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
hardSalar de Uyuni Road
🇧🇴 Bolivia
# Driving Across Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Ready for a drive that'll mess with your head in the best way possible? The Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, and it's absolutely mind-bending. We're talking 10,582 square kilometers of pure white nothingness sitting at 3,656 meters up in the Bolivian Altiplano, and there's literally nothing quite like it anywhere on the planet. Hit it during the dry season (May through November), and you'll be rolling straight across an endless white expanse of hexagonally cracked salt that stretches to every horizon. It's trippy—your brain genuinely struggles to comprehend the scale and emptiness surrounding you. But here's where it gets *really* wild: come back between December and April during the wet season, and the whole thing transforms into the world's largest natural mirror. A thin film of water covers everything, reflecting the sky so perfectly that you can't tell where earth ends and atmosphere begins. It's the kind of place that breaks Instagram. Most people start from the town of Uyuni and drive across to Isla Incahuasi—this rocky little island topped with massive cacti that juts out of the white plain like something from a fever dream. From there, the adventure usually continues into the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, where you'll encounter otherworldly colored lagoons, steaming geysers, and natural hot springs tucked into a volcanic landscape.
hardTake the Scenic Route and Discover Abra de Lares in Cusco
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Let's talk about Abra de Lares, a crazy-high mountain pass chilling at 14,576 feet in the Cusco Region of Peru. This road is a proper Andean adventure. It's paved, sure, but super narrow – think "squeeze-by-another-car" narrow. We're talking hairpin turns galore and massive drop-offs with zero guardrails. Definitely not one for the faint of heart, and avoid it completely if it's raining. This 34.7-mile stretch from Calca to Laris will take you about 1.5 to 2.5 hours of non-stop driving. It's a relentless climb, hitting gradients of up to 10% in places, so get ready for some seriously steep sections. But the views? Absolutely worth it. Prepare for scenery that will blow your mind!
extremeThe Wild Road to Abra de Ovejería
🇦🇷 Argentina
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! I've got a killer route for you in northern Argentina: Abra de Ovejería. This baby tops out at a breathtaking 4,310m (that's 14,140ft!) in the Salta Province, practically kissing the sky. You'll find it chilling near the border with Jujuy, carving through the eastern Andes. We're talking 85.7 km (53.2 miles) of pure, unadulterated off-roading bliss, linking the RN51 near El Alfarcito to the cozy town of San Lorenzo. Now, don't even THINK about bringing your Prius. This is a 4x4 ONLY zone. We're talking loose soil, gravel galore, and sandy patches that will test your driving skills. Plus, those gradients are seriously steep! Word to the wise: summer is your best bet. Winter and spring up there are brutal. Think snow, crazy weather, and a road that's totally impassable. But trust me, when the sun's out, the views are absolutely epic!
moderateDriving the Scenic Camino 6 de Septiembre to Cerro Pan de Azúcar in Córdoba
🇦🇷 Argentina
Cerro Pan de Azúcar is a famous mountain pass reaching an elevation of 1,023m (3,356ft) above sea level in the Sierras Chicas of Córdoba, Argentina. The road over the pass, known as the Camino 6 de Septiembre, is a classic mountain route connecting the Punilla Valley with the Sierras Chicas. The summit is a major tourist landmark. It is dominated by a massive 14-meter iron cross, which is visible from miles away. Visitors can also find a restaurant, a parking lot, and the famous "Aerosilla" (chairlift) that takes tourists to the very top for a panoramic view of the Punilla Valley and the city of Córdoba. The road through the summit features both paved and unpaved sections. Known officially as Ruta Provincial 54, this dirt track was built in 1931. It remains a rugged and curvy mountain road, offering a true "old-school" driving experience. While parts near the towns are improved, long stretches consist of loose gravel and earth that require careful navigation. Located in the scenic Punilla Valley, the road through the pass is 28km (17 miles) long. It runs west-east from Cosquín, the oldest town in the Punilla Valley and famous for its folklore festival, to Villa Allende. The drive is notoriously curvy, with steep sections that offer rewarding views of the Mediterranean-style scrubland typical of the Córdoba mountains. Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our interactive map to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.