The flat landscape of the humid pampas uniformly dyed green by the planted plots, the undulations of the Puntana mountain range and the imposing formations of the Cordillera represent
natural landscapes
so dissimilar that, at first glance, they seem to distance themselves from each other.
However, the
long route of Route 7
is responsible for uniting them and providing a changing sequence of nuances, colors and sensations to those who travel this 1,224 kilometer itinerary
from the Río de la Plata
(or, to be more precise, the General Paz that borders the western flank of the city of Buenos Aires)
to the Andean peaks
.
The Western Highway was completed in 1998 and replaced the old Rivadavia Avenue on the initial route of Route 7 to Luján.
The
first part of the route
, especially in that first stretch of 60 kilometers from Ciudadela, the country's main international road connection is usually loaded with cars, buses and trucks.
From there, on its
itinerary through five provinces
(Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, San Luis and Mendoza), traffic is partially cleared along the double track, which extends another 80 kilometers to Carmen de Areco.
Route 7 at San Alberto, at kilometer 114, between San Andrés de Giles and Carmen de Areco.
Photo Mauricio Nievas
While the work of the future highway
from Carmen de Areco to Junín (122 kilometers) continues
, the wide route returns to the scene along another 397 kilometers from Justo Daract (at the entrance to San Luis) to Luján de Cuyo, in Mendoza , including a portion of Route 7 - between kilometers 1040 and 2054 - overlapping with Route 40.
There begins what, perhaps, could be considered
the most exciting part of this adventure
along the old Camino Real del Oeste, the Camino de Alta Montaña that leads to the international tunnel that connects Argentina with Chile.
Distributor of General Paz Avenue in Liniers / Ciudadela, starting point of the Western Access, the first section of Route 7 from Buenos Aires to Mendoza.
Precautions to take into account on Route 7
Route 7 crosses the
urban area of dozens of towns and cities
that have
service stations
that fill fuel.
As for vehicles that fill gas, it must be taken into account that
there are no CNG stations
in the 440-kilometer segment to travel from Junín to Villa Mercedes nor in the 192 kilometers of the Camino de Alta Montaña de Mendoza, between Luján de Cuyo and The Caves.
Although the maximum speed is 120 kilometers per hour on the highway and 110 kilometers per hour in sections with one lane per lane, it is key to drive with extreme caution in the
highway work zone, from Carmen de Areco to Junín.
The difficulties caused by one of the most critical points of the journey, in the border area of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe, have already been overcome.
A major flooding of the route due to the overflowing of the La Picasa lagoon had forced the creation of a 32-kilometer gravel detour between Aaron Castellanos and Diego de Alvear from 1999 to 2007 and at kilometers 385 and 386 from 2017 to 2019.
Now,
that area continues to require extreme care due to patching and repaving works
.
That is why sections of alternating steps were established one hand at a time, with the maximum speed reduced to 80 kilometers per hour for light cars and 60 kilometers per hour for heavy vehicles and buses, from La Picasa to Rufino.
Later, on the Mendoza
High Mountain Road
, road teams are working to improve the shoulders in poor condition, in the 50 kilometers between Potrerillos and Uspallata.
In this part of Route 7 -especially at the height of Cerro Negro-, as well as in the 13 kilometers from Puente del Inca to Las Cuevas, avalanches are frequent
that
cover the road with mud and stones.
When snowfall occurs, it is mandatory to drive with chains on all wheels.
Snow, a common company on the High Mountain Road of Mendoza during the winter season.
For motorists, Route 7 imposes another call of attention to keep in mind, in the succession of
dangerous curves combined
with the slopes of the High Mountain Road, especially in the sinuous route of fourteen tunnels.
The
highest risk curves
are located at kilometers 1115, 1117 to 1120 (the tunnel area), 1136 (popularly known as “de los Chilenos”), 1187 (“de Polvaredas”), 1192, 1194, 1200 (bridge over the Mendoza River), 1205, 1224 and from 1228 to 1240, which covers the Curve of National Sovereignty.
