
La Pampa-Sihuas (Road 12A)
Peru, south-america
91.5 km
2.725 m
extreme
Year-round
Daredevils, listen up! Deep in central Peru, snaking through the magnificent Huascarán National Park, lies Carretera 12A – a gravel track that's more rollercoaster than road. Forget guardrails; you're playing chicken with gravity here, with sheer drops of hundreds of meters just inches from your tires. Vertigo sufferers, seriously, sit this one out.
This epic 91.5 km route connects Sihuas (at a cool 2,725m above sea level) to La Pampa (dipping down to 1,796m), and it's a wild ride. Prepare for hairpin after hairpin as you climb to a dizzying 4,200m. It’s a true test of skill and nerves, and you’ll be sharing the road with lumbering log trucks, so stay sharp!
The scenery? Absolutely breathtaking. Think mind-blowing mountain vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. But don't get too distracted – this narrow, exposed trail demands respect. Landslides and avalanches are a real threat, and one wrong move sends you tumbling. Oh, and a windy day? Hard pass. If you crave adventure and have nerves of steel, your wheels will be treated to views unlike anything else on Earth! Just be sure you know how to reverse.
Where is it?
La Pampa-Sihuas (Road 12A) is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.1533, -76.6085
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 91.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2.725 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -8.1533, -76.6085
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