How to get to Catamarca, routes and means of transportation

If you are thinking about how to get to Catamarca, we tell you that there are many alternatives to access this province of Argentina… Which means you can choose the one that best suits your needs, expectations or budget! And it can be by air or land, including railroad. You choose the route and means of transportation based on the area you want to visit.

Beyond road trips that are usually longer and tedious (depending on the conditions of the pathway), the Catamaran territory is so wide and diverse in its extension, you’ll have to study the options based on the city you’re visiting, not the province in general.

AIR-TO-GROUND ROUTE TO CATAMARCA

No doubt, the air-to-ground route is usually the most comfortable and fastest. The total time of travel on the air route, from Buenos Aires, is usually 10 hours. However, as mentioned above, it varies from where you plan to go: whether it’s located in the north or south of the province.

If your only destination is San Fernando or some tourist town in that area such as “El Alto”, it’s advisable to take a direct flight to Catamarca airport, which is located south of the city. There are frequencies of 1 or 2 daily flights with Argentine Airlines.

Once you are in the capital of Catamarca, you will be able to have transport services that we provide within the province that will take you on tour to the most prominent and popular sites in San Fernando. In case you decide to go beyond the city, there are buses and taxis that take you to other regions. Renting cars is also a very good option.

In case your destination is located in the northern area (Puneña Region) of Catamarca, it’s convenient to travel to the airports of Salta, San Miguel de Tucumán, provinces of Santiago del Estero or Jujuy. It’s good to bear in mind that if you decide on the last two, you will have to complete the trip with a significant land route.

Once you are in one of these airports, you must continue on your way by land to Antofagasta de la Sierra (one of the most visited cities in Catamarca). You decide if you do it aboard a bus or if you rent a vehicle there. Check with our travel advisors, they will help you decide on the nearest airport.

LAND ROUTE ON BOARD PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Another way to get to Catamarca is only by land route, using public transport. In that case, the first thing is to define from which sector of the country you are going to make your way. The path to Catamarca varies depending on where you come from. To give you a more precise reference, we can divide the Argentine territory into 3 parts:

•         North: from places like Salta, Jujuy and Formosa.
•         Downtown: from Buenos Aires, La Pampa or Tucumán.
•         South: from Patagonia Argentina.

Then, from the North to the capital (San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca), it’s advisable to take an interprovincial route to the city of San Miguel de Tucumán and there take The National Route 38 that flows into San Fernando. It is one of the best conditioned routes and, therefore, the fastest and safest.

But, if you want to travel to some area of the North (such as Antofagasta de la Sierra or Bethlehem) the best and most recommended, for its inhospitable landscapes, is to take The National Route 40. For the area of La Puna (Laguna Blanca Biosphere Reserve), you will have to complete by taking Provincial Route 43.

Please note that taking these routes from Cafayate have an estimated time of travel of 8 hours. The best way to get to Catamarca from Buenos Aires, Córdoba or Rosario (Zona Centro), is by taking National Route 9 to Córdoba (a considerable part of this route is a highway, which makes this option more agile).

Then, from Cordoba to Catamarca, you have to take National Route 60 to give entry to the province to the south. If we want to go to the North region of Catamarca it is advisable to follow the RN60 to the RN 40 and travel the province throughout that area. You’ll have unique and amazing landscapes from start to finish. In case you want to go west of the province (Tinogasta), you can follow Route 60.

From the south of our country, the best option will always be to take the famous Route 40. This is the most charming way to get to know places, but if what we need is to make the trip faster, you’d better consider other alternatives, such as National Routes 35 or 36 to Cordoba and from there the road mentioned above by Route 60.

Depending on where you leave and which area of Catamarca you want to reach, the total travel time can vary between about 15, 20 and up to 30 hours. In this sense, we suggest you plan your travel itinerary with at least 1 or 2 stops with stay. You will be able to rest and get to know a little more those magical places that the road gives us.

Whatsapp us! We’ll help you coordinate the accommodation and everything you need! Keep in mind that you can also get there by bus through a wide network of companies. Every day a bus leaves, the tours vary. There is a route from Buenos Aires to San Fernando and some connecting Catamarca with other cities; it’s a matter of studying options and reviewing frequencies.

 HOW TO TRAVEL TO CATAMARCA IN FERROCARRIL?

You won’t believe it, but the railway is another means of transportation to travel to Catamarca. The important thing to consider is that this option is not direct and is viable only from Buenos Aires or Rosario, to San Miguel de Tucumán. Once in that city, you will have to take a bus that will bring you to Catamarca.

Don’t worry, almost every province has a long-distance bus company that connects them, which means you can get on the train at Retiro Buenos Aires, bound for Cordoba and, once there, take the bus for a 25 hrs tour. Doing the same thing to San Miguel de Tucumán, it’s 5 more hours for a total of 30.

In that sense, rail may not be the best option. In addition to the long hours on the road, the noise of this means of transportation can affect the start of your journey and make the rest an exhausting experience.

Finally, the decision on how to get to Catamarca is in your hands. But, whichever you choose, it can be more enjoyable and comfortable with the help of our travel advisors. Contact us now! You can also consult the Best 3 Itineraries to travel to Catamarca, prepared for this destination, including accomodation, tranfers and excurisons.

No matter the route, the main goal is to live Catamarca to the fullest!