Plan on about 7 h 47 min of driving for the 388-mile (624 km) trip from Catamarca to Purmamarca, before any stops.
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 | 388 mi (624 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 47 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 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Catamarca to Purmamarca is like
RN9 (199 mi) and RN38 (95 mi) carry about 76% of the 388 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Catamarca to Purmamarca, 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 | 347–387 | 40 | Jujuy |
| local roads | 387–388 | 1 | 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Catamarca and Purmamarca
San Miguel de Tucumán Cathedral
Dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation, San Miguel de Tucumán Cathedral is the city's mother church. Founded in the 17th century, it has been the seat of the Archdiocese of Tucumán since 1897.
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.
More drives to Purmamarca
- Cafayate to Purmamarca
- Amaicha del Valle to Purmamarca
- Santa María, Argentina to Purmamarca
- La Rioja to Purmamarca
- Llallagua to Purmamarca, 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 Uquía
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Catamarca to Purmamarca?
About 7 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 388 miles.
What is the driving distance from Catamarca to Purmamarca?
About 388 miles (624 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 Purmamarca 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 Purmamarca?
In order: RN38, RN1V38, RN9, RN34 and RN1V66. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Catamarca to Purmamarca?
Closest to the road: San Miguel de Tucumán Cathedral (cathedral, mile 140, 2 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (cathedral, mile 350, 1 mi from the route); Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (museum, mile 350, 1 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.