Villavicencio and Ruta 52

26.12.2014
Journey: Mendoza – Uspallata (108 km)


The name – Villavicencio - can be noticed everywhere. On the large 6 liter water bottles and on small ones. And this place is about 40 km away from Mendoza.


And there is a large advertisement of the same type on the big road. The road is taking uphill.


Pretty similar. As an abandoned building it looks completely ok. The hotel was built in the years of 1934-1940, and was active until the year of 1978.The hotel and baths belong to the list of cultural values.

To visit it one must buy a ticket visit the ticket, and having arrived just in the right time a guided tour is available. I did not succeed this time to understand what time “the right time” was.


Climbing slightly higher one reaches a small chapel between the trees.






Here, too, cactus tree is used as material of the roof.






The Castle park.






View from the castle garden.




The hotel is situated at an altitude of 1800 m, from Mendoza the road was paved, but further on it gets interesting. GPS image.




Along the sides of the mountain Ruta 52 is going higher and higher.


A glance over the shoulder …


And another one, already from higher ...

This road also has other names like "Camino de la curvas 365" and "La ruta del un ano", because there was supposed to be 365 curves within these 17-kilometers. Do not know, didn`t count them, but the opening scene was beautiful.




Higher and higher ..




In the blue mist one can notice Mendoza, a couple of miles below.








There are several guanacos here, high up, singly and several together.


Cruz de Paramillos.




About a hundred meters away is the "Mirador Aconcagua", however, the highest mountain is in the shadow of the clouds.


And people are moving here, with bigger...


And smaller vehicles. In addition - some cyclists too


And up here, in the height of about 3000 meters above the sea level the heat finally diminishes.


Meanwhile, this kind of road coverage has appeared on the road.


And in the evening some more yellow signs catch the eye. They must not be ignored.


Otherwise, it would have been quite an ok place to overnight.

Further on I arrive at Uspallata in the dark. I had previously searched from web the coordinates of a camping and having reached there this place turned out to be a military unit. Those issues can happen. This has happened before and will happen again in the future, that the coordinates do not match.

But no matter. I turn around and in the middle of the city I find a tourist information and can buy a local map "Mapa Turistico", and get important information - that a municipal camping is 200 meters away. Like in many big towns.

In short, it is a place surrounded by garden. There is electricity , and one can wash oneself under running water. It is also possible to download the cameras and laptop. And on the whole – the price is also ok, usually about 30 pesos for a night or 2 euros. There is no wifi but no great problem as in the center of town around the tourist information free Wifi is available - not. No problem going there.


The next morning. The Municipal Camping Uspallata.

Continued.