On the way to adventure for a step cordillerano that communicates the south mendocino with Talca , in Chile . It overcomes the Big river and Maule descends for the legendary river, with landscapes almost pristine and excellent fishing.

From Malargüe (km 0) they are 67 km paved until White Thatched tops; from there, 82 km for a road consolidated until the frontier and 166 more km until Talca , with 99 consolidated km and, then, pavement. They total 315 km from Malargüe to Talca . There is fuel in Malargüe and in San Clemente ( Chile ), to 297 km of distance. The route is passable of December to March. For steps customs officers in Malargüe. The customs is in The Loicas, to 105 km of Malargüe. The road lacks tourist infrastructure.

Leave Malargüe (km 0) for the RN 40 toward the south, crossing a small oasis with potato cultivations (seed) and medic. After the river Malargüe the landscape changes, reappearing the steppe, the pedregal and the jarillales that extend toward the east for the depression of Llancanelo.

Next to the route, a hill has been chosen by the devote of Ceferino Namuncurá like pilgrimage place and, as so many others in the vast one space pampeano-patagónico, goes covering with chapels, candles and promesantes offerings.

To 12 km of the city it leaves a deviation right wing of 500 m until the ruins of the outpost Malal-Hué (MHN). Then they follow 9 km of badenes until the hill of the Chihuido, passable with caution during the summer rains that drag correntadas of mud. Chihuido (in mapuche it means woman's chest) it has an attractive stratification with marine silts, where small fossils accumulated before the rising of the monteña are plentiful .

When arriving to the foot of the hill ( 23 km of Malargüe), the RP comes out 186 toward The Payunia and lagoon of Llancanelo, (explained in the Walk to Lagoon of Llancanelo). The first 10 kms are only paved.

Passing the hill will arrive to away Thrown Water, where they are remains of the plant of uranium that exploited the Mine Huemul.

It was abandoned when met with phreatic napas that elevated the work costs.

To 63 km of the city, follow the one in route to the left toward the Pampas of Palauco, with oil exploitation, next, from the route it leaves a road consolidated to the right that takes to the Cave of the Witches in 8 km ( explained in the Walk To the Cavern of the Witches) .

About 3 kms later on will arrive at the Big river and the small town of White Thatched tops; there is a place forestado to camp and a warehouse of general fields, with sale of fresh drinks.

Crusader the bridge, to the right, the RP connects 224 toward step of the Pehuenche and Talca , in Chile .

Advance for the RP 224 that it overcomes the mighty Big river and it goes into in the mountain range.

After 15 km it is Poti Malal, with a posse of National Gendarmería, then, a road continues in soft ascent among colorful mountainous reliefs, where some groves that mark positions or stays emerge.

The final tract of the road overcomes the stream Pehuenche, called this way by the ethnic group that populated both hillsides of these mountains.

In the km 42 from White Thatched tops, you arrives to The Loicas, with customs and control of immigrations of National Gendarmería. In the km 82, it will reach the step of the Pehuenche, to 2.500 meters .

To little of having franked the step, already in Chilean lands. it is the lagoon of the Maule, with a retén of customs officers.

In this lagoon the mighty river is born that marked the southern limit of the Incan empire in the XV century, imposed by the resistance of the brave tribes mapuches.

Today is intensely taken advantage by four hydroelectric power stations. From the limit until Talca is 166 km along the river, with the first 99 kms on the way consolidated that, in summer, they require of a constant maintenance for the thaw streams that cross it.