Argentine travel

[LWB123]

Hello from Brisbane.

Heading off to Argentina and Chile next month for some work related activity. Have been to North America and Southern Africa plenty of times and driven extensively on bitumen and gravel roads, but never been to South America before.

Has anyone driven the Seven Lakes Route between San Martin des Andes and Bariloche in northern Patagonia and know of a particularly good spot to overnight? It is gravel for most of it still (I think) but I don't believe this is really rough stuff. It is meant to be fairly spectacular scenery and fishing wise.

Perhaps Ruta 40 down the spine of the country - especially in the south near El Calafate? Guide books tend to make it sound like somewhere extremely arduous, requiring heaps of safety and recovery gear, but looking at various blog photos it looks little different to anything that you might expect of a graded country road in western NSW or Southern Africa. I have belted hire Corollas and Golfs quite extensively around the latter without incident and was looking for any local experience of it that might suggest the road would tax a conventional car or small ute.

Finally, has anyone been to Puerto Iguazu lately and can recommend a good hotel - hotel web sites invariably say they are all excellent, while the travel blogs give a lot a fair old caning. I realise that Iguazu is in the tropics and that Argentina has had its' economic issues, so keeping up the maintenance on a lot of these places has fallen behind. Nevertheless, the accommodation is not being given away so some local feedback is always welcome.

Incidentally, has anyone actually bought a Land Rover in Argentina or Chile, and is there an owners' club?

Cheers,

[slug_burner]

Hello from Brisbane.

Heading off to Argentina and Chile next month for some work related activity. Have been to North America and Southern Africa plenty of times and driven extensively on bitumen and gravel roads, but never been to South America before.

Has anyone driven the Seven Lakes Route between San Martin des Andes and Bariloche in northern Patagonia and know of a particularly good spot to overnight? It is gravel for most of it still (I think) but I don't believe this is really rough stuff. It is meant to be fairly spectacular scenery and fishing wise.

Perhaps Ruta 40 down the spine of the country - especially in the south near El Calafate? Guide books tend to make it sound like somewhere extremely arduous, requiring heaps of safety and recovery gear, but looking at various blog photos it looks little different to anything that you might expect of a graded country road in western NSW or Southern Africa. I have belted hire Corollas and Golfs quite extensively around the latter without incident and was looking for any local experience of it that might suggest the road would tax a conventional car or small ute.

Finally, has anyone been to Puerto Iguazu lately and can recommend a good hotel - hotel web sites invariably say they are all excellent, while the travel blogs give a lot a fair old caning. I realise that Iguazu is in the tropics and that Argentina has had its' economic issues, so keeping up the maintenance on a lot of these places has fallen behind. Nevertheless, the accommodation is not being given away so some local feedback is always welcome.

Incidentally, has anyone actually bought a Land Rover in Argentina or Chile, and is there an owners' club?

Cheers,

I'd say the road conditions would be a seasonal issue.

Am pretty certain that we have some Argentine aulro subscribers that should be able to help, try a PM to German Grüner although am not sure he is that active on here. Or try http://www.landroverclub.com.ar/

[Chucaro]

One good contact to have is the Land Rover Club Argentina
Some of the members there are members here as well.
I know the area from Neuquen to Lagos del Sur incluiding El Bolzón. The roads there are very good and is a fantastic place to be.
The wines are among the best in the world.
I have many relatives over there and many on the Plottier city.
If you go to Plottier let me know and take some photos.
There are many big Estancias that are open to tourists where you can indulge eating the typical BBQ
Have a safe trip
Cheers

[hills boy]

We did an organised tour throught these areas. the lakes district is a easy drive. We camped at about just outside of town. The drive from Bariloche to El Calafate is a full two day drive( i think wiil have to reread my blog) with little civilisation inbetween. We blow two tyres in about two days, but it will be worth it.

Remember to keep your beer bottle and cash them in we you buy new ones. Allow extra time at boarder crossings and have a bit of spare cash and have your papers in order for your car. keep out my un-finished blog of our year trip abroad:

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