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

Alto de la Cuevaextreme

Alto de la Cueva

🇨🇴 Colombia

Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Alto de la Cueva in the Boyacá region of Colombia! This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking a climb to 3,855 meters (12,647 feet) inside El Cocuy National Natural Park! The "road" – and I use that term loosely – is actually Carretera El Cocuy – Guicán, a gravel and rock rollercoaster. Think bumpy, tippy, and a true test for your off-roading skills. If you're not comfortable on unpaved mountain tracks, maybe skip this one. A 4x4 is practically mandatory, and a fear of heights? Leave it at home. The air gets thin up here (seriously!), and the steepness is no joke. Altitude sickness is a real concern – most feel it above 2,500-2,800 meters, so pace yourself. The views, though? Absolutely unreal. Just be prepared for your engine to feel the lack of oxygen too!

Patapampa Pass is one of the highest paved passes in the Americaseasy

Patapampa Pass is one of the highest paved passes in the Americas

🇵🇪 Peru

Abra Patapampa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.879m (16,007ft) above sea level, located in the Caylloma province of the Arequipa region, in Peru. It’s said to be one of the highest paved passes in the Americas. Set high in the Andes, in the southwestern part of the country, the road to the summit, also known as Abra Pata Pampa, is totally paved. It’s called 1S and 109. It’s part of the infamous Road from Chivay to Arequipa. The pass is 58.8 km (36.53 miles) long, running north-south from Chivay, a town in southern Peru's Colca Valley, to the 34E road. At the summit are souvenir shops, a natural viewpoint called Mirador de los Andes, and a small parking lot. The impressions at this viewpoint depend solely upon weather conditions. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting an 8% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Watch out for sudden loose-gravel breaks because the surface deteriorates at higher elevations. The surface is not bad, there is little traffic, and the gradients are mostly gentle, which means that despite its height, it is a reasonably easy climb. Near the summit (southwest side), a minor gravel road climbs up to 5,000m (16,404ft) above sea level. Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our interactive map to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Cuesta de Llantahard

Cuesta de Llanta

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, buckle up, thrill-seekers, because Cuesta de Llanta in Chile's Atacama Region is not for the faint of heart! Situated in the Chañaral Province, this climb is seriously brutal. You'll find it along Carretera C-13, otherwise known as Camino al Salvador or Camino a Diego de Almagro. The road itself is paved, but don't let that fool you – it's incredibly steep, and you'll be sharing the road with lots of trucks. This 2.4-kilometer stretch averages an 8% gradient. Get ready for a wild ride!

Ruta Provincial 2hard

Ruta Provincial 2

🇦🇷 Argentina

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Ruta Provincial 2 in Argentina's Valdes Peninsula, right on the Atlantic coast. This isn't your average Sunday drive – it's a 139km adventure! The road starts with some nice asphalt, but quickly turns into "ripio," which is basically gravel. It connects the Ruta Nacional 3 to the tiny town of Punta Delgada on the Golfo Nuevo. Now, weather here is WILD. Valdes Peninsula is semi-arid, so things change fast, and the wind can be intense. That's why they recommend sticking to 60km/hour. Trust me, a cracked windshield or flat tire will ruin your wildlife spotting! Speaking of which, this route is all about the scenery. You'll have the chance to spot massive marine animals in their natural habitat. It’s usually maintained so a normal car *could* do it if you’re careful and the weather is good. That said, for max comfort and fewer worries, seriously consider renting a 4x4. The gravel can get loose, especially on the edges, and muddy after rain. Basically, come prepared for an adventure!