Ruta de los Seismiles Catamarca

This brutal 320-kilometer circuit links Argentina’s highest accessible peaks through mining roads that climb above 4,800 meters between Fiambalá and Tinogasta. You’ll navigate loose volcanic scree on the approach to Ojos del Salado base camp, cross the Salar de Antofalla’s crystalline expanse, and follow abandoned sulfur mining tracks toward Cerro Pissis. The route demands precise navigation through unmarked intersections where one wrong turn adds 100 kilometers through roadless puna.

Expert-only territory requiring serious altitude preparation, emergency gear, and a properly equipped expedition vehicle with spare everything. Attempt only during dry months (April-November) when sudden storms won’t trap you above 5,000 meters. Fuel availability is critical — carry enough for 500 kilometers and coordinate cache points in advance. This isn’t a trail; it’s a high-altitude survival test that rewards the prepared with access to some of the planet’s highest driveable terrain and complete solitude among six-thousand-meter peaks.