Laguna La Viuda
Peru, south-america
N/A
4,560 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're anywhere near the Lima Region of western Peru and you're craving an adrenaline rush, you HAVE to check out Laguna La Viuda. This stunning high-mountain lake sits way up at 4,560m (that's nearly 15,000ft!).
Getting there on the gravel road 20A is...well, let's just say it's an experience. This isn't your Sunday drive. Think seriously steep inclines, a serious lack of oxygen, and some seriously mind-blowing vertical drops. We're talking hundreds of meters down, with no guardrails to keep you company! If you get dizzy easily, this might be one to skip, especially on a windy day.
While the road tests your courage, it rewards you with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. Just keep your eyes on the road! It connects Lima and Colquijirca. Be aware that this road can be closed due to snow. The area is known for heavy mist, making visibility a challenge. Plus, avalanches, snowfalls, and landslides are a real possibility, and icy patches are common. So, yeah, keep your wits about you. Make sure to take altitude into account, most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters.
Where is it?
Laguna La Viuda is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -10.2810, -73.8131
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 4,560 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -10.2810, -73.8131
Related Roads in south-america
extremeIs the Road to Salinas Lake Unpaved?
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, picture this: You're in the Arequipa Region of Peru, ready for an adventure. Your destination? Laguna de Salinas, a shimmering salt lake perched way up at 14,222 feet. Getting there? That's half the fun (and maybe a little bit of the terror!). We're talking Ruta 34C, a 40-mile stretch of pure, unadulterated off-road mayhem. Forget pavement, this is all dirt, rocks, and serious curves. Think narrow paths barely wide enough for your rig, sheer cliffs on one side, and a stomach-dropping plunge on the other – no guardrails to be seen! Expect tunnels, hairpin turns galore, and views that'll make you forget your fear… almost. Give yourself a solid two hours to tackle this beast from Arequipa, the gorgeous colonial city. Trust me, you'll want every minute to navigate this wild ride. You'll need nerves of steel and a vehicle you trust implicitly, but the bragging rights and the otherworldly scenery at the end? Totally worth it!
extremeWhat is the route from Yungay Pampa to Mirasanta?
🇵🇪 Peru
The road connecting Yungay Pampa and Mirasanta is a challenging mountain drive located in the Huaylas Province, within the Ancash Region of Peru. Situated inside the Huascaran National Park, this unpaved route offers breathtaking views and a technical driving experience through the heart of the Andes. Road facts: Yungay Pampa to Mirasanta Huaylas Province, Peru What is the route from Yungay Pampa to Mirasanta? The road runs in a south-north direction, covering a total distance of . It serves as a vital but rugged link in the Ancash Region, climbing through steep terrain where the landscape changes rapidly as you gain altitude within the Huascaran National Park. Is the road to Mirasanta paved? No, the entire road is unpaved, consisting mostly of gravel and dirt. The track is notorious for its narrow sections, often scarcely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. In many parts, there are significant drop-offs of hundreds of meters without any guardrails, requiring total focus from the driver. How many hairpin turns are on the road? The ascent is highly technical, featuring more than 20 sharp hairpin turns . These switchbacks are necessary to overcome the steep slopes of the Peruvian Andes, making it a demanding drive that tests both steering precision and vehicle reliability. What is the elevation gain on this drive? Starting from Yungay Pampa, the road climbs steadily to reach an elevation of above sea level. This involves a total elevation gain of over the 22.2 km course, resulting in several very steep sections that are common in high-altitude mountain passes. Is a 4x4 vehicle required for the Yungay Pampa road? A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended for this journey. The combination of loose gravel, steep gradients, and narrow passages makes it unsuitable for standard cars. Additionally, the area is known for its unpredictable weather, which can quickly turn the unpaved surface into a slippery and hazardous track. What should drivers consider before starting? Due to the narrowness of the road, drivers must be experienced in mountain driving and comfortable with reversing on winding paths if they encounter oncoming traffic. It is essential to check vehicle conditions before departure, as the route passes through remote areas with no immediate facilities or assistance. Punta Caudalosa Chica Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our 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 to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
extremeCocachacra-Santiago de Tuna Road
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're headed to the Huarochirà province in Peru and you're craving a serious adrenaline rush, the Cocachacra-Santiago de Tuna road is calling your name. This isn't your Sunday drive; it's a true test of skill and nerve. Connecting the villages of Cocachacra and Santiago de Tuna, this roughly 20-kilometer stretch of gravel is narrow. Think one-car-at-a-time narrow. And did I mention the sheer drops of hundreds of meters? Yeah, those are there, and they're totally unprotected. Nestled in the Andes, the views are stunning, assuming you can peel your eyes off the road long enough to enjoy them. Expect over 20 hairpin turns on a seriously steep climb. We're talking about an elevation gain of nearly 1,500 meters from Cocachacra. Vertigo sufferers, beware! Landslides are a possibility, and one wrong move could send you tumbling. This isn't for the faint of heart (or lungs, or legs!). Trust me, this road is an experience, and photos just don't capture the full intensity of it.
extremeCordón de Inacaliri: Driving the 5,395m mining track on the Chile-Bolivia border
🇨🇱 Chile
Buckle up for Cordón de Inacaliri, a mind-blowing volcano straddling the Chile-Bolivia border! We're talking serious altitude here – topping out at a dizzying 5,395m (17,700ft)! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Originally hacked out for mining, it slices through one of Earth's harshest landscapes. You'll be flirting with both the Bolivian province of Nor LÃpez and Chile's Antofagasta Region. The adventure kicks off near Inacaliri, but forget precise GPS – the relentless Andean winds and ever-shifting scree mean the path is constantly morphing. This is raw, untamed territory where the road can get seriously "tippy" and bumpy, demanding a driver laser-focused on navigating every obstacle. Forget smooth asphalt, this is a gnarly mix of gravel and unforgiving rock. Built for tough mining equipment, not comfort, the surface is in constant flux, thanks to relentless erosion. A 4x4 isn't just recommended, it's your lifeline. This climb demands nerves of steel, as the track clings to the volcano's slopes with zero guardrails. Always scout ahead – at this altitude, one wrong move – getting high-centered or losing traction on a tricky patch – can have major consequences. The real kicker? The crippling lack of oxygen. At the summit, you're breathing roughly 40% less than at sea level, testing both your body and your engine's combustion. Altitude sickness hits most people hard above 2,500m, but up here at 5,395m, the risk of severe *soroche* (altitude sickness) is extreme. Even simple movements become a slog, and your heart rate will skyrocket. People with respiratory or heart issues and babies should absolutely skip this one. Driving demands razor-sharp focus, even when your brain feels like it's wading through molasses. And a word on the weather: winter isn't messing around in the Central Andes. Your window of opportunity is slim – maybe mid-summer, if you're lucky. Even then, expect rapid shifts in weather, with snow possible at any time. High winds are a constant companion, and winter temperatures can plunge way below -20°C. Ice and snow can suddenly turn the rocky surface into a treacherous skating rink. Pack extra fuel, oxygen, and all the cold-weather survival gear you can fit. Trust me, you'll need it.