Driving the hairy road to Portachuelo Pass in the Andes
Peru, south-america
70.8 km
4,717 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the ride of your life! We're headed to Paso Portachuelo Llanganuco in the Yungay province of Peru, a dizzying 4,717 meters (15,475 feet) above sea level. This isn't just a road; it's an adventure carved into the heart of the Cordillera Blanca, within Huascaran National Park, north of that crazy Punta Olimpica Tunnel.
Forget smooth sailing — this 70.8 km (44-mile) stretch from Yungay to Yanama is pure, unadulterated, unpaved glory. We're talking 50 hairpin turns that will have you questioning your sanity (in the best way possible). Officially known as AN-106 (Carretera de Yungay), this ancient passageway, used since pre-Inca times, is not for the faint of heart.
Imagine this: sheer drops meeting stone cliffs, hairpin turns so tight you'll need a Sherpa to guide you, and gradients hitting a hefty 11%. And if it's been raining? Get ready for loose stones and mud to test your driving skills. Oh, and keep an eye out for potential avalanches!
But trust me, the rewards are HUGE. The views? Unreal. You'll be gazing at giants like Mounts Huascaran, Huandoy, Chopicalqui, Pisco, Chacraraju, and Yanapaccha. Typically open year-round, this pass offers an insane corridor between the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. Get ready for an experience that will leave you breathless – both from the altitude and the beauty.
Where is it?
Driving the hairy road to Portachuelo Pass in the Andes is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.8254, -76.2350
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 70.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,717 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -8.8254, -76.2350
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