Long Patagonian Circuit

The Patagonian territory is crisscrossed from north to south by two extensive routes that pass through many of the region’s main tourist attractions. These are Route 3 and Route 40, two backbone routes that allow you to make a circular route in your own vehicle, traveling from north to south on one route and in the opposite direction on the other.

For this tour, we suggest a minimum of 20 days, allowing time to visit only the most traditional destinations of Patagonia. To explore other destinations and tourist attractions in depth, a longer duration will be necessary. The ideal time to undertake this tour is between the months of October and April, as, at other times of the year, roads are likely to be difficult due to ice and snow. Travelers arriving from a national destination outside of Patagonia—regardless of the direction they travel—will pass through the Province of La Pampa, where they can stop to rest and enjoy the attractions it offers, linked to rural, cultural, and nature tourism. If the trip takes place between March and April, you can attend a unique natural event: rutting deer watching, an activity that takes place in “Parque Luro,” 35 km from the city of Santa Rosa.

Route 40

The mythical Route 40, Argentina’s longest and most spectacular highway, begins in Patagonia, more precisely at Cape Virgenes, the southernmost tip of the province of Santa Cruz. This is where the 0-kilometer mark of a road that–parallel to the Andes Mountain Range–runs 2,700 km of Patagonian territory, before extending to the north of the country, reaching a distance of 5,000 km.

Throughout the journey, travelers will have the privilege of exploring majestic landscapes that encompass ancient forests, towering glaciers, crystal-clear bodies of water, mysteries linked to the age of the dinosaurs, indigenous cultures, numerous National Parks, and World Heritage sites.

The journey

From Km 0, the route continues until it meets National Route 3, which leads to Río Gallegos. The next section of Route 40 heads from the provincial capital into the interior for 261 km to “Río Turbio,” in the Andes Mountain Range. From here, the route continues toward “Tres Lagos,” passing through Provincial Routes 11 and 23, gateways to the tourist localities of El Calafate—the main attraction of which is the Perito Moreno Glacier, 110 km from National Route 40 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO—and El Chaltén, a mountain town known as the National Trekking Capital.

From “Tres Lagos,” the trail heads away from the Andes Mountain Range, passing through “Gobernador Gregores” until reaching the locality of Perito Moreno. This section connects, via its respective entrance routes, to the town of “Los Antiguos,” with the Perito Moreno National Park, and “Cueva de las Manos” (World Heritage Site). This site, located on the Pinturas River, preserves naturalistic and abstract pictographs of the Tehuelche people who inhabited this part of Patagonia, dating back more than 10,000 years.

Heading north, once in the province of Chubut, Route 40 passes through the localities of Esquel and Trevelin, both of great tourist interest. There, you can board the “La Trochita” train, also known as the Old Patagonian Express. “Los Alerces” National Park—declared a World Heritage Site—is another must-see in the area, encompassing a complex system of lakes of singular beauty. Continuing, the road leads to the towns of “Cholila,” “Epuyén,” “El Hoyo,” “El Maitén,” and Lake Puelo, where you can visit wineries and vineyards, ranches, orchards, and rural establishments to learn about the characteristic production of this part of the mountain range, always in a stunning natural setting. The journey continues through the mountainous area and reaches El Bolsón, in the Province of Río Negro, located at the foothills of the Piltriquitrón hill, known for its variety of Wellness Tourism options. The climb is approximately 120 km. One of Patagonia’s most traditional and iconic tourist destinations appears: San Carlos de Bariloche. On the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, this highly developed tourist city is the National Capital of Adventure Tourism.

Delving into the Province of Neuquén, Route 40 allows visitors to experience the diversity of Neuquén’s landscape: mountains, volcanoes, valleys, plateaus, forests, lakes, and rivers. Along the way, it passes through picturesque mountain villages such as Villa la Angostura and San Martín de los Andes, along the wonderful Route of the Seven Lakes, and then reaches Junín de los Andes. On its final stretch in Patagonia, Route 40 passes through central Neuquén and climbs to the cities of Chos Malal, Buta Ranquil, and Barrancas, leaving behind 2,700 kilometers of dazzling landscapes and, undoubtedly, thousands of anecdotes and experiences to share.

Route 3

The Patagonian coast offers a different but no less attractive landscape. The main attraction here is the marine fauna—which is abundant in number and species, forming some of the largest colonies on the planet—and the opportunity to reach the “End of the World.” National Route No. 3 runs parallel to the Atlantic coast, with its kilometer 0 at the Congressional Square in the Federal Capital, culminating in Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Its 3,063 kilometers feature countless attractions linked to nature, fauna, geological prehistory, and the mystique of being at the southernmost point of the Americas, surrounded by mountains and overlooking the white continent on the horizon.

