How Can I Get by Car to Salar de Maricunga in the Atacama Region?
Chile, south-america
280 km
3,700 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: blindingly white salt flats shimmering under an intense sun. That’s Salar de Maricunga, sitting way up high in the Chilean Atacama at a lung-busting 3,700 meters (that’s over 12,000 feet!). You'll find this unreal landscape inside Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, way over on the eastern side of Chile.
Be warned, this place is extreme. Think scorching days and freezing nights – the temperature swings are wild! But it's worth it. Imagine stark volcanic scenery meeting vibrant turquoise lagoons, home to unique wildlife. It’s a photographer's dream!
The road in, Ruta 31-CH, is a bit of an adventure in itself. It's about 280 km (173 miles) of mostly gravel, connecting Copiapó to the Paso San Francisco border crossing with Argentina. You'll find some paved sections at the start and end, but the middle is all about that rugged off-road feel. Luckily, you don't necessarily need a 4x4 for this one, a 2wd car should usually do the trick! Just take it slow and enjoy the ride.
Where is it?
How Can I Get by Car to Salar de Maricunga in the Atacama Region? is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -39.2952, -73.7956
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 280 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,700 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -39.2952, -73.7956
Related Roads in south-america
moderateAn epic road to Portezuelo del Cajon in the Andes
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for the ride of your life! We're heading to Portezuelo del Cajón, a crazy-high mountain pass straddling the border between Chile and Bolivia. Perched at a lung-busting 4,480m (that's almost 14,700ft!), you'll feel like you're on top of the world. This epic route, also called Hito Cajón, connects Chile's Antofagasta Region with Bolivia's Potosí Department, nestled on the flank of the Juriques volcano in the Andes. The Bolivian side drops you right into the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, practically spitting distance from the stunning Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca. Think Uyuni Salt Flats to San Pedro de Atacama – this is the road many tourists use to bounce between these iconic destinations. The whole shebang is about 150km (93 miles) of mixed terrain, from smooth pavement to rugged unpaved sections, stretching from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) to Quetena Chico (Bolivia). Keep an eye out for Cerro Toco to the south! Be prepped for some serious altitude changes and isolated landscapes. Random fact: the Bolivian Customs office is like, 80km into Bolivia, basically in the middle of nowhere and even higher than the pass itself at over 5,000m! You'll find it hidden behind a guarded barrier at a processing plant. The Chilean border post is conveniently located on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama, a good 40km back down the road. And pro tip: check the weather! High altitude means colder temps and a higher chance of storms.
extremeAn old mining road to Overo Volcano
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in Argentina's Andes Mountains, in the San Rafael region of Mendoza, lies Volcán Overo, a dormant volcano reaching a staggering 14,701 feet. Getting to the top? Buckle up, it's a wild ride! This isn't your Sunday drive. The road is completely unpaved, rocky, and seriously steep. You'll need a 4x4 with serious clearance to even think about tackling this beast. We're talking hairpin turns galore – hundreds of them! Plus, remember you're way up high, so the air is thin, and the weather can change on a dime. Be prepared for altitude sickness! The road kicks off near Termas Del Sosneado and winds its way up to Refugio El Ángulo, a mountain refuge near the top. Fun fact: this whole road is an old mining route, built to reach the abandoned Minas de Azufre de Sominar (a sulfur mine). You'll even see the remnants of an old mining tram along the way! Be warned, the last stretch is so narrow, it's best tackled on a bike. The views? Absolutely epic. Get ready for some serious bragging rights when you conquer this one!
hardThe Road with Never-Ending Hairpin Turns to Laguna Yanco in Peru
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Laguna Yanco! This insanely gorgeous high-altitude lagoon sits way up in the Peruvian Andes, at a staggering 14,580 feet. Getting there? That's half the adventure. Forget pavement; this is a 41.44-mile dirt track stretching from Punta Callán to Coris, and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart! We're talking narrow stretches, seriously dicey conditions after rain, and hairpin turns. Oh, the hairpin turns! Seriously, there are over 100 of these bad boys, sometimes stacked back-to-back with hardly any straight road in between. But trust me, the views are worth every white-knuckle moment. This is raw, untamed Peru at its finest.
moderateWhere is Kahuish Tunnel?
🇵🇪 Peru
Cruising through Ancash, Peru? You HAVE to check out the Tunel de Kahuish! This baby sits at a whopping 14,816 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest tunnels on the planet. You'll find it nestled in the northern part of the country, right inside Huascarán National Park in the Cordillera Blanca mountains. Keep an eye out for the awesome Christ statue (Cristo Blanco) overlooking the valley right after you exit. Built as part of a big road project that kicked off way back in 1927, constructing this tunnel was no joke! Lots of dynamite and some serious risks went into blasting through the rock. Finally completed in 1941, it got a facelift in 2007. The AN-110 highway runs right through it, connecting Huaraz and Chavin. It carves its way through the valley of the Santa River, over the Cordillera Blanca, and down to the Marañon valley. Expect pavement on the west side of the tunnel, but things get a little more rugged with mostly unpaved sections on the east side. At 1,587 feet long, this unlit tunnel marks the highest point of the main road and is one of the longest in the country. Cyclists, be warned: there’s no alternate route, you have to go through the tunnel!