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**partireper.it** · #1 14 Nov 2010

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
Partireper.it: Il Portale del Viaggio Avventura

**IronArse** · #2 15 Nov 2010

Hey there, I was down there in December last year, and there was no sign of plans to pave that road. Doubt that they could have much done from nothing in a year in Argentina. I'd say assume no pavement until you hear otherwise.......
Also, fuel stations were still sparse, but with my XT with about a 300km range I had no problems with running dry, although I carried spare anyway. Doubt there's many new gas stations in the last year either.
I doubt anything has changed much since the last time you were down there man......

**partireper.it** · #3 15 Nov 2010

Thanks man, I appreciated it.

**Chrispy** · #4 15 Nov 2010

I'm in Bariloche now. I rode that section about a week ago. Last fuel after Calefate is Tres Lagos, and then the next fuel is at Bajo Caracoles, about 360km.

It's still all ripio, but they are still working /grading to some day tarmac it all. But for now it's still an adventure.

Chrispy.

**partireper.it** · #5 16 Nov 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrispy

I'm in Bariloche now. I rode that section about a week ago. Last fuel after Calefate is Tres Lagos, and then the next fuel is at Bajo Caracoles, about 360km.

It's still all ripio, but they are still working /grading to some day tarmac it all. But for now it's still an adventure.

Chrispy.

Thanks man, couldn't get any better and updated info than your.

So it is still the same argentina old famous ruta 40.

thanks

**garmei** · #6 1 Dec 2010

Dont hang around too long...

they are seriously tearing the road up. we were there last week and there are long stretches (up to 50km) where you have to ride on a diversion as they lay down the base for the new asphalt road.

The work is undertaken in several different sections simultaneously, so it´s a big mess of diversions, fresh pavement an untouched sections. The diversions are pretty bad to ride (at least for this amateur 2 up and fully loaded!); lots of deep silt (they damp down the road with water) and one horrendous section with nothing but deep coarse gravel and cobbles.

All said, it was the hardest riding I´ve ever done and worth every panicky minute for the sections that are untouched and original. We were filled with sadness to see the fresh black asphalt being laid down ( but slighltly relieved to be riding it if I´m truthful!).

The roadworks seemed to stop as you go north into Chubut, so I dont know what the road is like up that way. We tried and failed to find the petrol in Tres Lagos. e have a range of about 380KM and were OK,

Did anyone mention it is windy out there?

suerte

**TorPedro** · #7 2 Dec 2010

GARMEI - it's been that way for a while (was the same in February when we were on the 40!) ...and will probably be that way for a while.

The fuel in TRES LAGOS is just outside of Town to the west - we had a hard time finding it as well -DUE TO THE ROADWORKS! lol

It's at 49°36'11.61"S and 71°28'44.80"W

**panhandle1300** · #8 7 Dec 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by garmei

Dont hang around too long...

they are seriously tearing the road up. we were there last week and there are long stretches (up to 50km) where you have to ride on a diversion as they lay down the base for the new asphalt road.

The work is undertaken in several different sections simultaneously, so it´s a big mess of diversions, fresh pavement an untouched sections. The diversions are pretty bad to ride (at least for this amateur 2 up and fully loaded!); lots of deep silt (they damp down the road with water) and one horrendous section with nothing but deep coarse gravel and cobbles.

All said, it was the hardest riding I´ve ever done and worth every panicky minute for the sections that are untouched and original. We were filled with sadness to see the fresh black asphalt being laid down ( but slighltly relieved to be riding it if I´m truthful!).

The roadworks seemed to stop as you go north into Chubut, so I dont know what the road is like up that way. We tried and failed to find the petrol in Tres Lagos. e have a range of about 380KM and were OK,

Did anyone mention it is windy out there?

suerte

Glad I'm not the only one who found it hard!! Fully (over)loaded GS1200 2 up. I was beginning to feel like the worst rider ever to have ridden the 40 after hearing from other bikers who had ridden it with no wind and no problems. We were there Jan/Feb '10. Had to park up in the free campsite at Tres Lagos for a couple of days waiting for fuel and the wind to drop. Took us 6 hours to ride from there to Estancia La Siberia at Lago Cardiel, 90 KM's!!!! Got blown off 3 times

Fuel Station is off the road on the right as you ride out of town on the El Calafate road just as the pavement starts, or it was when we were there.
There is a 60 KM stretch of asfalto about 50 KM's after Lago Cardiel then the ripio started again, wasn't too bad tho as they were grading it and there was a lot of long stretches of really hard packed ripio we could ride at the side, just the wind being a problem. Lots of tempting freshly laid asfalto between Bajo Caracoles and Perito Moreno, thought that would have been open by now, then windy stretch of asfalto all the way to Los Antiguos.
FUN, FUN, FUN all the way, after we had done it

1st Pic - Tres Lagos, like this for 50 KM's.
2nd/3rd Pic - Tres Lagos to Lago Cardiel, hate that wind.
4th Pic - Lago Cardiel to Bajo Caracoles, a bit better road!!