
Driving the scary unpaved road to Abra Chucuito in the Andes
Peru, south-america
300 km
4,471 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Cusco region of Peru, I found the totally wild Abra Chucuito pass, and you HAVE to add it to your bucket list. We're talking serious altitude here, a whopping 4,471 meters (14,668 feet) above sea level!
Hidden in the La Convención province, within the Puyas De Raymondi National Park, this isn't your average Sunday drive. Forget pavement—we're talking pure, unadulterated dirt road (it's called CU-100, FYI). This epic route stretches about 300 km (186 miles) from Santa Maria to Andahuaylas, so buckle up for the long haul!
You'll definitely need a high-clearance vehicle, and honestly, a 4x4 is your best bet for conquering this beast. Nestled high in the Vilcabamba range of the Andes, this is classic Peruvian mountain terrain: think super-narrow sections, seriously steep climbs, and heart-stopping drop-offs with zero guardrails. The views are insane, but stay focused, people! This road demands respect, but the payoff is totally worth it.
Where is it?
Driving the scary unpaved road to Abra Chucuito in the Andes is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -10.0050, -75.2315
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 300 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,471 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -10.0050, -75.2315
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