Page 331 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  329

Argentina by Road DIRECTORY

For the adventurous of spirit looking for a different kind of Renting Cars and
holiday experience, there is the option of traveling across Motorbikes
Argentina by road. An increasingly popular tourist activity, Avis
driving around the country has become much safer and more Tel (011) 4378-9640, (0810) 9991-
convenient. Argentina’s road network is comprehensive – if a 2847. ∑ avis.com.ar
place is listed on a map, it can usually be reached by car or Hertz
motorbike. Driving offers an intimate view of the country. Tel (011) 4816-0101.
∑ milletrentacar.com.ar
Roads pass spectacular scenery along the Atlantic coast or
run across barren Patagonia where wide open spaces how enormous, dry, and
encourage a sense of freedom and adventure.
featureless most of Patagonia
is, they can try the fully paved
Ruta Nacional 3, which runs
General Safety Off-Road Driving down the Atlantic coast. Ruta
Though paved, most of the Conventional wisdom dictates Nacional 23, on the other
country’s Rutas Nacionales that travelers need a 4WD hand, running from Ruta
can be narrow, making over- (four-wheel drive) vehicle with Nacional 40 to El Chaltén, is
taking tiring and sometimes truck-tyre tread to get around a difficult, high drive with a
dangerous. Windscreen and Argentina, but that is not always spectacular backdrop. For the
headlamp guards are essential the case. Roads often look purist road-tripper, Ruta
on the roughly graveled rutas worse than they actually are. Nacional 25 from Trevelin to
provinciales as there is a danger For off-road driving, however, Trelew is perfect, with the
of flying stones. By law, drivers a solid 4WD vehicle with requisite remote gas stations
must carry warn ing triangles, a strong suspension is a must. staffed by friendly local people.
first-aid kit, and an international Main tenance gets Ruta Provincial 9
driving license. Seat belts must more expen sive runs from Buenos
be worn and spare tyres, a farther away from Aires to the Bolivian
car jack, car pump, spare wiper towns and cities, border, following
blades, and oil must be carried, so it is worth the old Camino
along with antifreeze if driving installing extra Real to the silver
in the south. shock absorbers mines. It also
It is also important to trust in and taking on passes through
local knowledge – if some one plenty of fuel before Distance marker along Ruta Quebrada de
says that a road is impassa ble starting out on Nacional 40 Humahuaca
at a particular time of year, it is a long journey. (see pp200–4).
safer to assume that they know The journey across South
what they are talking about. America taken by Che Guevara
Great Drives and his friend, Alberto Granado,
The 3,100-mile (5,000-km) in 1952 is becoming an
Renting Cars and long trunk road Ruta Nacional increasingly popular driving
Motorbikes
40 is easily the country’s most route. The famous 8,700-mile
Most of the main international famous high way (see p247). (14,000-km) drive was
hire companies such as Avis However, there are plenty of documented in the 2004 biopic
and Hertz have offices in other routes to satisfy those The Motorcycle Diaries. It is,
Argentina. Expect to pay with a thirst for both adventure however, not advisable to try
between US$40 and US$60 per and awe-inspiring scenery. If it on a battered Norton 500,
day depending on the required visi tors want to get a sense of as Che and Granado did.
mileage. Some smaller, local
companies offer the same level
of service for a significant
discount; visitors should ask for
details at their hotel or travel
agent. By law a person must
be at least 23 to hire a car in
Argentina. A driving license,
passport and, often, a credit
card are required. It is crucial
that the renting agency hands
over the ownership documents
for the vehicle, which must be
shown at police checkpoints. Lonely stretch of Ruta Nacional 40 going through Bajo Caracoles, Patagonia

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