After taking note of these necessary precautions to enjoy a pleasant itinerary, it is advisable to set out on the route knowing which are the main attractions offered by thirteen possible stops.
Route 7: what to see along the way
Km 62: Luján
Enrique Udaondo Museum Complex, in Lujan.
Photo: Rolando Andrade Stracuzzi.
The historic area of Luján, where the Basilica Nuestra Señora de Luján
stands out
, is the main attraction of this classic mini-tourism destination.
The
most traditional tour
extends to the Enrique Udaondo Museum Complex, the Pilgrims' Rest, the recesses and the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts.
You should also schedule the Villa de Luján tea house (steps from the Basilica), an amusement park spread on both banks of the river, the historic town of Jáuregui (better known as Villa Flandria) and the
rural towns
Cortínez and Carlos Keen, places suitable for tasting regional flavors such as roast, homemade pasta, cheeses, empanadas and salamis.
Km 103: San Andrés de Giles
Horseback riding at the Estancia Chica country restaurant, in San Andrés de Giles.
The starting point to discover the charm of this city is the
Freedom Monument
that stands in the center of Constitución Square.
From there you can draw an itinerary that includes the house of former president Héctor J. Cámpora (who served as president in 1973), the San Andrés Apóstol parish (1806 work of the town's founder, Vicente Piñeiro) and the train station , inaugurated in 1889 with the arrival of the horse-drawn Rural Tramway.
Other points of interest are the
La Merced ranch
- next to the old Camino Rural al Alto Perú - and the country restaurants Estancia Chica and Campos de Giles, as well as the dining rooms serving typical dishes in Villa Ruiz and Azcuénaga.
Km 138: Carmen de Areco
Entrance to Carmen de Areco, province of Buenos Aires.
A
very rural town
whose centuries-old traditions and customs are reflected in monuments, churches, chapels, the Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish, the Historical Museum, the
Longo Grocery Store
and the
rural town of Gouin
, headquarters of the National Cake Festival.
Around the main square, a mural illustrated with characters from Mafalda attracts attention, the building that houses the Banco Provincia and other centuries-old houses supported by thick exposed brick walls.
On the banks of the Areco River, the Municipal Spa is ideal for a picnic.
Km 260: Junín
School No. 1, where Eva Perón studied, in the historic center of Junín.
After the dramatic drought that affected it in the first weeks of the year, the
Gómez lagoon
- the main tourist attraction in Junín -
is slowly recovering its water flow
.
In any case, other lagoons in the Salado River basin - such as Carpincho, Los Patos and Mar Chiquita - appear as good fishing places
in
the area.
In the
Laguna de Gómez Natural Park
and along the access road from Junín, there are adventure proposals (zip-lining, paintball, hiking, trekking and cycle tourism) and first-time flights in glider, paragliding and light aircraft.
In the center of the capital city the circuit of the
Contemporary Art, Municipal Art and Paleontological and Malvinas Argentinas museums
is deployed .
Km 426: Rufino
Entrance road to Rufino, in the south of the province of Santa Fe.
The best base, in the
south of the province of Santa Fe
, is to go in search of good specimens of silverside, catfish and toothfish in the La Picasa lagoon and swamps.
The
Municipal Spa Park
has two swimming pools, grills, children's games, cycling and athletics tracks, and soccer, bocce, and tennis courts.
In turn, the
Doña Anita Educational Shelter
is a very educational tour through the wide diversity of native and exotic flora and fauna of the area.
The story of the passage of the San Martín Railway through Rufino is told in detail in the Municipal Historical Museum and Archive.
Km 586: Vicuña Mackenna
Thermal water pool in the rural area of El Surgente, 13 km from Vicuña Mackenna, Córdoba.
A pleasant surprise in the
southern end of Córdoba
.
It combines references of
rural and historical tourism
through the remains of forts, lakes, lagoons, the train station and the Regional Historical Museum.
