National route 40 is a typical Patagonian pebble route and the connection thread of isolated settlements in our Southlands, communicating these towns with a series of transversal routes parallel to the main lakes.

The Lake Area, the Andean Shire, the Paintings Cave, Mount Fitz Roy, Mount Torre, Perito Moreno glacier and Lake Argentino, among others, are great wonders that nature offers to us along the trip. We will travel the first 850 km along a paved road, but the major part of the trip in the province of Santa Cruz will be along a pebble route where you can appreciate the typical Patagonian landscape. Natural flora and wildlife such as foxes, guanacos and choiques are part of the scenery.

It joins San Carlos de Bariloche, Capital of the Southern Lakes, with the town of Perito Moreno on the shores of Lake Buenos Aires in the Northwest corner of the province of Santa Cruz. More exactly at the junction of the Provincial route  43 with national route  40. At this point, we will comfortably spend the night to continue our tour in the morning heading South and finally arriving at El Chalten or El Calafate.

On the way we suggest you a visit to La Cueva de las manos (aboriginal paintings cave), at Rio Pinturas canyon, declared National Historical Monument due to its artistic magnificence.

Touristic Attractions:

• El Bolsón
• Esquel
• Los Antiguos
• Lake Perito Moreno
• Rio Pinturas Canyon
• Mount San Lorenzo
• Perito Moreno National Park
• Lake Cardiel
• Lake San Martin
• El Chalten
• Lake Del Desierto
• El Calafate
• Perito Moreno Glacier

You can either travel this route North to South or vice versa.

Related links

• Route 40 4x4 expeditions
• Riding Patagonia expedition