Advice on the crossing at 4750m altitude near la Serena to Argentina

[maria41]

Anyone has used recently the unpaved road and border crossing a bit south of of La Serena, that take you up at 4750m altitude?

The other option for us would be to come back near Santiago and use the paved road to Mendoza, a long way back!

What is the state of this unpaved road? Can we find petrol? We have been told there are 550km of road without any fuel....
If you've been through recently let me know!

Thanks!

[Warthog]

I've just looked at the road atlas that we used for our trip in 2006. We stayed in Vicuna. There is petrol in La Serena, but I am pretty sure there was petrol in Vicuna, too. Its a well established town.

By my rough calculations from the map it looks like the paved road continues for around another 60 km, and then another 110 Km unpaved to the border. Again, looking at the map it looks like its then a further 160 km from the border to the first big town on the Ruta 150: San Jose de Jachal (first 90km unpaved)...

So I think you're looking at about 400km from La Serena to San jose, of which about half is unpaved. I also think you should find petrol in Vicuna, in Chile and I expect you could also find it in Rodeo, 70 km west of San Jose, on the Argentine side, so maybe as little as 280-300 km between petrol stops?

I can't be sure, but I hope this helps anyway!

[manzini]

hola amigos
just been up the road from rodeo side.
there's a sign saying petrol in vicuña and there's certainly(was 2 weeks ago) nafta in rodeo.
it gets quite cold up there,that's why i didn't make it to the top.
all the best gerd

[maria41]

Thanks guys. There is definitely fuel in Vicuña, so from there to Rodeo it should be ok without loading on extra fuel.

We will remember to keep our heated jackets at hand! Must be indeed very cold up there but worth it!

[desert dweller]

yep went up there about two weeks ago, up and down from the arg side. 100 octane fuel at rodeo. bloody freezing and the altitude quite taxing if you get off to walk around. also alt sickness can make you unable to think straight so watch that - not the best on a bike.

road surface generally very good, glaciers overhanging road and all. well maybe not glaciers but icefields yes. great adventure! and a really sweet little comedor in the town too, thoug wheter or not it is really called rodeo depends on your map.

if you are lookign to camp after the crossing, there is an amazing set of gorges near a dam, less than 20km from rodeo. we camped off the right of the road, out of wind and on very clean dirt of just the right consistency!

enjoy,
andy

[Smellybiker]

Nice campsite near Vicuna, just follow signs for the Marmaluka Observatory & you'll ride past it.

[desert dweller]

oh yeah the town marked on our map as the major one on the arg side of the pass is actually called Las Flores. there is a YPF there just after you take the fork into the town.
Rodeo flitted past as if if didn't exist. might not have actually.
cheers
andy.