
A 4x4 adventure to Condor Pass in the Salvador Dalí Desert
Bolivia, south-america
40 km
4,730 m
hard
Year-round
Alright adventure junkies, buckle up for Paso del Condor! This beast of a pass tops out at a staggering 4,730m (15,518ft) in the Potosí Department of Bolivia. Seriously, it's up there!
You'll find this stunner in the Sur Lípez Province, chilling out in the southwest near the Chilean border, inside the wild Salvador Dalí Desert (or Dalí Valley, if you’re feeling fancy). Trust me, the landscape is straight out of a Salvador Dalí painting. Think surreal rock formations and otherworldly vibes.
Now, the road itself is a bit of a beast. We're talking totally unpaved and seriously sandy, so a 4x4 is non-negotiable. Coming from Laguna Blanca, the incline isn't too bad and the surface is doable. But heads up, the descent is a different story – a bit rougher, though still manageable if you're heading the other way. Make sure to check out the crazy Piedras de Dalí rock formations just east of the road.
This 40km (24.85 miles) stretch from Laguna Salada to Laguna Blanca is pure visual candy. Get ready for mind-blowing views of Lagunas Blanca and Verde, plus a whole bunch of volcanoes like Licancabur and Juriques. It's the kind of scenery that'll make you want to pull over every five minutes for a photo op!
Where is it?
A 4x4 adventure to Condor Pass in the Salvador Dalí Desert is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -16.3666, -62.9020
Road Details
- Country
- Bolivia
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 40 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,730 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -16.3666, -62.9020
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