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PATAGONIA TRAVEL, TOURS, HOTEL & VACATION GUIDE |
BY BUS
HOW TO GET THERE
SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES
PATAGONIA
ARGENTINA
by
Enjoy Patagonia
Enjoy Patagonia
BARILOCHE
Lake Perito Moreno
TORRES DEL PAINE
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SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDESOVERLAND TRANSPORT There are different options for overland transport. By land, with your own car or using a bus company, you can take a paved road. If you decide not to go by car, any of the different bus companies (see list at the end) providing services to San Martín de los Andes is a good choice. There are five different passenger bus companies leaving the San Martín de los Andes terminus daily in different timetables, producing an uninterrupted flow of visitors. BY CAR By car: Along the "NR" (National Routes). From the north, National Route Nº 22 gets to Zapala, where it links to National Route Nº 40 and then to National Route Nº 234, that takes you all the way to San Martín. From Buenos Aires Along National Routes (NR) N° 5, 35, 153 and 143, Provincial Route N° 20 (La Pampa) and NR N° 151, 22, 237 and 234. Total distance is 1,650 km. Leaving the Federal District, you should take Acceso Oeste (Route Nº 5) up to the city of Santa Rosa, La Pampa, total distance 620 km. In Santa Rosa you should take Route Nº 35, and then Route Nº 152. finally taking Route Nº 143 up to Chacharramendi. Continuing along Route Nº 143 up to Chacharramendi, a total of around 190 km, you will find the starting point of the so-called "Conquista del Desierto" Route (Route Nº 20), that continues to the intersection point with Route Nº 151 (to Colonia 25 de Mayo). Then you will cross the Río Colorado. Continue along this highway up to the city of Cipolletti, Río Negro, where you will link up with Route Nº 22. Once you are in Neuquén, continue along this highway up to Route Nº 237, that you must take all the way to Collón Cura. At this point, you must take Route Nº 40 up to the intersection with Route Nº 234. Finally, take Route Nº 234 up to San Martín de los Andes. From Neuquén Once you have arrived in the city of Neuquén, capital of the province with the same name, you only have 450 km to travel in order to get to San Martín de los Andes. This northeastern access is the most important one, since it links up the main cities in the country. You can choose between two alternatives to get to San Martín de los Andes: The first is taking the so-called "multitrocha" (multi-lane highway) that crosses Neuquén city, crossing the access to the local airport and the cities of Plottier and Senillosa. Once you are in the district of Arroyito, you continue to the west along National Route Nº 22 toward Zapala, after passing through Plaza Huincul and Cutral Co. In Zapala, you have to go south along the well-known National Route Nº 40, that on some stretches is in poor condition. After going through small districts such as Aguada Florencio and La Bomba, in the area known as La Rinconada and before crossing the narrow Aluminé river bridge (with only one lane), you take National Route Nº 234 that leads to Junín de los Andes, after doing another 29 km. From the latter, you only have 42 kilometers left to get to San Martín de los Andes. The second option starts at the Arroyito fork in the road, continuing southwestwards along National Route Nº 237 leading to S. C. de Bariloche, after going through El Chocón, Picún Leufú and Piedra del Aguila. The whole stretch is well maintained and, just before crossing the Collón Cura river bridge, you have to turn right on the clover leaf to continue along National Route Nº 40 up to La Rinconada, and after that follow the road described above. From Aluminé If you start your trip through the Lake Region from the Pehuenia Circuit, or from Aluminé itself, you can visit San Martín de los Andes 136 km away. You can even do this trip in a day, if you leave early in the morning. You go along National Route Nº 23 through this small district where the highways are being repaired, and only a few stretches of well-kept gravel remain. During the first 53 kilometers up to the district known as Pilo Lil, the road follows the Aluminé river with its innumerable rapids, which you have first on your right and, after crossing the bridge at Rahue, on your left, turning your trip into one long attraction. The last part of the trip is through the Mapuche communities of Aucapan on your right and Painefilu on your left; the latter is bouded by the Malleo river up to the bridge, with one lane only, after crossing which you have a short 15 km stretch to Junín de los Andes, and then take the route described above. From San Carlos de Bariloche There are three options: 1.- If your choice is to stick to paved roads, the trip will be longer (254 km) and along National Route Nº 237 up to the Collón Cura river bridge. After going past the eastern tip of Lake Nahuel Huapi (on your left), the source of the Limay river, the famous Encantado Valley with its strange rock formations, the district of Confluencia (the Traful river's confluence with the Limay) and the Alicura dam, you cross the Collón Cura river bridge. Immediately after crossing this bridge, you turn left (care must be taken at the fork, because this route continues up to Neuquén city), following the same directions as those for driving from Neuquén through Piedra del Aguila (National Route Nº 40, La Rinconada, Aluminé river crossing, Junín de los Andes, and finally San Martín de los Andes) 2.