Ruta Nacional 40

National Road number 40 is the longest road in Argentina. It’s born in Cabo Vírgenes (The southest point of South America, right before crossing the Estrecho de Magallanes, that separates Tierra del Fuego from the continent) and it goes North, for 5000 km, bordering the Andes going through 20 national parks, 18 rivers of big relevance, connecting 27 mountain passes and reaching almost 5000 meters over the sea level - in this beautiful province that is Salta - and finishing in La Quiaca, a city at the border with Bolivia

But… the trips I made on this road were always from Mendoza to Jujuy (west-center of the country going northwest) , and is not always on the same road, actually the trip is zigzagging the main road visiting different attractions. So, I usually drive on this road a little more than 2500 km.

Last time I did this trip was December, starting on the 18th, picking just one passenger at Mendoza airport. From there we went trough the city, which is called by many people “little Buenos Aires“.

When I got to the airport I was VERY nervous. The one thing I knew about this passenger was that he was German… Imagine having a trip for 14 days with a person you only know his nationality. So there I was, standinged at the gate, with a piece of paper saying “Herr Schmidt”. Suddenly I saw a girl waving at my direction, but she was saying hi to a person behind me… funny. But then, he appeared. A 66 year-old-man. There’s a big stereotype about this nationality. And it might be true, but just for the first days. They can be the best trip-mates. On the third days we were already making jokes and having a good time.**