Caviahue

How to get there

By car:
Leaving from Neuquén, you must drive 262 km along National Route 22 passing by Plaza Huincul, Cutral-Co, and Zapala . The route continues along Provincial route 21 to get to Loncopué after 68 km. The last sector corresponds to Provincial route 26 and after 52 km you get to Villa Caviahue, the gateway to Parque Provincial Copahue - Caviahue, passing by some of the most beautiful places in the province such as Riscos Bayos and Cajón del Hualcupén.

By plane
You may arrive by plane from Neuquén and then take any kind of land transportation.


Distances from Caviahue-Copahue to:

Capital Federal 1600 km
Neuquén 300 km
Zapala 150 km
via Paso Pino Hachado from the frontier to:
Lonquimay en Chile 77 km
Curacautín 134 km
Victoria 189 km


International Passes

Paso de Pucón Mahuida
The passes of this sector of the Andes have no road for motor vehicles, but can only be crossed on horseback, mountain bike or hiking.
5 km from Copahue across a steep canyon, this pass is frequently travelled by artisans who bring their products to the markets in Copahue and Caviahue from the village of Trapatrapa in Chile.

Paso de Pichachen or Paso Desecho
This is another pass not apt for motor vehicles, but only accessible on foot or on horseback, which joins the region of Antuco in Chile. Its height is 1200 metres above sea level and it has an average temperature of 27° C in summer and - 7° C in winter.The closest village in Argentina is El Cholar, distant 77 km .

Paso Pino Hachado
From Loncopue , the closest village from Caviahue down the Andes, you must take National route 23 to Las Lajas and then take National route 22 to Paso de Pino Hachado, 1884 m. high. This pass is open from December to May, and there is Customs and a frontier guard post where you will have to fulfill the habitual requirements.
In Chile there are 80 km to the city of Lonquimay (see table of distances).
You will pass through Tunel Centenario constructed by the British to connect the commercial area with the Atlantic area, now available for cars, which is intended to be rebuilt as a bioceanic corridor. It is 4.500 m. long and you will see when crossing to Chile that at diferent heights on the slopes there are other minor tunnels not in use at present.
You must pay some 2 u$s to cross the tunnel and wait for your turn at the traffic light.

Land Transportation