By road, San Antonio de los Cobres and Uquía are about 132 miles (213 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 11 min of driving.
Full advisory: Argentina. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 132 mi (213 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN IV40 → RP79 → RN52 → RN9 |
| Provinces on the route | Salta, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The San Antonio de los Cobres–Uquía drive in a few lines
RN IV40 (39 mi) and RN52 (39 mi) carry about 59% of the 132 miles. It runs through 2 provinces: Salta, Jujuy. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Salta |
| RN IV40 | 1–40 | 39 | Salta |
| RP79 | 40–60 | 20 | Jujuy |
| RN52 | 60–99 | 39 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 99–132 | 33 | Jujuy |
- Mile 40 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between San Antonio de los Cobres and Uquía
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Posta de Hornillos (mile 106), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 111), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 112)
- Museums and history: Posta de Hornillos (mile 106), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 111), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 112)
Salinas Grandes
Spread across Jujuy and Salta provinces at about 3,450 meters, the Salinas Grandes salt flat covers 212 square kilometers of white desert.
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 Uquía
- Purmamarca to Uquía
- Salta to Uquía
- Cafayate to Uquía
- Amaicha del Valle to Uquía
- Santa María, Argentina to Uquía
- Catamarca to Uquía
From San Antonio de los Cobres to other places in Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía?
About 4 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía?
About 132 miles (213 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 San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía use?
In order: RN IV40, RP79, RN52 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Antonio de los Cobres to Uquía?
Closest to the road: Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 106, 0.2 mi from the route); Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 111, 0.4 mi from the route); José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (historic house museum, mile 112, 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.