Ruta Nacional 9 Quebrada del Toro

The Quebrada del Toro cuts a spectacular gash through the Puna highlands, where RN9 shadows the legendary Tren a las Nubes railway line through switchbacks that climb from 1,200 to 3,700 meters. You’ll cross the Polvorilla Viaduct at 4,220 meters—the same bridge made famous by the tourist train—while navigating hairpin turns carved into sheer rock walls. The route passes through Ingeniero Maury and Santa Rosa de Tastil, where pre-Columbian ruins dot the mountainsides.

This is a high-clearance route demanding respect for altitude and weather. The road surface varies from good asphalt to rough gravel, with rockfall potential in the upper reaches. Best tackled April through October when snow doesn’t block the highest passes. Carry extra water, warm gear, and altitude sickness medication. The payoff is driving one of Argentina’s most dramatic mountain roads while experiencing landscapes that transition from subtropical valleys to high-altitude desert in a single day.