE - MARKER POSTS ARE A GOOD INDICATOR
OF PROGRESS
WATCH OUT FOR AN INCA CEMETERY NEAR PITUIL
Malargue 918km SEVERAL RED ROCK MOUNTAIN PASSES
ROAD IMPROVES AS YOU GET CLOSER TO MENDOZA - CONSIDER STAYING THE NIGHT IN MENDOZA AND NOT
SHOOTING FOR MALARGUE - THE LAST 100 OR SO MILES ARE KNARLY GRAVEL - YOU DON’T WANT TO HIT THIS
BIT TIRED
San Carlos de Bariloche 885km THIS SECTION IS MOSTLY PAVED - ENTERING INTO TOURISTY REGION OF PATAGONIA - SNOW CAPPED
MOUNTAINS AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY ABOUND! LOTS OF PLACES TO STAY.
Perito Moreno 802km MOST DIRT ROAD AS YOUR ONCE AGAIN OUT IN THE PAMPAS. THE LAND IS FLAT, THE WIND HOWLS AND THE
ROAD IS GRAVEL BUT VERY SOLID AND FAST. STAY IN THE TOWN OF PERITO MORENO (NOT THE SAME PLACE
AS THE GLACIER) - DON’T EXPECT MUCH - JUST A BED FOR THE NIGHT
El Calafate 620km BACK TO BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS AND BLUE LAKES - SEEMS TO BE PAVING UP QUITE FAST - WAS ABOUT 60/40
GRAVEL / ASPHALT
Rio Gallegos 498km ALMOST ALL GRAVEL - SHOOT THROUGH RIO GALLEGOS AND STAY IN PUERTO SAN JULIAN TO THE NORTH.
Purmamarca
Cafayate
Chilecito
6