I'm wanting a paved road route from Buenos Aires to Iguacu Falls to Cusco. I would prefer to limit the trip to Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. Any ideas to share? Thanks.
Bob

Bob,

There is no ALL PAVEMENT route that will include Bolivia, but there are a few ways that are 90% and the remaining 10% is firm, fairly smooth gravel.

First, if you do not enter Uruguay, the trip to Iguazu Falls is straight forward, hooking around Uruguay and along the southeastern edge of Argentina. After Foz (Iguazu), if you want only the countries mentioned, swing accross the northern rim of the 'Misiones' district (don't miss Posadas and a day trip over to Trinidad in Paraguay - no visa needed for a day-tour). Then you have a boring 1,500 km through Corrientes and all the way to Salta (straight and flat).

From Salta and Jujuy, there are 2 options: (1) straight north into Bolivia, and (2) over the Paso de Jama toward San Pedro de Atcama. Once in Chile there will be many options (all include a little gravel) into Bolivia, depending on what you want to see there. All end in La Paz, then carry on to Cuzco. then the only paved way out of Cuzco (without back-tracking is down to Nazca (a LONG and COLD day - wait for a sunny, dry day or this one could be miserable).

Even with an all-pavement bike, I would consider Brazil and the road less travelled. From Foz north to Cuiaba, then northwest and north to Porto Velho, then west to Peru. ALL is paved in Brazil and even past Iparia in Peru. Then, as long as you are travelling between June and November, the gravel is very good to Urcos, near Cuzco. Even parts of that are paved now. Yes, you would miss the salt flats and the volcanoes, but there is so much majesty the other way too.

Email or PM me for specifics if I can be of help...

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http://www.aroundtheblockmotoadventures.com/
'We build the bike (in Peru) for your Epic Ride of South America.'

There's pavement all the way from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Cusco. (some of the pavement ain't that great, but that's another story...).

I was told in Cochabamba by the local motorcycle club that Bol. hwy 9 south from Santa Cruz has been paved, where it meets Bol. hwy 34, which is paved to San Salvador de Jujuy.

I haven't done the Hwy9/34 ride, so can't say for certain. Can anyone else verify that?

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

The road from San Salvador de JuJuy to Tartgal to Santa Cruz is all asphalt. There is a bridge in southern Bolivia where the railroad bridge is used by alternating north/south traffic, but there's not much traffic to worry about. North to Montero from Santa Cruz and the west to Cochabamba was good two lane, just kinda long between gas. This was early Dec. 07