Driving the Wild Unpaved Road to Abra Culipampa in Apurimac
Peru, south-america
98 km
4,834 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright, adventure seekers, buckle up for Abra Culipampa, a seriously high mountain pass nestled in the Apurímac region of Peru! We're talking a lung-busting 4,834 meters (that's 15,859 feet!) above sea level.
This isn't your Sunday drive kind of road. Located in southern Peru, the 98km (61-mile) stretch, also known as Carretera 111, winds its way north-south from Antabamba (Antapampa) towards the Arequipa border. Now, here's the kicker: it's entirely unpaved. Some sections are decent, but others are sandy, so a high-clearance vehicle is definitely your best bet.
Keep in mind this is a mining road, so you'll be sharing the road with trucks. But hey, the views are worth it! Think stunning lakes and majestic volcanoes lining your path. Just be prepared to share the road with those hard-working mining trucks as you soak it all in.
Where is it?
Driving the Wild Unpaved Road to Abra Culipampa in Apurimac is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.8223, -75.5608
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 98 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,834 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -8.8223, -75.5608
Related Roads in south-america
hardConquering the Amazon: The Thrilling Drive on the BR-319 Mud Road of Brazil
🇧🇷 Brazil
Get ready for an epic adventure on BR-319, the wild Brazilian highway that slices through the heart of the Amazon from Manaus to Porto Velho! This 857km (532 miles) stretch is not for the faint of heart. Think deep mud that can make it completely impassable during the rainy season, turning your journey into a real test of resilience. This rugged route connects Manaus, the bustling capital of Amazonas where the Negro and Solimões rivers meet, with Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia nestled in the upper Amazon basin. You'll rumble through small cities like Humaitá and Manicoré, witnessing a side of Brazil few get to see. Built in the '70s to open up the rainforest, BR-319 fell into disrepair pretty quickly. Expect a mix of asphalt, gravel, and sand, but brace yourself for crater-sized potholes, broken pavement, and a serious lack of guardrails. It's a true off-road experience! The debate continues about fully restoring the highway, with concerns about increased deforestation in this precious region. For now, most cargo goes by boat, leaving this challenging road to the truly adventurous, who camp out under the stars along the way.
extremeLa Rinconada in Peru is one of the highest towns accessible by car
🇵🇪 Peru
Ever been to "Devil's Paradise"? Just west of the Bolivian border in the Peruvian Andes, you'll find La Rinconada, a mining town scraping the sky at a staggering 16,830 feet! That makes it one of the highest towns accessible by car on the planet. Getting there is half the adventure. The Acceso a La Rinconada is a totally unpaved, 5.4-mile stretch of wild road branching off Road 110. Trust me, your suspension will get a workout! The scenery is...well, unique. Imagine breathtaking mountain views juxtaposed with the gritty reality of a gold mining town. This place has exploded in population, with miners working under a crazy system – 30 days unpaid, then one day to grab as much gold as you can carry! Now, let's be real. La Rinconada is considered one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. Think extreme altitude (oxygen deprivation is a serious risk), a landscape littered with garbage, and whispers of local mafias. Miners deal with some rough conditions here. Plus, the water's contaminated with mercury. It's not for the faint of heart. Is it a city? A town? Who knows! But it's an experience you won't forget.
hardA stunning coastal road from Caldera to Huasco
🇨🇱 Chile
Okay, picture this: You're cruising along the coast of Chile's Atacama Region, windows down, salty air whipping through your hair. This isn't just any drive; it's the road from Caldera to Huasco, one of the most incredible coastal routes Chile has to offer! Recently paved and known as Ruta C-10 (made up of segments C-324, C-302, C-326, and C-470), this 184 km (114 mile) stretch winds its way north-south from the port city of Caldera to Huasco. The climate is mostly warm and bone-dry thanks to its location on the edge of the Atacama Desert, but the cool sea breeze keeps things manageable. Keep your eyes peeled though! Flash floods can be a real issue sometimes, and sandstorms can occasionally blow through, adding an extra layer of adventure. But trust me, the incredible desert landscapes meeting the Pacific Ocean are worth any minor inconvenience. This is one road trip you won't forget!
moderateA wild mining road to Vicuña volcano in the Andes
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Wanna tackle a beast of a road? I'm talking about the route up Volcán Vicuña, teetering on the Argentina-Chile border at a staggering 18,028 feet! Seriously, this has gotta be one of the highest roads in this part of the world. You'll find this bad boy nestled high in the Andes, smack-dab between Argentina's San Juan Province and Chile's Atacama Region. Fair warning: the road to the top is completely unpaved, so a 4x4 isn't just recommended—it's essential! Word on the street is that this is actually a mining road, so you know it’s gonna be rough and ready. Think rugged landscapes, maybe even a glimpse of copper and gold riches! Just a heads-up: the climate here is classic high-Andes – expect it to be bone-chillingly cold and super windy. And because you're practically touching the sky, this road is only accessible during the summer months (December to April). The rest of the year, it's buried under a mountain of snow. So, if you’re planning a trip, time it right!