Laguna Saquicocha
Peru, south-america
4 km
4,397 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You HAVE to check out Laguna Saquicocha, a mind-blowing lagoon chilling way up in the Ancash Region of Peru, at a staggering 14,425 feet!
The road to get there? Buckle up, buttercup! It's a bumpy gravel track that demands a 4x4, especially after any rain. Seriously, even a little drizzle can make things interesting. Be warned: the road can get seriously steep with some sudden loose gravel spots waiting to surprise you!
The climb kicks off from the AN-111 road, winding upwards for about 4 kilometers, tackling a crazy 12 hairpin turns. You'll gain almost 300 meters in elevation, making for an average climb of nearly 7%. Oh, and keep an eye on the weather – this high up, snow is a real possibility, and the road can close in winter. But trust me, if you can handle the challenge, the views in the Pampas Galeras National Reserve are absolutely worth it!
Where is it?
Laguna Saquicocha is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -7.7780, -74.0039
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 4 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,397 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -7.7780, -74.0039
Related Roads in south-america
hardHow to get by car to the antennas at the Summit of Cerro Atacazo?
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! I've got a road for you: Cerro Atacazo in Ecuador's Pichincha province. This stratovolcano clocks in at a whopping 4,155m (13,631ft), making this one of the highest drives in the country. Find it southwest of Quito, smack-dab in the north-central part of Ecuador. Trust me, the views of the city from up here are worth the climb, especially with all those cool antennas at the summit. Now, let's be real: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road is entirely unpaved – think bumpy gravel, eroded by epic rainstorms. It's dusty when dry, a muddy mess when wet. This is a tough, remote mountain road, and the altitude will test you. So, bring your trusty 4WD, high-clearance vehicle. Make sure your ride is in tip-top shape because you *will* notice the power lag up here. The climb to those antennas is *steep*. We're talking 9.5km (5.9 miles) from Guamani, gaining 943m in elevation. That's an average gradient of almost 10%! Get ready for an unforgettable experience.
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 Lípez 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.
extremeAbra de Rumualdo
🇵🇪 Peru
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Abra de Rumualdo in the Caylloma Province of Peru! This bad boy tops out at a staggering 3,434m (11,266ft) above sea level, so be prepared for some seriously thin air. You'll be tackling the Carretera Cincha – Huanca, and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart. We're talking avalanches, landslides, and a road surface that steadily deteriorates from asphalt to a single lane of asphalt, and then to a gravel mule track. Keep an eye on the weather because snowstorms and blizzards can roll in out of nowhere. Expect over 200 turns, including some seriously tight hairpin switchbacks. The road is incredibly steep, so maybe lay off that extra helping of lunch – you might be feeling a little queasy as you wind your way up. The views, if you dare to take your eyes off the road, are absolutely breathtaking, but this is one drive where courage and skill are absolutely essential!
moderateRoad D-447
🇨🇱 Chile
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're cruising through Chile's Coquimbo Region, specifically Elqui Province, you HAVE to check out Carretera D-447. This isn't your typical paved paradise – think gravel roads stretching for 41 kilometers. A high-clearance 2WD vehicle should be fine if you take it slow and steady, especially when the road's dry. Keep in mind this track can turn into a mudslide after it rains. Seriously, it can get super slippery. After a big storm, you might not even be able to pass through, even with a 4x4. This route links the town of Andacollo with the D-457 road. Overall, it’s a beautiful drive!