By road, Catamarca and La Quiaca are about 524 miles (843 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 35 min of driving.
Full advisory: Argentina. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 524 mi (843 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN38 → RN1V38 → RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 |
| Provinces on the route | Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Catamarca to La Quiaca
RN9 (336 mi) and RN38 (95 mi) carry about 82% of the 524 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Catamarca to La Quiaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Catamarca |
| RN38 | 4–76 | 72 | Catamarca, Tucumán |
| connecting roads | 76–77 | 1 | Tucumán |
| RN1V38 | 77–121 | 44 | Tucumán |
| RN38 | 121–144 | 23 | Tucumán |
| RN9 | 144–303 | 159 | Tucumán, Salta |
| RN34 | 303–323 | 20 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 323–347 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 347–524 | 177 | Jujuy |
- Mile 47 of this route: Catamarca → Tucumán (province line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Tucumán → Salta (province line)
- Mile 319 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (province line)
Stops between Catamarca and La Quiaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Posta de Hornillos (mile 393), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 399), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 400)
- Museums and history: Basílica de la Merced (mile 140), Timoteo Navarro Museum of Art (mile 140), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 350), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 350), Posta de Hornillos (mile 393), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 399), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 400)
Basílica de la Merced
San Miguel de Tucumán's Basílica de la Merced holds the image of Our Lady of Mercy, named General of the Argentine Army by General Manuel Belgrano on September 24, 1812.
Timoteo Navarro Museum of Art
The Timoteo Navarro Provincial Museum of Fine Arts is the leading fine arts museum in Tucumán Province, Argentina.
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Museo Juan Galo Lavalle
Inside a mid-18th-century house declared a National Historic Monument, this provincial history museum marks the place where independence-era leader Juan Galo Lavalle was killed.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
More drives to La Quiaca
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina
- La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Oruro to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Quillacollo to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Villa Tunari to La Quiaca, Argentina
From Catamarca to other places in Argentina
- Catamarca to Villa Unión
- Catamarca to Villa Carlos Paz
- Catamarca to Río Cuarto
- Catamarca to Mendoza
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Catamarca to Purmamarca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Catamarca to La Quiaca?
About 10 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
How far is La Quiaca from Catamarca by car?
About 524 miles (843 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Catamarca to La Quiaca drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Catamarca to La Quiaca?
In order: RN38, RN1V38, RN9, RN34 and RN1V66. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Catamarca and La Quiaca?
Closest to the road: Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 393, 0.1 mi from the route); Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 399, 0.3 mi from the route); José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (historic house museum, mile 400, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.