NOTE: This circuit includes several options of shorter sections such as Los Cerrillos to Villa de Tupungato.
An impressive option to settle your new motorcycle or live the adrenaline of your road companion on dirt roads. This circuit connects with nature one hundred percent, with the landscape, the climate, everything comes together.
On Route 7 to the Potrerillos dike, which is well worth a stop because on weekends it is populated by lovers of sailing sports that give color to the blue of the waters, some mates maybe, some homemade pancakes prepared by there and continue.
The first goal is Las Vegas, stubborn with its green gardens still in the harsh winter and with the push of people who bet their lives at that point. It will depend on your plans for the day if you take everything to the picnic or if you prefer to eat something in one of the restaurants around. Following Route 89, we cross the spectacular La Hoyada mountain area.
The path continues along Route 89 and leads to Tupungato, it is a 51 km route, with 33 km consolidated. The impressive views of the Cordón del Plata are what make us congratulate ourselves on the choice of the day. A cornice path ascends to more than 2,200 meters above sea level, there a natural viewpoint and the entire valley at the foot with the majesty of the snow-capped peaks in front.
Then, the landscape changes, it becomes flat and with slight undulations that in summer shine greenish.
RP 89 is a magical experience, a winding path that goes into the Cordón del Plata, in a constant rise that puts the visitor in a privileged position. The Uco Valley is presented in full view from the portal of the Estancia La Carrera. The descent is between grasslands and cardonales, that soon will give place to the first vineyards. The Quebrada del Cóndor is an ideal point to observe the majestic flight of the king of the heights, which gives the place its name.
The route goes down to the valley, on the right is the Chateau D’Ancon, literally a castle that is part of the Estancias Argentinas circuit.
Already arriving at the Uco Valley the crops are noticed, the area of fruit trees, potatoes and vegetables in that capricious grid of neighboring plots. The walk reaches its goal in the picturesque town of San José and its old chapel, although you can follow just a few kilometers to the village head of Tupungato or take another tour of the beauty of Uco.
The crossroads with the Camino de los Cerrillos, as RP 86 is known, is an excellent choice. A tour that synthesizes the magic of entering the Cordón del Plata with panoramic views of the Tupungato Valley, combining mountain ranges, valleys and crops in the area.
This path invites us to climb up to the Mirador del Cristo Rey, symbol of the religious devotion of the Tupungatino people, from where the contemplation of the Andes exalts its dimension.
Returning by the RP 86 towards the south we find the Villa de Tupungato, with its picturesque main square, in its surroundings restaurants and accommodation are located, which turns it into a service center of the area.
Nearby, an interesting option is to visit and know wineries of great experience with native vines from Venice, makers of emblematic Argentine wines such as Malbec and Torrontés.
One option of this tour is to reach the Villa de Tupungato but return by the RP88, which allows us to visit the famous town of La Arboleda, located just 3 KM from the villa. This is the oldest district of the department, seat of its first political delegates. The lands were occupied by native peoples before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the Company of Jesus installed one of its reductions here. The area today is occupied by plantations of fruit trees and vines. Then continue on the RP 88 to join the RN 40.
The shortest option of this route is to leave from Luján by RN 40, crossing the towns of Agrelo and Ugarteche, turning right on Calle Melchor Villanueva, allowing us to continue on RP 96, which connects Luján with Tunuyán. This is one of the favorite circuits for lovers of the route. A steep climb that crosses Los Sauces and ends at the Historic Manzano. Going down then by RP 92 we find Vista Flores. Before returning to the RP40 back to Luján, we will go through the productive corridor of the Uco Valley, from where we can see the snow-covered Cordón del Plata that contrasts with the vineyards.
