
Abra de Porcuya
Peru, south-america
N/A
2,137 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, folks, buckle up for Abra de Porcuya! This high-altitude mountain pass, sitting pretty at 2,137 meters (that's 7,011 feet for my American friends), is nestled in the Huancabamba province of Peru.
You'll be cruising along Carretera 3N, also known as the Fernando Belaúnde Terry Highway, and yes, it's paved. But don't let that fool you, this road is STEEP. Seriously, maybe skip the extra helping of that delicious Peruvian food before you head out. The winding roads and high elevation might have your stomach doing somersaults. And a word to the wise: check the weather before you go – you don't want to be caught up here in a storm! But hey, the views are totally worth it.
Where is it?
Abra de Porcuya is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -10.3477, -74.3954
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 2,137 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -10.3477, -74.3954
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