A rockfall on July 30, 2026 [1], caused a total closure of Ruta Nacional 40 between San Martín de los Andes and Catritre.
The closure interrupts the Camino de los Siete Lagos during the peak of the winter vacation season, affecting thousands of tourists traveling through Neuquén Province.
Vialidad Nacional, the National Road Authority, reported that large stones fell onto the road near Lago Lácar. Authorities said the rockfall was caused by intense winter weather and heavy snowfall, which rendered the road surface unsafe.
"The traffic was interrupted between San Martín de los Andes and Catritre after the fall of rocks," Vialidad Nacional said [2].
The agency has deployed crews to clear the debris and restore access to the scenic route. Due to the closure, travel time between the two towns may exceed three hours [3].
"Vialidad Nacional is working to clear the roadway and asked to avoid circulation in the midst of adverse weather conditions," the agency said [4].
Officials noted that the incident occurred specifically in the pass between San Martín de los Andes and Catritre [5]. The disruption comes as regional authorities manage the seasonal influx of visitors to the Andean lakes district, where winter storms frequently impact infrastructure.
"It is due to the fall of large stones on the road in the pass between San Martín de los Andes and Catritre," authorities of Vialidad Nacional said [5].
“A rockfall on July 30, 2026, caused a total closure of Ruta Nacional 40.”
The closure of a primary artery like Ruta 40 during the winter peak highlights the vulnerability of Argentina's Andean infrastructure to extreme weather. Because the Camino de los Siete Lagos is a critical tourism corridor, such disruptions can lead to significant logistical bottlenecks and economic impacts for local hospitality services in Neuquén Province.
