An epic road to Abra Taapaca
Chile, south-america
45.1 km
4,809 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Abra Taapaca! This beast of a mountain pass clocks in at a whopping 4,809 meters (15,777 feet) high up in the Nevados de Putre volcanic complex, way up in Chile's Tarapaca region. Seriously, it's one of the highest roads you'll find in Chile.
The entire A-23 road is unpaved, so get ready for a bumpy ride! In dry weather, most cars can make it, but honestly, a 4x4 is your best friend here. That final stretch to the top? Let's just say it's pretty intense with some seriously steep sections. Pro tip: pack plenty of water, snacks, extra fuel, a warm jacket, and make sure you've got a good GPS and some offline maps. Oh, and don't be fooled by those "5,250 msnm" signs at the summit—they're a bit optimistic, shall we say?
The whole thing is about 45.1 km (28 miles) long, running from the paved Carretera Internacional CH 11 (15 km east of Putre) up to Papujune. Keep in mind you're in the mountains, climbing to some serious altitudes, so the air is THIN. Altitude sickness and crazy weather are real concerns here, so be prepared! The scenery includes the Salar de Aguas Calientes, a mind-blowing landscape that's well worth the adventure.
Where is it?
An epic road to Abra Taapaca is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -34.6535, -69.0700
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 45.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,809 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -34.6535, -69.0700
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