Ch'iyar Qirini

Ch'iyar Qirini

Bolivia, south-america

Length

17 km

Elevation

5,194 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the La Paz Department of Bolivia, nestled within the Cordillera Real of the Andes, lies Ch'iyar Qirini (also known as Charquerini or Chiar Kherini) – a beast of a mountain peak road reaching a staggering 5,194m (17,040ft)!

This isn't your Sunday drive. Think gravel, rocks, and bumps galore, mixed with hairpin turns that'll make your head spin. This 17km climb from Ruta 41 gains 874 meters in elevation, averaging a steep 5.14% gradient. Seriously, 4x4 is practically a must and experience is key. The air is thin, and the climb is brutal, testing both your car and your lungs. Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 meters, so be prepared!

Oh, and did I mention the potentially treacherous drop-offs? Or that snow can shut things down at any time? But if you dare to conquer this climb, you'll find a mountain shelter at the summit and views that will absolutely take your breath away – assuming the altitude hasn't already! Just be sure to avoid this road in wet conditions!

Where is it?

Ch'iyar Qirini is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -16.3168, -63.9940

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Bolivia
Continent
south-america
Length
17 km
Max Elevation
5,194 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-16.3168, -63.9940

Related Roads in south-america

Is Patapampa Pass paved?easy

Is Patapampa Pass paved?

🇵🇪 Peru

Okay, adventure-seekers, buckle up for Abra Patapampa! This insane mountain pass punches through the Andes in Peru's Arequipa region, clocking in at a whopping 4,879m (16,007ft). Word on the street is it's one of the highest *paved* passes in the Americas. Speaking of pavement, the whole route (also known as Abra Pata Pampa) is smooth sailing on tarmac. You'll find it marked as 1S and 109, carving its way through the landscape as part of that legendary Chivay to Arequipa route. This epic stretch of road clocks in at 58.8 km (36.53 miles), connecting Chivay (the Colca Valley's main town) with the 34E road. At the summit, you’re greeted with souvenir stalls, a parking lot, and the Mirador de los Andes viewpoint. Fingers crossed for good weather, because the views are EVERYTHING. The climb? Some sections are pretty steep, hitting an 8% gradient, so get ready for a bit of a push. Keep an eye out for gravel patches, especially higher up, but overall, the road's in decent shape, the traffic's light, and the slopes are manageable. Even with the altitude, it's a relatively easy climb. Bonus points: near the summit (on the southwest side), there's a little gravel road that goes even higher, topping out at 5,000m (16,404ft)!

How long is the road from Chivay to Arequipa?easy

How long is the road from Chivay to Arequipa?

🇵🇪 Peru

Okay, picture this: you're in Peru, cruising from the charming mountain village of Chivay to the vibrant city of Arequipa. This isn't just any road trip; it's a 149km (93-mile) adventure through the heart of the Colca Valley! We're talking about a mix of roads 34A and AR-109. Most of the route is paved, but be warned, the higher you climb, the rougher it gets. Still, it's not too bad, and since there isn't much traffic, it's a pretty relaxed drive, even with the altitude. Speaking of altitude, get ready to climb! You'll reach a staggering 4,879m (16,007ft) above sea level, with views that'll blow your mind. Think sweeping landscapes dotted with vicuña, llamas, alpacas, and even Andean ducks. Seriously, the scenery alone makes this trip worth it!

How Long is the Road from Pusac to Uchumarca?extreme

How Long is the Road from Pusac to Uchumarca?

🇵🇪 Peru

Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the Púsac-Uchumarca road in the Bolívar Province of northern Peru! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Starting in Púsac at 1,434m above sea level, you'll climb to a dizzying 3,684m as you approach Uchumarca. This 34.1 km (21.18 miles) unpaved road is carved into the side of a seriously steep mountain. Translation: narrow, winding, and exposed – think hundreds of meters straight down with zero guardrails. Hope you're not afraid of heights! The real test is "Cuesta de Uchumarca," a heart-pounding 4.9 km (3 miles) stretch boasting 16 hairpin turns! You'll gain 454m in elevation with gradients hitting up to 15%. But hey, the views are absolutely epic. Just be sure to check the weather forecast before you go; you don't want to be tackling this beast in bad conditions!

When was the road to Cerro Aucanquilcha built?hard

When was the road to Cerro Aucanquilcha built?

🇨🇱 Chile

Cerro Aucanquilcha is a massive stratovolcano located in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. An old mine road used to run to the top, but now much of it about 5.500m (18,044ft) above sea level has been wiped out by landslides. For many years it was the highest drivable road in the world When was the road to Cerro Aucanquilcha built? Set high in the northern part of the country, part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, the road to the summit is totally unpaved, but no longer usable by vehicles. Mining originally began on the volcano in 1913, initially using llamas as pack animals to carry down the sulfur. An aerial cable system extending for 22 km (14 mi) was completed in 1935, to lower the sulfur in buckets. Eventually this was replaced in 1972 by the road which switchbacked up to the summit and was capable of supporting 20-ton mining trucks. It was the world's highest mine during that period. It’s one of the highest roads of South America Can you drive to the summit of Cerro Aucanquilcha? Located to the west of the border with Bolivia, within the Alto Loa National Reserve one of the highest roads of Chile This is an extremely tough road to try and climb up on a bike. The terrible surface and steep gradients meant that with loaded bikes you will have to push about 80% of the way from 4,000m to a high point at 5,130m. Although a number of people have taken their bikes to the summit, the surface on many stretches of the road is very bad or even blocked due to landslides. However, there are sections of rideable road all the way to the summit. At the summit itself it would also be possible to ride around a bit. Since the mine closed in 1993 much of the road has fallen into disrepair. Motorized use is no longer possible. How is the climb to Cerro Aucanquilcha? The existence of the old road makes it relatively easy to get to the summit on foot if you are well acclimatized and the old mining camp at 5,280m makes a good base camp as there are walls to shelter your tent. The winds in this area can be fierce and especially in winter the nights can be extremely cold. The highest permanent human habitation was a galvanized iron hut acting as a miners' barracks, with 4 workers, at about 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Pic: Diego Delso [CC BY-SA 4.0 ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 )], via Wikimedia Commons Conquering the scenic Y290 road in the Chilean Patagonia A dangerous and difficult road to Guallatiri Volcano Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.