An epic road to Paso Salar Capina in the Andes

An epic road to Paso Salar Capina in the Andes

Bolivia, south-america

Length

N/A

Elevation

4,654 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I just conquered Paso Salar Capina in Bolivia, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride! We're talking seriously high altitude here – 4,654 meters (that's 15,269 feet!). You'll find this beast in the Potosí department, chilling near the Chilean border.

Now, don't even THINK about attempting this without a 4x4. The road is entirely unpaved and rough as guts. Plus, the air is thin up there in the Andes, so take it easy and listen to your body. Weather can change in a heartbeat, so be prepared for anything. You'll be cruising from Villamar Mallcu to the stunning Laguna Capina, a salt lake that’s not just pretty but also known for some serious seismic activity! Buckle up, buttercups, it's an unforgettable experience!

Where is it?

An epic road to Paso Salar Capina in the Andes is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -17.0312, -62.0067

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Bolivia
Continent
south-america
Max Elevation
4,654 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-17.0312, -62.0067

Related Roads in south-america

A wild road to the top of Roballos Passmoderate

A wild road to the top of Roballos Pass

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! I've got a border crossing to tell you about that's seriously off the beaten path. We're talking Paso Rodolfo Roballos, straddling the border between Chile and Argentina, clocking in at a cool 651 meters (2,135 feet) high. This beauty connects the Aisén Region in Chile to the Santa Cruz Province in Argentina, and it's a 163-kilometer (101-mile) journey from Cochrane, Chile, to Bajo Caracoles, Argentina. Forget smooth asphalt – this is all unpaved glory, aka Ruta X-83 (Chile) and Ruta Provincial Nº 41 (Argentina). Think washboard roads and muddy stones, folks! The road starts off pretty decent, but be warned, it gets rougher as you climb, with corrugations and loose gravel galore. Expect a 3-4 hour drive, minimum, to soak it all in. While it's open year-round, keep an eye on the weather forecast because snow can shut things down in a heartbeat. The conditions here are known to change in an instant. What sets Paso Roballos apart? It's way less crowded than the Chile Chico pass to the north, offering a more solitary, rugged experience. Get ready for some incredible Andes scenery, but be prepared for a bumpy ride!

La Pampa-Sihuas (Road 12A)extreme

La Pampa-Sihuas (Road 12A)

🇵🇪 Peru

Daredevils, listen up! Deep in central Peru, snaking through the magnificent Huascarán National Park, lies Carretera 12A – a gravel track that's more rollercoaster than road. Forget guardrails; you're playing chicken with gravity here, with sheer drops of hundreds of meters just inches from your tires. Vertigo sufferers, seriously, sit this one out. This epic 91.5 km route connects Sihuas (at a cool 2,725m above sea level) to La Pampa (dipping down to 1,796m), and it's a wild ride. Prepare for hairpin after hairpin as you climb to a dizzying 4,200m. It’s a true test of skill and nerves, and you’ll be sharing the road with lumbering log trucks, so stay sharp! The scenery? Absolutely breathtaking. Think mind-blowing mountain vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. But don't get too distracted – this narrow, exposed trail demands respect. Landslides and avalanches are a real threat, and one wrong move sends you tumbling. Oh, and a windy day? Hard pass. If you crave adventure and have nerves of steel, your wheels will be treated to views unlike anything else on Earth! Just be sure you know how to reverse.

A 4x4 adventure to Condor Pass in the Salvador Dalí Deserthard

A 4x4 adventure to Condor Pass in the Salvador Dalí Desert

🇧🇴 Bolivia

Alright adventure junkies, buckle up for Paso del Condor! This beast of a pass tops out at a staggering 4,730m (15,518ft) in the Potosí Department of Bolivia. Seriously, it's up there! You'll find this stunner in the Sur Lípez Province, chilling out in the southwest near the Chilean border, inside the wild Salvador Dalí Desert (or Dalí Valley, if you’re feeling fancy). Trust me, the landscape is straight out of a Salvador Dalí painting. Think surreal rock formations and otherworldly vibes. Now, the road itself is a bit of a beast. We're talking totally unpaved and seriously sandy, so a 4x4 is non-negotiable. Coming from Laguna Blanca, the incline isn't too bad and the surface is doable. But heads up, the descent is a different story – a bit rougher, though still manageable if you're heading the other way. Make sure to check out the crazy Piedras de Dalí rock formations just east of the road. This 40km (24.85 miles) stretch from Laguna Salada to Laguna Blanca is pure visual candy. Get ready for mind-blowing views of Lagunas Blanca and Verde, plus a whole bunch of volcanoes like Licancabur and Juriques. It's the kind of scenery that'll make you want to pull over every five minutes for a photo op!

A very bumpy, grueling road to Puna Jujeñamoderate

A very bumpy, grueling road to Puna Jujeña

🇦🇷 Argentina

Alright, adventure seekers, buckle up for Puna Jujeña! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a seriously stunning, sky-high pass in the Rinconada Department of Argentina, clocking in at a breathtaking 4,438 meters (that's 14,560 feet for us imperial folks!). You'll find this gem nestled way up in Jujuy Province, in the northern reaches of the country. The road itself? Well, let's just say it's "rustic." Ruta Nacional 40 (RN40) to be exact – 70 kilometers (or around 43 miles) of pure, unadulterated unpaved road winding its way between Orosmayo and Coranzuli. Prepare for some seriously otherworldly views; picture a lunar landscape unfolding before your very eyes. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road – this is a remote route, so come prepared, and be ready for an unforgettable journey!