The Wayro route from Santa María, Argentina to Purmamarca is 277 miles (445 km), about 6 h 37 min of driving without 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.”
| Total distance | 277 mi (445 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN68 → RP59 → RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 |
| Provinces on the route | Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Santa María–Purmamarca drive in a few lines
RN68 (109 mi) and RN9 (64 mi) carry about 62% of the 277 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santa María and Purmamarca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Catamarca |
| RN40 | 2–48 | 46 | Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta |
| RN68 | 48–157 | 109 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 157–162 | 5 | Salta |
| RP59 | 162–167 | 5 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Salta |
| RN9 | 168–192 | 24 | Salta |
| RN34 | 192–212 | 20 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 212–236 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 236–276 | 40 | Jujuy |
| local roads | 276–277 | 1 | Jujuy |
- Mile 9 of this route: Catamarca → Tucumán (province line)
- Mile 33 of this route: Tucumán → Salta (province line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santa María and Purmamarca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (mile 47), Museo de la Vid y el Vino (mile 47)
- Museums and history: Ruins of Quilmes (mile 17), Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (mile 47), Museo de la Vid y el Vino (mile 47), Basílica y Convento de San Francisco (Salta) (mile 167), Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (mile 167), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 238), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 238)
Ruins of Quilmes
In the Calchaquí Valleys of Tucumán Province, the Ruins of Quilmes mark a pre-Columbian settlement that covered about 74 acres, the largest in the country.
Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate
In the town of Cafayate, Salta Province, Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of Cafayate, under the Archdiocese of Salta.
Museo de la Vid y el Vino
In Cafayate, Salta Province, the Museo de la Vid y el Vino is a museum devoted to grapevines and winemaking.
Basílica y Convento de San Francisco (Salta)
A Franciscan church and convent in Salta, the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco is one of the city's main sights, declared a National Historic Monument in 1941 and a minor basilica in 1992.
Museum of High Altitude Archaeology
In Salta's historic center, the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology holds collections tied to Inca Capacocha ceremonies, mainly the Children of Llullaillaco mummies found in 1999 atop Llullaillaco volcano.
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
- Catamarca to Purmamarca
- La Rioja to Purmamarca
- Llallagua to Purmamarca, Argentina
From Santa María to other places in Argentina
- Santa María, Argentina to Uquía
- Santa María, Argentina to Humahuaca
- Santa María, Argentina to Atocha, Bolivia
- Santa María, Argentina to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa María, Argentina to Purmamarca?
About 6 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 277 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa María, Argentina to Purmamarca?
About 277 miles (445 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 Santa María to Purmamarca 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 Santa María to Purmamarca use?
In order: RN40, RN68, RP59, RN9, RN34 and RN1V66. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa María and Purmamarca?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Vid y el Vino (museum, mile 47, 0.1 mi from the route); Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (cathedral, mile 47, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (museum, mile 238, 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.