That's not all: about 30 kilometers to the southeast (and 13 kilometers south of Route 7 along a dirt road), in the
El Surgente area
, a jet of thermal water at a temperature of 38 degrees provides visitors with a refreshing relaxing time, in two huge pools and a smaller pool, in the middle of an overwhelming plain landscape.
Km 696: Villa Mercedes
The famous Calle Angosta, in Villa Mercedes, province of San Luis.
Here you can see the famous
“Narrow Street, the one with a single path”
, popularized by a Puntana cueca in 1969.
The passage had been created in 1926 next to the train track, as an alternative to Calle Ancha Paris - renamed Aviador Origone - to enter the second most important city of San Luis.
Part of that milestone is rescued in the Railway Museum, as complete as the Malvinas War Veterans, Mono Gatica and Antique Vehicles Association museums and in the historic folkloric club Mi Madre Tierra and Boliche Doña Dima.
To enjoy contact with nature, Villa Mercedes offers
rest and nautical activities
at the Balneario Los Filtros, the El Lago and Espejos de Agua parks.
Km 788: San Luis capital
Replica of the Cabildo of the city of Buenos Aires in La Punta, 13 km from San Luis capital.
From here, after touring the
Cathedral
, the Pringles and Independencia squares, the Interactive Museum of History and Dora Ochoa de Masramón, the Mirador Tower of the Bicentennial Milestone and the building with futuristic lines Terrazas del Portezuelo - headquarters of the provincial Government -, a A 13-kilometer detour along Highway 3n leads to the striking
reconstructions of La Punta
: the Casa de Tucumán, the Pyramid of Mayo and the Cabildo, two emblematic historical sites of the city of Buenos Aires.
Km. 1040: Mendoza capital
General San Martín Park, in the city of Mendoza.
Photo: Marcelo Rolland / Diario Los Andes
The provincial capital, one of the most attractive cities in the country, can be approached from the relaxed walk offered by the winding paths of the
General San Martín Park
.
The tour continues on foot along the pedestrian Sarmiento Street, the sparsely spread Fundational Area, the Carlos Alonso Museum, the
circuit of wineries and vineyards
and, after sunset, the corridor of bars and restaurants on Arístides Villanueva Avenue.
Less well known - although equally interesting - are the
Urban Shopping Tram
(it travels four streets in the downtown area in less than half an hour, around Plaza Independencia, where regional products are sold) and the Metrotranvía, an original public transport, 18 kilometers long. extension, which allows you to reach the wine-growing area of Godoy Cruz, Gutiérrez, Maipú and Las Heras.
Km 1095: Potrerillos
The lake of the Potrerillos dam, in the Luján de Cuyo department, Mendoza.
The
spectacular landscape of the foothills and the snow-capped peaks
of the Cordón del Plata begins to emerge from the viewpoints of the Potrerillos dam lake, an area exactly tailored to lovers of camping, zip lining, hiking, rock climbing, rappelling and kayaking. .
25 kilometers from Potrerillos you can visit
Vallecitos
, known for being the oldest ski complex in the province of Mendoza.
There are
mountain shelters
and two-hour
trekking trips
to the Angel Waterfall are organized .
Km 1151: Uspallata
The gateway to the Cordillera is a
historic town
linked to the Crossing of the Andes by the troops commanded by San Martín and headed in this area by General Juan Gregorio de Las Heras.
From that epic, a series of vaults
built in the 18th century by Jesuit priests (they served as barracks for the liberating Army) and the Picheuta stone bridge
remain standing .
From Uspallata you can also organize
excursions to the Cerro de los Siete Colores
, Route 52 (the exciting Camino de los Caracoles that reaches Villavicencio) and the remains of the Paramillos Mine, whose activity began in the 17th century, at 2,600 meters above sea level.
Km 1219: Inca Bridge
Puente del Inca, on the High Mountain Road of Mendoza.
