
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
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