
Is the road to Punta Callan in the Ancash Region paved?
Peru, south-america
83.1 km
4,228 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Wanna tackle a seriously epic paved road in Peru? Head to the Ancash Region and find Carretera 14A, because you're about to climb to Punta Callán, a mountain pass sitting pretty at a whopping 4,228 meters (13,871 feet)!
This isn't just any drive – we're talking 83.1 kilometers (51.63 miles) of pure, winding bliss (or carsickness, if you're unlucky!). Seriously, the road zigzags like crazy with more turns than you can count, as you climb from Huaraz to Pariacoto. But trust me, the views are SO worth it! You'll be gazing at the stunning, snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca the whole time. And get this, after cresting the pass, you can cruise all the way down to sea level near Casma on the Pacific coast. Talk about a road trip!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 83.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,228 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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