Ruta 40: Update 2010

[partireper.it]

Dear all guys and girls,

I am here to ask if someone of you has recently ridden along the famous Ruta 40 (Argentina.

Last time I was there it was in February 2009 and I remember that from El Calafate to Chile Chico (border between Arg and Chile) t was a long stretch of 800 km with no pavement and little fuel stations.



Does anybody know if now they have completely pavemented that stertch of road?

Regards to all

Gioanata Nencini
www.partireper.it

[moto-treks]

Not as of 7 months ago

[partireper.it]

Originally Posted by moto-treks

Not as of 7 months ago

thanks man, do you know of anyone recently rinding there?

regards

[Misery Goat]

I should be there in January and will give you an update.

[moto-treks]

Originally Posted by partireper.it

thanks man, do you know of anyone recently rinding there?

regards

Nope - but some will be there soon. However, you can be sure there was no pavement put on that gravel.

There were 2 sections of short pavement and lots of construction (north end) but way more dirt and gravel.

[ruta40ar]

thanks god not completelly pavement!

The RIPIO survived...without it the 40 will not be the same--

[TheSeeker]

Just rode it a week ago. There are stretches of new pavement but still mostly ripio. Lots of work going on and mostly riding alongside the new highway on Desvio routes. Still no gas either and need to go to Gobernador Gregores to get gas between Tres Lagos and Bajo Caracoles... Hope that helps.

[RogerJ]

Rode it in February/March of this year. Yup, ripio and lots of construction as mentioned above. 157 km of the mud from hell from Estancia La Angostura to where the ripio meets the pavement again headed towards El Chalten. 8 hours to cover this stretch.

The bad news is that this fun will all be gone in somewhere between 2 to 5 years as they pave this part of RTA 40.

Thank goodness they can't take away the 100 kph winds and the occasional mini twisters of 150 to 175 kph. You go here to be in Nature writ large. That's when the adventure really gets going. Cheers!

[markharf]

People who complain about the pavimento on Ruta 40 can always voluntarily take alternate routes, many of which are not paved. It's not a mysterious thing: there's hardly anywhere that you're actually forced to ride on the pavement.

[AnjinSan]

Hi guys,

We will be on Ruta 40 soon, starting from Bariloche and heading towards Punta Arenas. Any updates on the state of the road?

I've been trying to serach on this website a description about which parts are paved and which are in good ripio conditions and which aren't, but couldn't find any :( Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Also, is a 400 km range enough or should I be worried about gas?

[Hache_arg]

Almost all the road south until Bajo Caracoles is paved but a strech betweeen Rio Mayo and Perito Moreno. The rest is a mix between ripio and working for the pavement.

If you only go on ripio, there're several options, or you can use the Ruta 40, and then use other routes.For example to go to Trevelin, you can use the 71, and go all along the Lago Puelo park, and then leave on the 17.

Don't worry.. we still have the wind to entertain you on the way.


Also.... the no fuel strech is around 500 km now. From Bajo Caracoles to Tres Lagos ( and something you dont find gas there).

The www.proyectomapear.com.ar maps are quite up to date.

if you need any help, feel free to contact.

H

[Manolito]

Originally Posted by AnjinSan

Hi guys,

We will be on Ruta 40 soon, starting from Bariloche and heading towards Punta Arenas. Any updates on the state of the road?

I've been trying to serach on this website a description about which parts are paved and which are in good ripio conditions and which aren't, but couldn't find any :( Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Also, is a 400 km range enough or should I be worried about gas?

You will have paved roads till you reach "Gobernador Gregores" . Then you have crap "ripio" in Tres Lagos and finally a great road (I can go with you from Rio Gallegos to the beggining of ruta 40).
Yes, you should be worried about gas.

[AnjinSan]

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies! In fact, being very loaded and 2up, I don't mind the tarmac. I actually prefer it as I have more chances to reach the end of the trip with the bike in good state (still, my only bike :) ).

Looks like I will have to by an extra can for gas for that 500 km stretch. In Bolivia I used normal 2 litres bottles (coca cola bottles) but I do not know if in Argentina this is acceptable.

So the info sounds promising. Today I hope to cross into Argentina and stop in Bariloche and after that I will come back with a more exact plan.

[AnjinSan]

Originally Posted by Hache_arg

Also.... the no fuel strech is around 500 km now. From Bajo Caracoles to Tres Lagos ( and something you dont find gas there).

if you need any help, feel free to contact.

H

Google maps says distance between Bajo Caracoles to Tres Lagos is 337 km which would be reachable. But then again, I do not trust google maps too much so is it underestimating the distance in this case?

[Manolito]

Originally Posted by AnjinSan

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies! In fact, being very loaded and 2up, I don't mind the tarmac. I actually prefer it as I have more chances to reach the end of the trip with the bike in good state (still, my only bike :) ).

Looks like I will have to by an extra can for gas for that 500 km stretch. In Bolivia I used normal 2 litres bottles (coca cola bottles) but I do not know if in Argentina this is acceptable.

So the info sounds promising. Today I hope to cross into Argentina and stop in Bariloche and after that I will come back with a more exact plan.

There is a law in Argentina that says that they are not allowed to sell you gas in plastic bottles, you have to use gas can designed for gas.

Originally Posted by AnjinSan

Google maps says distance between Bajo Caracoles to Tres Lagos is 337 km which would be reachable. But then again, I do not trust google maps too much so is it underestimating the distance in this case?

It's a little bit more, but the wind will decrease your mpg a lot