
Driving the wild Cuesta del Lipán to Abra de Potrerillos in Jujuy
Argentina, south-america
65 km
4,192 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in Argentina, in the province of Jujuy, ready to tackle the incredible Abra de Potrerillos! This mountain pass is a beast, sitting way up at 4,192 meters (13,753 feet).
The whole thing is part of National Route 52, connecting Purmamarca to Santuario de Tres Pozos via Salinas Grandes, stretching about 80 kilometers (almost 50 miles). The road is totally paved, thankfully.
The real star here is the Cuesta del Lipán, or Lipan Slope. Get ready for some serious switchbacks as you climb about 2,000 meters in just 17 kilometers from Purmamarca! There's a viewpoint near the top where you can really appreciate the engineering marvel that this road is.
Keep in mind the elevation! You might find yourself a little breathless, so take it easy. The scenery is epic, so be sure to soak it all in as you wind your way up and down.
Where is it?
Driving the wild Cuesta del Lipán to Abra de Potrerillos in Jujuy is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -39.2259, -65.7320
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 65 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,192 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -39.2259, -65.7320
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