The journey

The first Patagonian city that appears on a north-south journey along Route 3 is Viedma, capital of the Province of Río Negro. 30 kilometers from the city lies the “El Cóndor” Beach Resort. Its beaches, predominantly low-lying, give way to the first cliffs to the west, where the world’s largest Burrowing Parrot Colony is located. Beach resorts and areas designated for water and wind sports line the vast extensions of sand. A few kilometers further on are the localities of “San Antonio Oeste” and “Las Grutas.” The latter thrives within the San Antonio Bay Protected Natural Area, on the coast of the impressive San Matías Gulf. The great diversity of wildlife in this Gulf is offered year-round on boat-based birdwatching excursions departing from “Las Grutas” and “San Antonio Este.” Following the dolphin-watching calendar, travelers can sail into a sea where dolphins reign supreme, meeting sea lions, petrels, albatrosses, penguins, and, from August to October, the colossal Southern Right Whale. Furthermore, due to their geographical location, the beaches of “Las Grutas” enjoy a particularly warm climate, which draws thousands of tourists every summer to enjoy its waters.

Continuing south, in the Province of Chubut, we arrive at Puerto Madryn, which boasts undeniable tourist value, being the largest service center on the Patagonian coast and the gateway to the Valdés Peninsula, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. This location is chosen each year by the Southern Right Whale to mate and give birth to its young, a natural spectacle that can be witnessed from June to mid-December in the town of “Puerto Pirámides.” But this is not the only species seen in these areas; they are also accompanied by dolphins, killer whales, sea lions, elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, and a wide variety of birds and terrestrial fauna. Furthermore, the “Punta Tombo” Protected Natural Area is also home to one of the largest continental colonies of Magellanic penguins, with a population exceeding 400,000 specimens, which can be seen between September and April.

Walking a few more kilometers, we find the beginning of the so-called “Blue Route.” Its route boasts endless unique natural landscapes of steppe and sea. It is one of the richest areas for wildlife and the most diverse in the Argentine sea. In Chubut, it stretches 450 kilometers between Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia, passing through natural attractions such as the “Patagonia Azul” Provincial Park, the “Patagonia Austral” Interjurisdictional Marine Coastal Park, and the “Cabo Dos Bahías” and “Rocas Coloradas” protected natural areas.

In Santa Cruz, from Caleta Olivia to Río Gallegos, the Blue Route runs along the Santa Cruz coastline, combining Patagonian landscapes, wildlife, and historical heritage. Must-see attractions include “Isla Pingüino,” the Deseado Estuary, the Darwin Viewpoints, “Monte León” National Park, and Cape Virgenes. Additionally, in “Puerto San Julián,” you can visit a replica of the Nao Victoria, commemorating Magellan’s arrival in 1520.

Along Route 3, you can access viewing points for fur seals and sea lions, elephant seals, Comfrey’s dolphins, whales, cormorants, Antarctic pigeons, Magellanic penguins, and even the only continental colony of rockhopper penguins, among others.

And from there, the adventure transforms. The Route leaves the horizons of blue seas behind, giving way to the mountainous landscape of the Andes Mountain Range in Tierra del Fuego. To arrive by land, keep in mind that you must cross Chilean territory, so you will need to carry the appropriate documentation to complete immigration procedures. Once at the End of the World, travelers will be captivated by the almost remote tranquility of its lush forests, mountains, valleys, and lakes, enticing contemplation and invading the imagination of every visitor. Ushuaia is the most important tourist center in the province, and there are many options available. Sailing through the Fuegian channels is an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to see the imposing natural setting of Ushuaia from another perspective. Bays, islets, and fjords of singular beauty dazzle along the journey through the blue waters of the legendary Beagle Channel, accompanied by a variety of birdlife and marine mammals. Tierra del Fuego National Park, located 11 km from the city, is a must-see site. It is the only Argentine National Park with marine coastlines (the Beagle Channel) surrounding the forest.

The train at the End of the World offers a journey back in time, when prisoners were transported by train to supply firewood to the population. Today, the Train at the End of the World has become a tourist attraction, following the same route that convicts took decades ago, deep into the National Park. And it is right there, in Lapataia Bay, where travelers will see their journey complete, coming across a sign announcing the end of National Route No. 3, exactly 3,063 kilometers from Buenos Aires.