
How to drive to Perdidos Canyon in the Peruvian desert?
Peru, south-america
5 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay adventurers, buckle up for El Cañón de los Perdidos in Peru's Ica province! This hidden gem, only discovered in 2011, stretches for 5 km through the Ocucaje Desert, halfway between Ica and Nazca. Forget the crowds, because this place is wild and untouched.
Word of warning: finding this canyon is part of the adventure! You'll be off-roading through the desert with sections of the road missing or unmarked. A good GPS or experienced guide is crucial unless you like the idea of becoming truly 'lost.' The 50 km track from the Panamericana Sur highway demands a 4x4 to navigate those desert dunes. Watch out for bandits, and be prepared for isolation. There’s no phone signal.
But trust me, the scenery is worth it! You'll be cruising past crazy rock formations before arriving at the canyon. Carved by the Río Seco, the canyon plunges 400 meters deep, with a lagoon and is a haven for vultures. Keep your eyes peeled for fossils – this area was once an ancient seabed. The canyon is about 2 km long, with four distinct levels to explore. Get ready to be blown away by the raw, untamed beauty of this desert oasis!
Where is it?
How to drive to Perdidos Canyon in the Peruvian desert? is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.8904, -72.7570
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 5 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -8.8904, -72.7570
Related Roads in south-america
hardThe Mysterious Plane in the Andes: A Google Earth Mystery
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, picture this: you're deep in the Peruvian Andes, smack-dab in the Huánuco Region. We're talking serious altitude here, like 16,456 feet above sea level! There’s this gravel road snaking its way up, up, UP through insane mountain scenery in Lauricocha Province. This isn't your Sunday drive kinda road, though. It's a private mine track, built tough for rugged mining vehicles, and it tops out near the dreamy Laguna Ninococha. Now, Google Earth might show you a ghostly plane silhouette hanging out near the lake, but don't get your hopes up for a crash site discovery. It's more likely a cool optical illusion of a plane flying overhead when the satellite image was captured. The road itself? A beast. Unpaved, crazy steep, and strictly 4x4 territory. At that elevation, the air is thin enough to make you lightheaded and the weather can change in a heartbeat. Oh, and did I mention that heavy snow makes it totally off-limits for most of the year? But hey, if you're after an epic adventure with views that'll blow your mind, this wild ride might just be your thing!
hardHow to drive the road from Abra del Sauce to Nazareno in Salta?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! If you're anywhere near Salta Province, Argentina, and you're itching for a drive that'll test your mettle, check out the new road connecting Abra del Sauce and Nazareno. Picture this: a recently built, totally unpaved road snaking its way through the raw, untamed landscape of northwestern Argentina. This isn't your Sunday drive; it's a 25 km (15 mile) rollercoaster of narrow passages clinging to the mountainside. If you're not a fan of heights, be warned – there are some serious drop-offs overlooking the river below! Starting from Abra del Sauce, the road winds toward Molino, and from there, it follows the Nazareno riverbed all the way to Nazareno itself, passing through Cuesta Azul. Oh, and did I mention you'll be topping out at a lung-busting 3,464 m (11,364 ft) above sea level? The views are absolutely epic, but keep your eyes on the road!
hardHow to Get to Chiquian by Car?
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, so you're headed to Chiquián, a cool little mountain town way up in the Peruvian Andes! We're talking serious altitude here, like 11,187 feet above sea level! You'll find it nestled in the Ancash Region, practically the heart of western Peru. Getting there is part of the adventure. The road, called Carretera a Chiquián, is paved, which is good news, but hold on tight because it's a wild ride! Think twelve hairpin turns twisting up the mountainside, some sections are seriously steep, with gradients hitting 9%. You'll climb to a breathtaking 13,959 feet at the highest point. Keep your eyes peeled for rock slides though, they're a real possibility. The whole trip from the 3N road to Chiquián is only about 10.4 miles, but in that short distance, you'll climb almost 2,800 feet! That’s an average gradient of just over 5%. The views alone are worth the white-knuckle driving!
hardLaguna Saquicocha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You HAVE to check out Laguna Saquicocha, a mind-blowing lagoon chilling way up in the Ancash Region of Peru, at a staggering 14,425 feet! The road to get there? Buckle up, buttercup! It's a bumpy gravel track that demands a 4x4, especially after any rain. Seriously, even a little drizzle can make things interesting. Be warned: the road can get seriously steep with some sudden loose gravel spots waiting to surprise you! The climb kicks off from the AN-111 road, winding upwards for about 4 kilometers, tackling a crazy 12 hairpin turns. You'll gain almost 300 meters in elevation, making for an average climb of nearly 7%. Oh, and keep an eye on the weather – this high up, snow is a real possibility, and the road can close in winter. But trust me, if you can handle the challenge, the views in the Pampas Galeras National Reserve are absolutely worth it!