A Wild Unpaved Road to Pico de las Antenas
Ecuador, south-america
3.5 km
4,350 m
hard
Year-round
Pico de las Antenas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4,350 m (14,271 ft) above sea level, located in Ecuador. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
The peak is called Pico de las Antenas (“Antenas Peak”) due to an array of telecommunication antennas and towers at the summit, commonly known as Papallacta Antennas.
The peak is located east of Quito, on the boundary of Pichincha and Napo Provinces, in the north-central part of the country, within the Parque Nacional Cayambe Coca.
The road to the summit is totally unpaved and challenging, with big rocks, sharp turns, steep parts, and narrow sections. A 4x4 vehicle is required. If you go, be prepared for very high elevation conditions.
Set high in the Andes just off the Eastern Cordilleras, the road to the summit is 3.5 km (2.17 miles) long starting from La Virgen Pass. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 276 m and the average gradient is 7.88%.Pic: Jesus Ramos Martin
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.
Where is it?
A Wild Unpaved Road to Pico de las Antenas is located in Ecuador (south-america). Coordinates: -1.3775, -78.3748
Road Details
- Country
- Ecuador
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 3.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,350 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -1.3775, -78.3748
Related Roads in south-america
hardLuribay winding road is an epic drive in Bolivia
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, buckle up for the Luribay winding road in Bolivia's La Paz Department! This unpaved adventure snakes through the Cordillera Central mountain range for about 14 kilometers (almost 9 miles) of pure, scenic exhilaration. You'll be hugging the curves with over 40 turns – mostly hairpin switchbacks that will test your driving skills! Starting in Luribay, prepare for a serious climb, gaining a whopping 1153 meters. This baby averages an 8.1% gradient, but be ready for some ramps hitting a maximum gradient of 15%. The views are absolutely worth it, though!
extremeWhere is Acotango Volcano?
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, picture this: You're in Bolivia, deep in the Andes, inside Sajama National Park, about to tackle a seriously epic 4x4 trail up Volcán Acotango, a volcano straddling the Chilean border. This isn't your average Sunday drive! We're talking a rough, unpaved mining road that starts off the Chachacomani road in Oruro. You can realistically drive to about 5,500 meters (that's over 18,000 feet!), maybe a bit further, before the track becomes completely impassable. This baby's one of the highest roads around. The road gets super steep after about 4,800 meters, so make sure your rig is up to the task. The surface is generally okay until about 5,250 meters, but after that, hold on tight! They're building some stuff at the sulphur mine on the mountain, so you might see some construction. Keep in mind, this route is usually only open during the summer. Avalanches and heavy snowfall can shut things down anytime, so be prepared for closures. On the Chilean side? Stay away from summit attempts, seriously, landmines. The Bolivian side is comparatively safer. Conditions can change rapidly and become seriously challenging! The real reward? Breathtaking views of the Andean highlands. Seriously, the scenery is unreal. This is a road trip you won't forget!
extremeAbra Alpamarca
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in the heart of Central Peru, in Junín province, lies Abra Alpamarca, a mountain pass soaring to a staggering 15,456 feet (4,711m) above sea level. You'll find this beauty, the highest point on the road connecting Huayllay to Tanta, along route 20A, and be warned: it's a gravel road. This isn’t your average Sunday drive. Be prepared for a remote, high-altitude trek. After a rain shower, even a small one, the road can get pretty tricky. Avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides are real possibilities and can block the way, and icy patches can be super dangerous. Pack smart: water, food, extra fuel, warm layers, and reliable GPS with maps are must-haves. You'll likely share the road with mine trucks (there are a bunch of large mines nearby), though the closer you get to the pass, the quieter it gets. But hey, the reward is absolutely stunning scenery!
moderateWhere is Vicuña volcano?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Vicuña is a volcano at an elevation of 5.495m (18,028ft) above sea level, straddling the border between Argentina and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country Where is Vicuña volcano? Set high in the Andes mountain range, the volcano is located on the border between the San Juan Province of Argentina and the Atacama Region of Northern Chile. Can I drive to Vicuña volcano? Located in the central region of both countries, the road to the summit is entirely unpaved. A 4x4 vehicle is required. The area is rich in copper and gold and the road to the summit is a mining road. Can I drive to Vicuña volcano in winters? The climate is cold and windy, typical of the high Andes. Because of its altitude, this road is open only in summers (from December through April). The rest of the year is blocked by snow. A 4x4 mine road to Cerro El Potro in the Andes A truck powered by solar energy sets altitude record: it has climbed a volcano in Chile Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our 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 to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.