Highest roads of Bolivia
Bolivia, south-america
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hard
Year-round
Bolivia, a South American giant the size of California and Texas put together, is a land of extremes! Think Himalayas-level mountains but smack-dab in the Andes. This country's got it all: sky-high peaks, the desolate Altiplano plateau, and crazy-steep, humid valleys. If you're a driver seeking adventure, you're in the right place.
Prepare for some seriously high-altitude driving, with roads that hug cliff faces and hairpin turns that will make your jaw drop. You'll find some of the highest, most remote, and utterly breathtaking mountain passes you could ever imagine on this continent.
Some top contenders for epic drives include the Portezuelo Sairécabur, the road to Minas San Pablo Lipez, the international Chungara-Tambo Quemado Pass, and tackling Ollague Volcano—one of South America's highest routes. Get ready for the ride of your life!
Road Details
- Country
- Bolivia
- Continent
- south-america
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in south-america
extremeSalkantay Refuge
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, buckle up, adventure lovers! We're heading to Refugio Salkantay, a mountain paradise perched way up in the Peruvian Andes, Cusco Region, at a whopping 3,849m (12,627ft). Get ready for views that will blow your mind – seriously, the mountain scenery is epic! This isn't your Sunday drive, though. Carretera 109, the gravel road leading up from Mollepata, is a true test of skill and nerve. We're talking steep climbs, an 18.2km stretch with a 987-meter elevation gain (that's an average gradient of 5.42%!), and drop-offs that will make your palms sweat. If you're scared of heights, this might not be for you. The road winds through the Vilcabamba range and has some seriously unprotected edges. Keep an eye on the weather, too. Avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides are real dangers, especially with those icy patches. Basically, be prepared for an unforgettable, but challenging, ride!
hardDriving the paved road to Laguna Quilotoa
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! You HAVE to experience the road to Quilotoa Lake in the Ecuadorian Andes. We're talking serious altitude here – 12,841 feet above sea level! The road's paved, which is a plus, but get ready for some seriously steep climbs. You'll find it snaking through Cotopaxi Province. Word to the wise: pack layers! The weather up there is a total drama queen. One minute it's sunny and warm, the next it's cloudy and freezing. And those nights? Brrr! Let me tell you, getting to Corazon Volcano is no walk in the park. Prepare for an exciting ride!
hardWhere is Lagunillas del Farallón?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, picture this: you're way up high in the extreme northwest of Argentina, practically touching the sky. You're headed to Lagunillas del Farallón, a tiny mountain town perched at a mind-blowing 13,720 feet above sea level. The road in, called Camino a Lagunillas de Farallón, is about 28.83 miles of pure adventure. You can usually make it in a regular car, but after it rains, you might want something with a little more clearance. Seriously, this area gets shaky with earthquakes! Oh, and as you roll into town, keep an eye out for a sculpture honoring a young boy named Eusebio Churquina – a stark reminder of the harsh realities of life at this altitude. But don't let that get you down, the scenery is incredible! You're in Jujuy, after all. This is Ruta Provincial 70, a drive you won't soon forget.
moderateWhere is Alto de Letras?
🇨🇴 Colombia
Alto de Letras, nestled in the heart of Colombia, is a beast of a mountain pass soaring to 3,692m (12,112ft). If you're a cyclist looking for an epic challenge, this climb is calling your name! Find it straddling the Tolima and Caldas departments in the Andes. "Letras," as the locals call it, is Ruta Nacional 50, linking Manizales to San Sebastián de Mariquita. The entire road is paved, which is good news, because you'll need all the traction you can get! The scenery is out-of-this-world unique. As you grind your way up, watch the landscape, climate, crops, and even the animals morph around you. It's a constantly changing, dramatic, and surprising ride. Heads up: this road can get busy, so an early start is a pro move. From San Sebastián de Mariquita, you're looking at a staggering 78.9 km (49.02 miles) ascent, racking up a whopping 3,220 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient is around 4%, but don't let that fool you. This is considered the longest road climb in the world. Expect pitches hitting 11% or 12% in places that'll test your legs and lungs. Alto de Letras is a rite of passage for Colombian cyclists, both amateur and pro, and a legendary stage in the Vuelta a Colombia. Starting in the subtropical heat of San Sebastián de Mariquita at 468 meters and ending in an arctic climate at 3,692 meters, it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime cycling experience.