
Abra Muñano, a road less traveled
Argentina, south-america
16.6 km
4,067 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk about Abra Muñano, a seriously high mountain pass chilling at 4,067 meters (13,343 feet) in Argentina's Salta Province. You'll find it in the Rosario de Lerma department.
Now, this isn't your typical Sunday drive. We're talking a 16.6 km (10.31 miles) unpaved road – Route R12, if you're keeping notes. Get ready for a wild ride with a crazy amount of hairpin turns – 18 to be exact! Passenger cars and RVs can usually handle it, so no need for a monster truck.
Keep in mind, though, this road got a bit overshadowed back in the '90s when the paved Ruta Nacional 51 (RN51) came along. It now travels from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres. But, if you want something off the beaten path, Abra Muñano is a great adventure.
Where is it?
Abra Muñano, a road less traveled is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -38.0941, -63.2135
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 16.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,067 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -38.0941, -63.2135
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