
A wild 4x4 road to Coipitas Pass in the Andes
Argentina, south-america
130 km
4,221 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up adventure junkies, because Paso Coipitas is about to blow your mind! This insane international mountain pass sits way up in the Andes, straddling the border between Argentina and Chile at a dizzying 13,848 feet!
Seriously, this road is remote. Think epic landscapes and zero crowds. Connecting the Coquimbo region of Chile with the San Juan province of Argentina, this isn't your typical tourist trap.
The whole thing is unpaved, stretching for about 80 glorious miles from Puquios, Chile, to Los Azules, Argentina. You're gonna need a 4x4 for this one, trust me.
Word to the wise: Paso Coipitas is a summer fling only! We're talking December to April, max. Snow shuts this beauty down for the rest of the year, so always double-check conditions before you go. Get ready for the ride of your life!
Where is it?
A wild 4x4 road to Coipitas Pass in the Andes is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -37.2772, -65.2483
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 130 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,221 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -37.2772, -65.2483
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