SUV or 4x4 in northern Argentina?

Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Argentina, and we want to do the northern loop followed by the southern loop starting from Salta. Since I’ve read conflicting advice, I need your help to figure out if an SUV is enough or if a 4x4 is absolutely necessary—prices are really different! I’d also appreciate recommendations for "reliable" rental agencies. Thanks for your help

Good evening,

It depends on where you're going. For both the northern and southern loops, we had a simple sedan—no SUV—and it was enough, including on the ripio.

But if you plan to venture into the Atacama puna, toward Tolar Grande, a 4x4 is essential.

https://www.myatlas.com/H%C3%A9rodote/la-puna-de-atacama

Hi there

For the northern and southern loops, you don’t need a 4x4 unless you’re heading up to Iruya and there’s been rain beforehand. Otherwise, an SUV is better than a sedan. You’ll cross streams more easily.

For Tolar Grande, a 4x4 is essential—it’s mostly rough tracks and sand.

All the info on the northern and southern loops of Salta is on this link, including places to see (with GPS data), accommodations, and travel times....

Hi there, if you stick to the main routes, you don’t need a 4x4 on the roads or tracks—a regular car can handle it, and a slightly higher SUV is even better! We traveled by 4x4 for a year in South America, which just means you never have to worry when taking tiny roads and can drive a little faster. But the most used roads are no problem for a car. The tracks can just be trickier in the rain.

Thanks Chrissand for your reply! I’d already checked out your link—it’s packed with useful info, and some of it really helped me out.

Hi there

I’m planning the same route and was wondering the same thing. However, I just saw some info about the southern loop: on Google Maps, the RP33 between Molinos and Cachi is marked as closed. Is this temporary (due to the season or weather) or should I expect it to last?

Thanks to everyone for your help.