- A somewhat shorter route in distance than the above, but one which will definitely take longer, is the stretch going through one of the most attractive circuits of the "Corredor de los Lagos" (Lake Belt). After starting on the above road and covering a short stretch of National Route Nº 237, once across the Limay river, take a left turn towards Villa La Angostura, along National Route Nº 231 (the highway leading to the Cardenal Samoré International Pass, the border with Chile). Once you have arrived at this tourist center after 62 kilometers of driving, you go through it, and a short way on take the right fork of National Route Nº 234, better known as Seven Lakes Route. Out of the total 110 kilometers between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura, only 40 are left unpaved. It is wise to drive slowly along this stretch of mountain road, both for safety and to enjoy a road that offers a wide range of the region's most famous natural attractions, such as Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Falkner, Villarino and Hermoso lakes, among others, and countless waterways and small streams, together with the abundant flora and fauna of the two National Parks you will go through: Nahuel Huapi and Lanín. This trip, in short, is one long excursion. 3.- A third option, the shortest but not the least attractive of the three, separates San Carlos de Bariloche from San Martín de los Andes by only 142 kilometers, and is known as the Córdoba Pass. You follow the same route along National Route Nº 237 up to Confluencia, then immediately after crossing the Traful river, take a left on Provincial Route Nº 63, that is all gravel track. It is wise to take this stretch slowly and carefully, especially because it is in fairly poor condition, and some stretches are narrow and twisting. A cruising speed will enable you to take full advantage of this particularly beautiful stretch of road. The highest point, after a series of hairpin bends is Córdoba Pass, which offers an excellent panoramic view of the valley, that makes stopping at the tiny vantage point at one side of the route a well worthwhile experience. The strangely shaped rock formations lining this road invite one to exercise one's imagination. After crossing the Caleufu, Filo Hua Hum and Meliquina rivers, you travel along the shores of the latter's namesake lake up to the access to National Route Nº 234 or Seven Lake Route over the Río Hermoso bridge, leading you after 25 kilometers to the city of San Martín de los Andes. From Chile There are three options to arrive in the area from the Republic of Chile: The southernmost and most used pass is that of Puyehue or Cardenal Samoré, that is totally paved, and connected with Chile's 10th Region, whose capital is Osorno and is connected to the south with Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, and to the north with Valdivia and Temuco. The total distance from Osorno to San Martín de los Andes is 240 km. From San Martín de los Andes itself you can obtain a direct route from the city of Valdivia in the 11th Region, through the Hua Hum pass. When you get to the city of Panguipulli, where the paved roadway ends, go along the consolidated dirt road skirting the lake by the same name; from that point you will have a perfect view of the Choshuenco volcano. This is a 44 km stretch after which you can take the road to Neltume that ends at Puerto Fuy. Here you take the ferry across Lake Pirehueico, up to Puerto Pirehueico. Once on the Argentine side, you go along Provincial Route Nº 48, which is in rather poor condition for the last 45 kilometers from the border post to our city. Further north, and connecting directly with the cities of Temuco, Villarica and Pucón you cross the Tromen or Mamuil Malal pass, going through one of the most attractive landscapes to be seen among the three passes, as well as crossing two National Parks: Villarrica (Chile) and Lanín (Argentina) The stretch along Provincial Route Nº 60 on the Argentine side is excellent gravel track up to the second bridge over the Malleo river, and afterwards the paved road continues up to Junín de los Andes first, and after 42 km to San Martín de los Andes. Total distance from Pucón, 180 km. Useful information Border post timetable: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Documents necessary to cross the border: "Green card" of the vehicle in the driver's name, or accompanied by owner's notarized authorization for driver. National I.D. Document or Identity Card. For foreigners, their passport and, if necessary, corresponding Chilean visa. Minors unaccompanied by one of their parents must have a notarized authorization from both parents to leave the country. "Libreta de Familia" (Marriage and Birth Registry Booklet) Agriculture and Livestock control service: Entry to Chilean territory is forbidden for perishable food products, especially dairy products, cold cuts, sausages and fruit. Entry is forbidden for plants and animals as well. On holidays or outside normal working hours, the Chilean customs charge small fees. Handy tips:
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