The epic drive up to the Portillo Argentino Pass in the Mendoza Province of Argentina requires navigating a short but very steep and windy road that is boulder-strewn in places and was never actually completed all the way to the pass. It’s a wonder that road builders made it as far as they did, ultimately giving up in the face of a nearly-sheer final push to the pass. Despite the harsh conditions and the road-to-nowhere feeling, this rarely-traveled road actually has an official route number. Come along on our epic drive along Mendoza RP94 to the Portillo Argentino Pass.

Approaching the Portillo Argentino Pass, which is almost visible in the low spot in the ridgeline that you can see to the right.

The Andes loom large during this drive.
Epic drive to the Portillo Argentino Pass
This epic drive from Manzano Histórico to the Portillo Argentino Pass covers about 20 miles (32 km) each way, but it took us a little over three hours to travel that short distance. During slow, careful driving we climbed just shy of 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) averaging a whopping 6 mph (10 kph).

The stark beauty of the arid Andes.

The road hairpins its way up, up, up.

Welcome to the Portillo Argentino Pass, a narrow cleft in the rocks through which traders, General San Martin, Charles Darwin, and others have passed for centuries. passed Charles Darwin and General San Martin

Looking toward the Piuquenes Pass and beyond into Chile from the Portillo Argentino Pass.

Looking down at our speck of a truck parked below the Portillo Argentino Pass.
Epic drive to the Portillo Argentino Pass by the numbers
Distance: 40 miles (64 km) round trip
Drive time: About 7 hours round trip from Manzano Histórico including the hike up to the pass
Elevation gain: Just shy of 8,000 feet (2,438 meters)
Driving high point: 13,520 feet (4,120 meters) where the road ends which is about 850 feet (260 meters) below the pass itself.
Average speed: 6 mph (10 kph)
See our Epic Drive road trip driving route to the Portillo Argentino Pass in the map below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Eamm_JA-zE
Here’s more about travel in Argentina
See all of our Epic Drives in the Americas
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