A treacherous border road to Salar de Ollague Pass in the Andes

A treacherous border road to Salar de Ollague Pass in the Andes

Bolivia, south-america

Length

254 km

Elevation

3,695 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! You HAVE to hear about Paso Salar de Ollagüe, a seriously epic high-altitude pass chilling out at 3,695m (12,122ft) on the Chile-Bolivia border.

Nestled right in the heart of the Andes, inside Chile's Reserva Nacional Alto Loa, this route links the Antofagasta Region of Chile with Bolivia's Potosi Department. Word to the wise: it's only open from 8 AM to 8 PM daily.

Now, let's talk about the road itself. Forget smooth tarmac – this baby is all about that rugged, unpaved life! Known as CH-21 in Chile and Carretera 701 in Bolivia, both sides are gravel and can be pretty gnarly. But hey, that's part of the fun, right? The good news is it's usually open year-round.

Clocking in at 254km (157 miles) from Calama (Chile) to Maicota (Bolivia), this journey is REMOTE. Like, seriously out there. Unless you're a seasoned off-road pro, hooking up with a local driver is HIGHLY recommended. Trust me, the views are worth it, but you want to soak them in, not stress about navigating tricky terrain! Get ready for some unforgettable scenery.

Where is it?

A treacherous border road to Salar de Ollague Pass in the Andes is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -14.7828, -63.6871

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Bolivia
Continent
south-america
Length
254 km
Max Elevation
3,695 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-14.7828, -63.6871

Related Roads in south-america

Driving through the straight Ruta Provincial 26 in La Pampamoderate

Driving through the straight Ruta Provincial 26 in La Pampa

🇦🇷 Argentina

Okay, picture this: you're in the heart of Argentina's La Pampa province, ready to tackle Ruta Provincial 26 (RP26). This isn't just any road trip; it's a straight-shot adventure! This unpaved beauty stretches for 139km (86 miles) through the central part of the country, and get this: you won't hit a single turn for a whopping 133km (82 miles)! Yep, it's one of the longest straight roads on the planet. RP26 runs east-west, connecting Veinticinco de Mayo to El Once, offering a handy shortcut between Ruta Provincial 34 and Ruta Provincial 107. The road surface is unpaved, but usually well-maintained. Get ready for some wide-open Pampas scenery, and keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. This is pure Argentinian adventure at its finest!

Travelling Through Ruta 27 (CH-27) in the Andeshard

Travelling Through Ruta 27 (CH-27) in the Andes

🇦🇷 Argentina

Okay, picture this: you're cruising on Ruta 27 in northern Chile, smack-dab in the Andes. This isn't your average Sunday drive, though. We're talking a serious high-altitude adventure across a wild, arid plateau. This two-lane paved beauty stretches for 156 kilometers (97 miles), linking San Pedro de Atacama to Argentina via Paso de Jama. It's a fairly new route, fully paved since 2005, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a breeze. Prepare for steep climbs and some challenging conditions, especially those strong, dry winds and the blazing sun! Sunglasses, H2O, and a couple of spare tires are absolute must-haves. Oh, and did I mention the altitude? You'll be hitting some serious heights, topping out at Portezuelo Paranal, a mountain pass sitting pretty at a breathtaking 4,832 meters (15,853 feet). That makes it one of South America's highest paved roads. Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable ride!

The 007 Road Trip: Driving to James Bond's Futuristic Hideout at Cerro Paranalmoderate

The 007 Road Trip: Driving to James Bond's Futuristic Hideout at Cerro Paranal

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, picture this: you're in Chile's Atacama Desert, about to climb Cerro Paranal, reaching a staggering 2,635 meters (8,645 feet) high! The road, Ruta Observatorio Paranal, is completely paved, but don't let that fool you – it's a seriously steep climb, with gradients hitting 12% in spots! From the B-710 road, you'll ascend for about 8.6 kilometers (5.34 miles), gaining 566 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of around 6.58%. The views? Absolutely unreal. Keep an eye out for the Cerro Paranal Observatory at the summit, home to some seriously impressive telescopes (Very Large Telescope & VLT Survey Telescope). Fun fact: part of the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, was filmed here! There's even a hotel, La Residencia, for staff, but sadly, no overnight stays for tourists. Just remember the last stretch is often gated. Get ready for an out-of-this-world driving experience!

Travelling through Huahum Pass, one of the lowest passes of the Andeshard

Travelling through Huahum Pass, one of the lowest passes of the Andes

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Paso Huahum! This Andean beauty straddles the border between Chile and Argentina, clocking in at a cool 625 meters (2,051 feet). It's one of the lower crossings in the southern Andes, making it a pretty accessible option. Also known as Paso Pirihueico, this route connects San Martín de los Andes (Argentina) and Panguipulli (Chile). You'll be cruising Ruta CH-203 on the Chilean side and Ruta Provincial 48 on the Argentinian side. Heads up: both are gravel roads! Expect it to be rocky and steep on the Chilean side. To reach the pass from Chile, you’ll need to hop on a ferry across Lake Pirihueico. The Hua Hum ferry makes daily trips between Puerto Fuy and Puerto Pirihueico, and the ride itself is a scenic 1.5-hour mini-adventure. This pass is the main route from Chile's Los Ríos Region into Argentina's Neuquén Province. And the best part? It stays open year-round, so snow won't stop you!