Travelling through the curvy Cuesta del Portezuelo road
Argentina, south-america
168 km
1,771 m
extreme
Year-round
Get ready for an epic ride on the Cuesta del Portezuelo! This little slice of heaven is tucked away in the Valle Viejo department of Catamarca province, way up in northwestern Argentina.
The whole thing is paved, so no need to worry about dirt. It's just over 16km (around 10 miles) winding from the RN 38 highway up through the Sierra de Ancasti mountains and connecting to Ruta Provincial 2. Hold on tight, because this road is all curves, all the time. Seriously, hairpin turns galore! Built back in the late 30s, this road is an oldie but a goodie.
Prepare to climb! You'll reach a peak of 1,771m (that's over 5,800ft!). Expect an average gradient of 6%, but be ready for some steep sections that ramp up to over 20%. The views are absolutely worth it, though, with green landscapes stretching out as far as you can see. Just be aware, it can get pretty narrow.
Locals call it a "bridle path," a nod to its past when it was basically a horse trail. Thankfully, it's been upgraded since then! Now, it's one of the most popular spots in the province, thanks to its stunning scenery and how close it is to the city.
Where is it?
Travelling through the curvy Cuesta del Portezuelo road is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -37.1978, -65.9061
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 168 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,771 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -37.1978, -65.9061
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