
Abra de Viscos
Peru, south-america
N/A
4,695 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Abra de Viscos in the Arequipa region of Peru is calling your name! We're talking about a serious high-altitude experience here, topping out at a whopping 4,695 meters (15,403 feet)!
Now, fair warning: this isn't your Sunday drive. The road is mostly gravel, and after a bit of rain, things can get tricky. Think potential avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides that can block the way. Plus, watch out for those icy patches – they can be sneaky! This climb is long, so make sure you're prepped for those conditions, because you're heading into some seriously remote territory.
But trust me, the views are SO worth it! You're climbing out of one of the deepest canyons on the planet, and the scenery is mind-blowing. As you ascend, keep an eye out for Solimana mountain – the views are incredible once you crest the Cotahuasi valley. And near the top of the pass, you'll catch a glimpse of the majestic Coropuna. The road itself isn't too steep, and the surface is usually in pretty good shape (either gravel or tarmac), so you can relax and soak it all in. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
Where is it?
Abra de Viscos is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -9.8806, -74.7055
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 4,695 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -9.8806, -74.7055
Related Roads in south-america
moderateRoad Trip Guide: Conquering Milagrosa Waterfall
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Okay, adventurers, listen up! Wanna chase a miraculous waterfall high in the Ecuadorian Andes? Then you NEED to check out Cascada Milagrosa! This stunner is tucked away at a whopping 3,806 meters (that's nearly 12,500 feet!) in Napo Province, Ecuador. It's about an hour from Quito, inside the Cayambe Coca National Park, and the drive there is an adventure in itself. The road, known as Carretera Papallacta - Laguna Baños, is paved, but it's a bit of a climb, so a 4x4 is a good idea. They call it "milagrosa" (miraculous) because it's hidden in a Polylepis forest and used to be a spot for shaman rituals! Starting from Papallacta, one of the highest towns you can drive to, it's about 7.6 km (around 4.7 miles) to the checkpoint near the falls. In that short distance, you'll climb 569 meters, making for an average gradient of around 7.5%. Once you park, it's a super scenic 900-meter walk on a wide, gravel path to reach the falls themselves. Trust me, the views are worth it!
extremeRoad Varvarco-Barrancas
🇦🇷 Argentina
Hey adventure junkies! Wanna tackle a real beast in Patagonia? Ruta Provincial 54 and Ruta Provincial 53 link Varvarco and Barrancas in Neuquén Province, Argentina, near the Chilean border, and it’s a wild 233 km gravel ride. Forget your sedan – this baby demands a 4x4! Seriously, the gravel's loose, especially on the edges. You'll be crisscrossing rivers like Rio La Crianza, Rio de Los Chenques, Rio Neuquen, Rio Barrancas, Río Buta Mallín, and Rio Colorado, so be ready to get wet. The scenery is stark, arid, and unbelievably beautiful in its desolation. Expect some serious climbs; this road is STEEP! You'll reach a dizzying 2,825m above sea level, near Laguna Cari Lauquen. This lake has a tragic history; a dam collapse in 1914 lowered the water level dramatically, and caused hundreds of deaths. So, while you're soaking in the views, remember the past. Get ready for an epic Patagonian adventure!
extremeLaguna Huaroncocha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You NEED to check out Laguna Huaroncocha in the Huaral province of Peru. We're talking a seriously breathtaking lake sitting way up high at 4,580 meters (that's over 15,000 feet!). Getting there? Buckle up for Carretera 1NC. This road is a gravel beast – narrow, and a mud pit after it rains. And yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds. Avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides are real possibilities, and ice patches love to play hide-and-seek. The climb is killer steep, and the air is THIN. Trust me, you’ll feel the altitude; most people start feeling it way before you even get close, around 2,500-2,800 meters. But the scenery? Totally worth the huffing and puffing!
easyTroncal Amazonica is most easterly main road of Ecuador
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Okay, picture this: Ecuador's eastern edge, and you're cruising down Troncal Amazónica, aka the E45, the country's ultimate Amazonian adventure! This isn't just a road; it's a 701 km (435 mile) thread weaving through Sucumbíos, Napo, Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe provinces. Think serious immersion in the heart of the Amazon Basin. Starting up north at Puente Internacional San Miguel in Puerto El Carmen, right on the Colombian border, you'll head south all the way to Zamora, practically kissing the Peruvian border. It's mostly paved and heavily traveled, so you won't be totally off-grid, but the scenery? Untouched. Get ready for some serious natural beauty!