Shortly after the passage of Route 7 at the foot of the hill where the Los Penitentes ski center used to operate several years ago (at kilometer 1,214), the
High Mountain Road
imposes an urgent stop at the
Puente del Inca Natural Monument
, a geological formation eroded by the Cuevas River.
The torrent of thermal water at a temperature of 34 degrees carries sediments and natural salts, a phenomenon that can be observed from a distance, from the platform of a viewpoint.
You can still see the ruins of a thermal hotel destroyed by an avalanche in 1965.
Around there are commercial stalls, where crafts, souvenirs and typical food are sold and you can also visit the Andinistas Cemetery (one kilometer away) and, at kilometer 1222 (3 km from here), the Los Lagoon
viewpoint. Horcones
, which provides an extreme close-up view of the white silhouette of Mount Aconcagua.
Km 1232: The Caves
Las Cuevas, steps from the international crossing from Mendoza to Chile.
At the final point of the journey, the houses of Las Cuevas make up a
typical mountain village
, created two kilometers from the border crossing to Chile and 3,557 meters above sea level.
If the snow-capped peaks stand out in that postcard image, the striking silhouettes of the Andean mountain range take over the scene even more in the winding 9-kilometer route of a road that takes off from Las Cuevas and, after resuming its course after dozens of curves closed, it deposits travelers at the feet of Christ the Redeemer, a 7-meter-high sculpture created in 1904 at 3,854 meters above sea level, where the icy wind, the sky and the gigantic presence of the Cordillera prevail.
Where to stay
In Junín, Copahue hotel: double room with cable TV, wi-fi, breakfast and pool, $42,600;
triple, $65,600;
quadruple, $72,500;
garage, $2,800 (0236- 452-1111 to 13 / reservas@hotelcopahue.com / www.hotelcopahue.com / Facebook: Hotel Copahue Junín).
In Rufino, Cruz del Sur inn: double room with TV, garage and wi-fi, $22,000;
quadruple, $28,000 (03882- 15679500 / Facebook: Cruz del Sur).
In Vicuña Mackenna, San José hotel: double room with breakfast, wi-fi, cable TV and covered garage, $25,000;
triple, $32,000;
quadruple, $35,000 (03583- 420-278 / 0358- 154254666 / hotelsanjosemackenna@gmail.com / www.hotelsanjosemackenna.com.ar / Facebook: Hotel San José in Vicuña Mackanna de H. Ellena).
In La Punta (15 km north of San Luis capital), Epic hotel: double room with garage, breakfast, wi-fi, heated pool, satellite TV and minibar, $66,466;
triple, $83,080 (0810-1223742 / 0266- 453-0800 / (0266) 154506512 / recepcion.sl@epic-hoteles.com.ar / www.epichotelsanluis.com / Facebook: Epic Hotel, San Luis).
In the city of Mendoza, Argentino hotel: double room with breakfast, garage, swimming pool, minibar, cable TV and wi-fi, $66,000;
triple, $81,000 (0261- 154056300 / info@argentino-hotel.com.ar / www.argentino-hotel.com.ar / Facebook: Argentino Hotel).
In Uspallata, Gran Hotel Uspallata: double room with breakfast, wi-fi, cable TV, covered parking and pool, $54,000;
triple, $75,000;
quintuple, $113,500 (02624- 420-0066/7 / 0264- 15420003 / info@granhoteluspallata.com.ar / www.granhoteluspallata.com.ar / Facebook: Gran Hotel Uspallata).
Where to get information
Province of Buenos Aires: (0221) 429-5639/5711 / www.buenosaires.tur.ar
Santa Fe: (0342) 458-9475/6 / www.santafe.tur.ar
Córdoba: (0351) 434-8260/4 / www.cordobaturismo.gov.ar
San Luis: (0266) 442-3479/3957 www.turismo.sanluis.gov.ar
Mendoza: (0261) 413-2164/5/6/00 / (0261) 157067038 / www.mendoza.tur.ar