Explore/Argentina/AR K/Cuesta del Portezuelo — Catamarca Sierra Balcony Loop
ARSan Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, ArgentinaModeratePaved

Cuesta del Portezuelo — Catamarca Sierra BalconyLoop.

Distance
185 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,500 m
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Curated by Rider · Updated Aug 2026
Overview

Cuesta del Portezuelo — Catamarca Sierra Balcony Loop.

A full-day loop from Catamarca's capital that stacks two mountain ranges into one ride: the famous hairpin balcony of the Cuesta del Portezuelo up the Sierra de Ancasti, then north through the cool pine villages of the Sierra de Ambato. Twisting provincial tarmac, big valley panoramas and shaded riverside asado towns.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved
Distance185 km
Days1
Total climb1,500 m
DifficultyModerate
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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE
5 stops
Start
San Fernando del Valle de CatamarcaStart · Provincial capital at 550 m. Fuel up on Avenida Guemes before climbing RP 42 into the Sierra de Ancasti.
Pass
Cuesta del Portezuelo MiradorMountain Pass · The signature balcony road: a dense stack of hairpins climbing the Ancasti scarp, with a sweeping mirador over the Valle Central. Watch for loose gravel on the inside of the curves.
Scenic
El RodeoScenic Point · Cool pine-clad mountain village in the Sierra de Ambato, a classic summer escape from the valley heat. Good coffee stop before La Puerta.
Food
La PuertaRestaurant · Riverside town at the head of the Ambato valley: shaded asado grills and the Rio del Valle make this the lunch stop.
End
San Fernando del Valle de CatamarcaEnd · Return to the capital down the Ambato valley as the sierras turn gold.

More routes in AR K

Ruta 40 Catamarca — Santa María to El Shincal via BelénAR K · 200 kmPaso San Francisco — Fiambalá to Copiapó High Andes CrossingAR K · 470 kmPuna de Catamarca — Belén to Antofagasta de la SierraAR K · 222 km

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