Is Patapampa Pass paved?
Peru, south-america
58.8 km
4,879 m
easy
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, buckle up for Abra Patapampa! This insane mountain pass punches through the Andes in Peru's Arequipa region, clocking in at a whopping 4,879m (16,007ft). Word on the street is it's one of the highest *paved* passes in the Americas.
Speaking of pavement, the whole route (also known as Abra Pata Pampa) is smooth sailing on tarmac. You'll find it marked as 1S and 109, carving its way through the landscape as part of that legendary Chivay to Arequipa route.
This epic stretch of road clocks in at 58.8 km (36.53 miles), connecting Chivay (the Colca Valley's main town) with the 34E road. At the summit, you’re greeted with souvenir stalls, a parking lot, and the Mirador de los Andes viewpoint. Fingers crossed for good weather, because the views are EVERYTHING.
The climb? Some sections are pretty steep, hitting an 8% gradient, so get ready for a bit of a push. Keep an eye out for gravel patches, especially higher up, but overall, the road's in decent shape, the traffic's light, and the slopes are manageable. Even with the altitude, it's a relatively easy climb.
Bonus points: near the summit (on the southwest side), there's a little gravel road that goes even higher, topping out at 5,000m (16,404ft)!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 58.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,879 m
- Difficulty
- easy
Related Roads in south-america
hardWhere is Cerro Peña Orko?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Cerro Peña Orko – or Cerro Peña Orco, if you prefer – is a wild border crossing between Argentina (Salta Province) and Bolivia (Tarija Department) sitting way up at 4,435m (14,550ft). This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking 20km (12 miles) of pure, unadulterated off-road bliss (or terror, depending on your skill level). Starting near Abra de Santa Cruz in Argentina, you'll wind your way north to Ruta Nacional 28 near Huayllajara in Bolivia. Think countless twists and turns, hairpin bends that'll make your head spin, super steep inclines, and sections so narrow you might need to execute a three-point (or maybe even five-point!) turn. A 4x4 isn't just recommended; it's practically mandatory. But hey, the views are supposedly epic. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road – this route demands your full attention. Experienced drivers with advanced off-road skills only!
extremeMirador de Carhuayno
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! You HAVE to check out Mirador de Carhuayno, a natural viewpoint perched way up high in the Huancaya District of Peru. We're talking 3,695 meters (that's over 12,000 feet!) above sea level. Getting there is half the fun, if "fun" means a seriously intense drive. You'll be tackling Ruta 120 (Camino a Vilca), a gravel road that's about as wide as your grandma's hallway. Seriously, two cars passing each other? Forget about it. It's steep, it's gnarly, and it demands your FULL attention. This road is NOT messing around. Think dramatic drop-offs, hairpin curves, and stunning (but distracting!) scenery. We're talking sheer cliffs plummeting hundreds of meters with absolutely zero guardrails to save you. This road has earned its fearsome reputation, so bring your A-game and maybe an extra pair of pants. Definitely not recommended for newbie drivers or anyone with a fear of heights! But oh man, the views… the views are SO worth it. Just drive carefully and prepare for an adrenaline rush!
extremeIs the road to Volcán Ollagüe unpaved?
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies! We're heading to Volcán Ollagüe, a beast of an andesite volcano straddling the Chile-Bolivia border at a staggering 5,868m (19,251ft). Forget paved paradise; this road is a raw, unadulterated dirt track clinging to the volcano's northern flank. This extreme, old mine road, once crucial for a now-defunct sulfur mine, is a white-knuckle ride all the way. The trail ends at a breathtaking, but oxygen-deprived, 5,705m (18,717ft). This is strictly 4x4 territory, people! Don't even think about attempting this in anything less. Starting from the humble Chilean village of Ollagüe, the road throws you into a relentless 24.7km (15.34 miles) of pure adrenaline. Hold on tight for 35 hairpin turns that’ll have you questioning your sanity, combined with a seriously steep average gradient of 8.04%. Oh, and did I mention the sheer drops of hundreds of meters with zero guardrails? Yeah, this climb isn't for the faint of heart. Keep a keen eye on the weather! Avalanches, blizzards, and landslides are real threats, especially during January and February's storm season. Speaking of threats, altitude sickness is a major concern. The air's incredibly thin up here (40% less oxygen than at sea level), so if you have respiratory or heart issues, seriously reconsider this adventure. Even the toughest engines struggle with combustion at this altitude, so prep yourself and your vehicle. But here's the payoff: the views. Oh my, the views! You'll be gazing out at landscapes so surreal, so starkly beautiful, they'll be seared into your memory forever. You'll also see persistent steam plume emanate from a fumarole on the south side of the summit dome. Volcán Ollagüe is a challenging, dangerous, and utterly unforgettable experience. Are you brave enough?
hardWhere does Road 34H lead?
🇵🇪 Peru
Way up in the Sandia Province of Peru's Puno Region, you'll find one wild ride on the road from Quiscupunco to Sandia. Think of it as a real-life roller coaster through the Andes! This high-mountain pass stretches from Quiscupunco to the town of Sandia, and it's not for the faint of heart. You'll be conquering the legendary Abra Sandia pass and catching glimpses of the stunning Laguna Saytococha. Heads up: this route heads south-to-north, diving from the high Altiplano into those deep, humid Amazon valleys. The trickiest part? Definitely between the Abra Sandia summit (also called Abra Apacheta) and Laguna Saytococha. This is serious frontier territory near Bolivia, with crazy vertical drops, skinny canyons, and rivers that love to wash out the road. Okay, so some of this road is paved, but don't get too excited. That pavement is narrow and beat-up, winding through a barren landscape where the mountainside looks ready to slide onto you at any moment. Flash floods, avalanches, and landslides are common, so expect plenty of stretches of raw gravel and mud, totally out of the blue. And get this – the road is super narrow. If you meet a truck on a blind turn, someone's backing up for miles along a cliff edge. High-clearance vehicles are a must, and driving in the wet or dark? Forget about it. The biggest danger is, well, the insane drop-offs. The road hugs the edge of massive slopes without guardrails. Look over your shoulder and it's a straight shot into valleys thousands of feet below. Plus, expect heavy mist and sudden fog that can cut visibility to nothing. The hairpin turns alone will make you dizzy, and the steep descent will test your brakes big time. At almost 15,000 feet, altitude sickness is real. Nausea and dizziness are common. Don't overeat before the climb, or you might be making a roadside deposit. And your mechanical skills need to be on point. You need to be confident reversing on those narrow shoulders and managing low gears on steep descents. Help is non-existent out here, and a breakdown could mean a long fall. Always pack emergency supplies, extra fuel, and make sure your tires are ready for both wet asphalt and jagged gravel.