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National Route 40 crossing the Santa Cruz steppe

Northern Route 40

From Perito Moreno south across the steppe: rock art, canyons and small towns with long distances between fuel pumps.

Photo: Raf24~commonswiki · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The stretch

This guide covers Route 40 from Perito Moreno south to Bajo Caracoles and the detours to Lago Posadas, plus the branch to Los Antiguos (58 km west of Perito Moreno).

Stops

  1. Perito Moreno: fuel, ATM and shopping before you continue, as Parque Patagonia recommends.
  2. Los Antiguos (detour to the west).
  3. Cañadón Pinturas Portal, 54 km south of Perito Moreno.
  4. Bajo Caracoles and the RP 97 detour (47 km of gravel) to the Cueva de las Manos.
  5. Detour to Lago Posadas, the end of Route 41.
  6. RP 103 towards El Sauco (Patagonia National Park).

Tips

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Photo: Natifuzz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Practical guide

Things to do in Gobernador Gregores

Fishing lakes, the memory of 1921 and the gateway to Perito Moreno National Park, in the heart of the Santa Cruz plateau.

The central stretch of the Deseado estuary

Photo: Mikelzubi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Practical guide

Puerto Deseado weather: when to go

Official temperatures, the boating season and what the wind means for trips on the estuary and to Penguin Island.

View of Los Antiguos from the lookout, with Lake Buenos Aires in the background

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Practical guide

Jeinimeni Pass: how to cross from Los Antiguos to Chile Chico

Documents, vehicle papers, the SAG customs declaration and where to check whether the pass is open, with official sources.

Sources

  1. Turismo Ruta 40 – Cueva de las Manos
  2. Turismo Ruta 40 – Los Antiguos
  3. Parque Patagonia – Portal Cueva de las Manos
  4. Parque Patagonia – Cómo llegar
  5. Parques Nacionales – Parque Nacional Patagonia: horarios y cómo llegar
  6. Prensa Santa Cruz – Estado de rutas (Vialidad)

Checked on 2026-10-15. Opening hours, prices and dates change often: check before you travel.