
Chollay-Punta Colorada Road
Chile, south-america
209 km
3,573 m
hard
Year-round
Get ready for a breathtaking Chilean adventure on the Chollay-Punta Colorada road! Seriously, this drive is gorgeous. Think stunning mountain vistas and hairpin turns galore – we're talking over 30 of them winding through the Andes.
Clocking in at 209km, this route links Chollay in the Atacama Region to Punta Colorada in the Coquimbo Region, hugging the Argentinian border. The good news is the road was recently asphalted, so the surface is smooth. The challenge? You're climbing high, really high.
The highest point hits 3,573m (11,722ft), so be prepared for thin air. Altitude sickness is a real possibility, so take it easy! Extreme weather can also play a role, so keep an eye on the forecast. But trust me, the scenery is worth it!
Where is it?
Chollay-Punta Colorada Road is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -35.8819, -72.9015
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 209 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,573 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -35.8819, -72.9015
Related Roads in south-america
moderateDriving the forbidden border road to Portezuelo de Chaxas in the Andes
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're hunting for a seriously off-the-beaten-path experience, check out the Portezuelo de Chaxas. This wild border crossing sits way up in the Andes, clocking in at a lung-busting 4,494 meters (that's 14,744 feet!). You'll find it straddling the line between Chile's Antofagasta Region and Bolivia's Potosí Department. Fair warning: this isn't a Sunday drive. The road is rough, rugged, and completely unpaved, so you'll need a 4x4 to even think about attempting it. Be advised, though, that the road is closed to private vehicles due to dangerous conditions. There's even a mined area on the Chilean side. Still, the scenery is absolutely epic, with stunning views that stretch for miles.
moderateWhere is Salar del Rincón?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, picture this: You're in Argentina, ready for an adventure. Specifically, the Salar del Rincón in the Salta province, a shimmering salt lake sitting way up high. We're talking serious altitude here, so be prepared for that thinner air! Now, getting there? You'll be cruising along the RN51 for quite a bit. Be warned, the road leading up to the lake is completely unpaved. Forget your sports car; you'll absolutely need a high-clearance vehicle for this trek. Think dramatic, rugged landscapes, vast open spaces, and that feeling of being utterly remote. Keep an eye out for wildlife and be prepared for ever-changing weather conditions. But trust me, the views of the brilliant white salt flats against the backdrop of the Andes are SO worth it! Just take it slow, stay alert, and get ready for an unforgettable experience.
hardDriving the remote Sarani Pass in the Bolivian Andes
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Sarani Pass in Bolivia's Larecaja Province is calling your name. We're talking seriously high altitude here - 4,522m (that's 14,835ft!) of pure Andean bliss (and thin air!). Picture this: You're north of La Paz, deep in the La Paz Department, smack-dab in the eastern Andes. This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. The whole route is unpaved, a proper rugged dirt track. Originally a llama trail (imagine!), it's been beefed up for mining and crazy travelers like us. The "Illampu route" clocks in at around 140km (87 miles) from the town of Sorata. Be warned: this baby stays above 4,000 meters pretty much the whole time. Expect some seriously steep climbs, parts that have seen better days, and a serious need to get used to the altitude before you even think about hitting the gas. Oh, and did I mention it's at the northern edge of the Cordillera Real? Translation: snow is a real possibility, especially when it's not the dry season. My advice? Only tackle this beast when the weather's playing nice. Trust me, the views are worth the planning!
extremeLaguna Chichis
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up (literally, and maybe mentally) because Laguna Chichis in the Peruvian Andes is calling your name... if you're brave enough! Situated way up high in the province of Huarochirí, we're talking a lung-busting 4,539 meters (that's almost 15,000 feet!). This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking about the LM-116 – a 4x4-only adventure. Imagine a narrow, gravel road clinging to the side of a cliff, with absolutely no guardrails to save you from a truly epic fall. The ascent is BRUTAL; the air gets thin, and trust me, you'll feel it. Altitude sickness can kick in way before you even get close, so be prepared. One wrong move here and… well, let’s just say you won't be posting about it on Instagram. We're talking a dizzying vertical drop. Seriously, skip this one if it's windy. And definitely avoid it in bad weather. Avalanches, snow, landslides – they're all real possibilities, plus patches of ice can appear out of nowhere. The gravel surface is often loose, especially near the edge. Since it's so remote and so high up, being prepared for anything is key. Oh, and did I mention that this wild ride to Huayunca stays above 4,900 meters for a solid 25 kilometers? So, are you ready to push your limits and experience some seriously stunning scenery?